Focus on
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) has become a critical component of international development that recognises the importance of promoting equality and addressing social injustices to achieve sustainable development. As a strong and practical approach for mainstreaming GESI in broader programming has emerged, BEI is bringing together members active across Health, Education, Climate Change, Economic Inclusion, and Humanitarian sectors to explore the impact it has in the international development space.
British Expertise International
Strategic Alignment
The breadth and complexity of the challenges in GESI demand close alignment across multiple audiences – government, agencies and funding bodies to name but three. Our members have experience in helping these entities align not just on key priorities and focus areas but also on their approaches to policy and planning, funding and evaluation.
An Inclusive Approach
Together with a commitment to partnership, BEI members have tangible experience in incorporating in their projects grassroots approaches which ensure political participation, agency and representation of the voice of marginalised communities.
Operational Rigour
The combination of the need for effective partnerships coupled with a challenging budget environment puts a real premium on operational rigour – that all programming is delivered with real quality and discipline – from end to end. This rigour must cover multiple areas – from effective design and reviews of the processes involved at every stage of the design and delivery.
Measuring Impact
Nothing can function optimally without robust, focused, and timely measurement of the impact of activities, interventions, and policies. Ensuring that GESI is meaningfully and deliberately considered during each step of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning is essential to understanding how activities meet the needs of different groups.
Breadth and Depth
BEI’s members have experience working across a broad spectrum of issues that impact the most marginalised in society, most notably: Inequalities and challenges related to Health and Well-Being; The impact of Humanitarian Crises; Poople’s access to quality Education; The growing impact of Climate Change; The challenges linked to a lack of Economic Incusion
Working In Partnership
BEI’s members have a track record of working in partnership at every critical level:from bi-lateral donors to governemnt recipients of ODA, to multi-lateral agencies and regional development banks; local partners and grassroot communities, as well as charities, NGOs and private sector organisations
British Expertise International
What we do for our members in Education
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Delivering real value for members
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Managing Director
Their reputation as a voice for UK business overseas continues to ensure that the private sector is able to have a spokesperson to help affect positive change and now, with COVID pandemic, their leadership is ever more salient.
Crossrail International
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Head, Int. Project Finance
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As a company with an international outreach, we have welcomed the regular updates from BEI and in particular, we find the Ambassadorial briefings extremely informative. They are a useful source for a different perspective on our target markets.
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Education Working Group’s Positioning Paper
Recover Learning, Rebuild Education
Solutions to the Covid-19 Education crisis: a view from UK-based specialist education providers.
Third Edition
Latest Member Publication
Report: Beyond Boundaries: The Role of UK-Based Organisations in Advancing Global Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Second Edition – Launched October 2024
BEI GESI Report
Beyond Boundaries
First Edition - Launched May 2023
BEI International Development Report
Delivering World Class Development
Leveraging British Expertise To Deliver the UK’s International Development Strategy
Second Edition
Latest Member Publication
Report: Beyond Boundaries: The Role of UK-Based Organisations in Advancing Global Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
This second edition GESI report includes an additional 10 case studies from new BEI members.
Second Edition – Launched October 2024
Latest Member Publication
Beyond Boundaries
The Role of UK-Based Organisations in Advancing Global Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
First Edition - Launched May 2023
Recent Reports
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Resources for business
Working with our members to present solutions to the Covid-19 Education Crisis and pioneer thought leadership
Providing a platform for networking, showcasing UK-based expertise and capabilities, sharing information and delivering outputs.
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BEI Education Working Group’s Positioning Paper
"Now systems are beginning to reopen, we have entered a critical period to ensure not just schools can begin to function, but that all learners return to school and differential learning loss is addressed."
Watch a recent event
Title about sector relevant events at BEI
Here we talk about British Expertise sector driven events and value to prospective member. Here we talk about British Expertise sector driven events and value to prospective member.
The FCDO funded Aawaz II works with civil society partners within the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to reduce exploitation, improve social cohesion and reduce conflict.
ÉLAN RDC, one of DFID/FCDO’s largest private sector development programmes, included GESI as a cross-cutting priority to sustainably increasing incomes for poor women and socially excluded groups.
Read their story
Arup developed new designs for communal latrines and bathing facilities so girls and women can experience greater safety and dignity, even in difficult humanitarian contexts.
Read their story
Abt associates facilitated institutional change through a new Gender Policy and Action Plan by providing technical expertise in areas relating to climate activities
Read their story
GPG set out to examine the experiences of women who have been pushed to set up their own businesses to support their families and provide recommendations to the Iraqi government and the international community
Read their story
Co-designing and activating a communications campaign to tackle stigma and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
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Supported marginalised girls and boys with disabilities in primary and junior secondary schools to attend school, learn in safe and inclusive environments and transition to further education and beyond.
Read their storyWorking with our members
BEI Working Group:
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
- Within the membership of BEI there are a number of organisations who provide education services. These members are part of the BEI Education Working Group, which aims to incubate collaborative approaches and facilitate information sharing.
- Our members offer a wide range of expertise, knowledge and products designed to bring the best of UK-based expertise in teaching and learning, support services, content creation, consultancy, training and capacity building to the international market.
- Through the BEI Education Working Group, we facilitate high value Education events to help members engage with external stakeholders such as government bodies and multilateral institutions and showcase UK expertise and innovative solutions.
Connecting with In-Country Policy Makers
The Working Group is now engaged in following up directly with in-country ministries of education across the world. The aim is to understand their strategies and showcase specific capabilities that are proven to help address their challenges.
Focus on Girls’ Education
In line with the UK’s global focus on the key issue of Girls’ Education, this special Working Group stream supports engagement around the key issues and actions that can help improve access and engagement in education for girls and women.
Focus on Skills
Future economic well-being is dependent upon developing the practical and relevant skills for the 21st century. This is a unifying issue across all countries and sectors supported by BEI. The Working Group will be addressing this important challenge over the coming year.
Get in touch with our Programme Director
Alexandra Barnes
Committed to delivering value to our members
About Us
British Expertise International
- BEI is the leading business development network for UK-based companies exporting expertise in infrastructure, capacity building and international development services, particularly to fast-growing, emerging and developing international markets.
- BEI has successfully delivered this unique focus, working both through our networks and alongside the UK government and other stakeholders, for over 50 years.
- BEI works closely with the UK and foreign governments to help our members understand international markets and opportunities they present through a wide range of activities. These include networking events, sector-focused forums, bespoke international market intelligence, and demand-based trade missions.
"Alinea greatly values the insight and access that BEI brings to its members. We use BEI to stay up-to-date with latest UK government thinking and market intelligence; to review opportunities with other donors and markets; and to project our voice to government as an SME supplier."
Charles Duff, Vice President, Alinea
"BEI events are always high quality, topical and with an excellent range of speakers from government, international development agencies, NGOs, and the private sector. They provide really useful networking opportunities, and we value the role that they play in representing the interests of members – large, medium and small. Staff are professional, supportive, and friendly."
Claire Cameron, Founding Director, PAI
"Perhaps the most exciting benefit of BEI membership and the working groups is the highly collaborative approach, as we have created several new partnerships through our membership that have translated into joint bids on projects with other members."
Dr. Anna Kingsley, Head of Partnerships, Cambridge Partnership for Education
Get in touch to find out more about membership
Luisa Edves
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Working Group Members
BEI Members involved in
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
