Interested in global development, inequality, the climate crisis. And cycling. Head of communications at the Institute of Development Studies @ids.ac.uk / www.ids.ac.ukhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3me4xguawls22Hard to see how this matches with the government's aspiration to implement its development agenda around 'equitable partnerships' https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/05/uk-cut-climate-finance-poor-countries-by-fifth05 Feb 2026 17:53 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3me4xguawls22https://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3mdzkqeisbc24The UK government should improve ICAI, the body tasked with improving aid spending, rather than close it down and lose valuable independent scrutiny. Some practical recommendations from @cgdev.org https://www.cgdev.org/blog/dont-scrap-uks-independent-commission-aid-impact-make-it-better04 Feb 2026 09:28 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdzkqeisbc24https://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3mcyuuisvf22yAbout time too! There are so many better ways for wealthy individuals to support equality and show solidarity with communities in less well-off parts of the world https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jan/22/actionaid-rethink-child-sponsorship-decolonise-funding22 Jan 2026 09:31 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcyuuisvf22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3mcwgnirtik2c"As IDS prepares to celebrate its 60th year, the field is confronting complex challenges such as climate change, global health inequality and also the social and ethical implications of artificial intelligence" Excellent interview with new @ids.ac.uk Director on future of development studies [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Jan 2026 10:11 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcwgnirtik2chttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3mci4pj5vqs25This looks like a timely and important campaign ⬇️ [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Jan 2026 17:36 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3mci4pj5vqs25https://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3mbty2kaxkk2qCongratulations to Anu Joshi! Looking forward to working with her to support the IDS vision of a more equitable and sustainable world 🌍⚖️ [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 Jan 2026 17:20 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbty2kaxkk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3mbr4t3ydb22bThe science and technology needed for low-carbon living is largely already here. The bigger challenge now is behavioural. How can we introduce climate policies that won't backfire by alienating people? https://www.santafe.edu/news-center/news/climate-policies-can-backfire-by-eroding-green-values-study-finds06 Jan 2026 14:07 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbr4t3ydb22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3maneflouys2cPowerful piece about how AI is killing off local knowledge systems, and how this matters not just for local communities who depend on indigenous knowledge, but for all of us https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/nov/18/what-ai-doesnt-know-global-knowledge-collapse23 Dec 2025 08:47 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3maneflouys2chttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3m7s3psumls2oGreat thread, and useful reminder to focus on actual data not media / political hype [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 Dec 2025 12:30 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7s3psumls2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3m7p7zanc3c2mSorry but the idea that aid is failing because it focuses too much on rights and governance instead of economic growth is ludicrous. Recent Gen Z protests in Madagascar, Kenya, Nepal etc show how crucially important rights are. Apart from that clanger, good piece. https://www.devex.com/news/rethinking-development-funding-means-making-it-matter-to-the-median-voter-11147911 Dec 2025 09:08 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7p7zanc3c2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3m6lysfiog22eOne of our students has written a brilliant piece about escaping war in Sudan and the impact, particularly, of the conflict on women. "The deepest silence, however, surrounds the plight of Sudanese women...who is speaking about what is happening to women in Sudan?" https://www.ids.ac.uk/opinions/from-khartoum-to-ids-how-living-the-war-shapes-how-i-study-it/27 Nov 2025 08:56 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6lysfiog22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3m6jk7mgy622iBeautiful wintery morning today in west Sussex26 Nov 2025 09:30 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6jk7mgy622ihttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3m6ejejfpes27Another nail in the coffin for US hegemony https://www.ft.com/content/79ea917f-6fe5-4d89-8a26-971a563994b824 Nov 2025 09:31 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6ejejfpes27https://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3m4foklsmrk2z"our presence in Global North institutions was not just about what we could learn but equally about what we could contribute" https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-africa-partnerships-2025-10-global-south-scientists-call-for-rethink-of-brain-drain-narrative/30 Oct 2025 09:46 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4foklsmrk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3m4alvqjbn225Cuts in US and European development spending risk undoing the progress we've made on tackling malaria. This could cost millions of lives, and billions in lost economic growth https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/oct/21/global-health-infectious-disease-aid-cuts-malaria-funding-cost-deaths-gdp-africa28 Oct 2025 09:16 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4alvqjbn225https://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3m3tv5shpls2s"the Tutor will be someone qualified to support the educational and developmental needs of children from ultra-high-net-worth and royal families" 🤮🤮 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tutor-london-english-gentleman-eton-harrow-toddler-b2850066.html23 Oct 2025 07:57 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3tv5shpls2shttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3m3i5fedahk26Super excited by this new IDS initiative! [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Oct 2025 15:52 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3i5fedahk26https://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3m3ccdp5kh22pSums up #WorldFoodDay rather well [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 Oct 2025 08:05 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3ccdp5kh22phttps://bsky.app/profile/stevemetcalfe.bsky.social/post/3m2o7b2xywc24Excellent series on overshooting 1.5°C warming. First 2 episodes VERY gloomy (1.5°C much worse than we thought and we're going well past that; collapse of Atlantic AMOC current looking more likely; and the follies of carbon capture tech). Dare I hope for some optimism in the final 2 episodes? [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Oct 2025 08:16 +0000at://did:plc:h2x4zbunayrow3oqcsemyo7s/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2o7b2xywc24