DFID led UK international aid from 1997 to 2020; last secretary of state was Anne-Marie Trevelyan. Recent news mentions leadership reshuffle at FCDO and coverage of Nigeria LGBTQ+ issues highlighting aid implications.
The Independent has documented a surge in LGBTQ+-targeted violence in Nigeria, where gangs entrap, extort, and torture individuals on camera for ransom. As aid cuts bite, clinics and shelters are collapsing, threatening life-saving HIV treatment for survivors. The documentary features testimonies from survivors and advocates, highlighting a humanitarian crisis intensified by policy shifts.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has appointed Lindy Cameron as its permanent secretary. She has led international diplomacy and development roles and is moving to steer the department through restructuring and budgetary pressures. The appointment comes as other top civil-service moves reshape Whitehall.