Mike Jennings
@mikejennings101.bsky.social
Prof of Global Development in Africa: history & politics of dev; NGOs, FBOs, local dev orgs; religion & global dev; global health & dev. Keen photographer.
My links: https://linktr.ee/mikejennings101
My links: https://linktr.ee/mikejennings101
Christmas Eve meal prepped for the oven for later; and plan of action for tomorrow done and on the fridge waiting for the off. Christmas, bring it on!
December 24, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Christmas Eve meal prepped for the oven for later; and plan of action for tomorrow done and on the fridge waiting for the off. Christmas, bring it on!
Overheard on a train, a continuing series.
"We don’t need the females names, or east versus west, etc etc. Maybe as a PS? All I’m trying to say is that you have to have it written down. They’re just making it unnecessarily complicated because it's to their advantage. So we need to keep it simple."
"We don’t need the females names, or east versus west, etc etc. Maybe as a PS? All I’m trying to say is that you have to have it written down. They’re just making it unnecessarily complicated because it's to their advantage. So we need to keep it simple."
December 10, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Overheard on a train, a continuing series.
"We don’t need the females names, or east versus west, etc etc. Maybe as a PS? All I’m trying to say is that you have to have it written down. They’re just making it unnecessarily complicated because it's to their advantage. So we need to keep it simple."
"We don’t need the females names, or east versus west, etc etc. Maybe as a PS? All I’m trying to say is that you have to have it written down. They’re just making it unnecessarily complicated because it's to their advantage. So we need to keep it simple."
Overheard, on a train (No. Something of Many)
“I’m a train driver. I’m not just going to ‘choo-choo’ every time I’m walking. Actually, I might do. That could be a thing. So why’s he rapping all the time? We know, you’re a rapper. You don’t have to do it all the time.”
“I’m a train driver. I’m not just going to ‘choo-choo’ every time I’m walking. Actually, I might do. That could be a thing. So why’s he rapping all the time? We know, you’re a rapper. You don’t have to do it all the time.”
November 19, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Overheard, on a train (No. Something of Many)
“I’m a train driver. I’m not just going to ‘choo-choo’ every time I’m walking. Actually, I might do. That could be a thing. So why’s he rapping all the time? We know, you’re a rapper. You don’t have to do it all the time.”
“I’m a train driver. I’m not just going to ‘choo-choo’ every time I’m walking. Actually, I might do. That could be a thing. So why’s he rapping all the time? We know, you’re a rapper. You don’t have to do it all the time.”
Commute soundtrack this morning Gavin Bryar’s Jesus’ love never failed me. A while since I last listened to it, but still can’t decide whether it’s heartbreaking, hopeful or both.
November 19, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Commute soundtrack this morning Gavin Bryar’s Jesus’ love never failed me. A while since I last listened to it, but still can’t decide whether it’s heartbreaking, hopeful or both.
Thinking about the current crisis engulfing the BBC I was reminded of an email I sent a Radio 4 prog in 2016 suggesting a conversation on differing practices and ethics in the use of speech in 'direct quotations' between media and academic professions. Some thoughts here: medium.com/@mikejenning...
The BBC in crisis, and the ethics of representing people’s words
Recently I spoke to a broadcaster about the Tanzanian election crisis. As usual, our ten minute conversation was reduced to an 8 second…
medium.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Thinking about the current crisis engulfing the BBC I was reminded of an email I sent a Radio 4 prog in 2016 suggesting a conversation on differing practices and ethics in the use of speech in 'direct quotations' between media and academic professions. Some thoughts here: medium.com/@mikejenning...
Is aid dead? A few thoughts on my (much neglected) blog reflecting on conversations I'm sure we're all having with colleagues and & those engaged in global development. tl;dr - nope, it's not. But crisis may offer a moment for change.
mikejennings101.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/t...
mikejennings101.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/t...
The end of aid? Are we really witnessing the death of aid in 2025?
‘An end to aid?’; ‘The end of aid: what the global South needs to do’; ‘Is this the end of aid as we know it?’; ‘The end of the global aid industry’. Have we seen the end of aid as a tool for devel…
mikejennings101.wordpress.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Is aid dead? A few thoughts on my (much neglected) blog reflecting on conversations I'm sure we're all having with colleagues and & those engaged in global development. tl;dr - nope, it's not. But crisis may offer a moment for change.
mikejennings101.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/t...
mikejennings101.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/t...
In my somewhat tired state at this time in the morning, I just wrote out 'applehood and mother pie' in a lecture note. I think I prefer it.
October 22, 2025 at 6:37 AM
In my somewhat tired state at this time in the morning, I just wrote out 'applehood and mother pie' in a lecture note. I think I prefer it.
I rescued a goat today. Not saying I deserve a British Hero award, or a peerage or anything. But it did appear quite grateful and had a look that said it would have nominated me if it had been able to.
October 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I rescued a goat today. Not saying I deserve a British Hero award, or a peerage or anything. But it did appear quite grateful and had a look that said it would have nominated me if it had been able to.
I didn’t go to a listening party for yesterday’s big new album release, and haven’t been following the media frenzy. But having listened multiple times since Friday, and again this morning, I can confirm Ninebarrow’s new album is fantastic.
No view on anything else that might have been released.
No view on anything else that might have been released.
October 4, 2025 at 8:52 AM
I didn’t go to a listening party for yesterday’s big new album release, and haven’t been following the media frenzy. But having listened multiple times since Friday, and again this morning, I can confirm Ninebarrow’s new album is fantastic.
No view on anything else that might have been released.
No view on anything else that might have been released.
In a good piece in @theguardian.com on autism/paracetamol bad science, the implicit criticism of RFK jr for saying 'epidemic' ("better reserved for infectious disease outbreaks") would have more bite if the paper didn't often use it itself. eg 'loneliness epidemic', 'vaping epidemic', etc
September 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
In a good piece in @theguardian.com on autism/paracetamol bad science, the implicit criticism of RFK jr for saying 'epidemic' ("better reserved for infectious disease outbreaks") would have more bite if the paper didn't often use it itself. eg 'loneliness epidemic', 'vaping epidemic', etc
Apple Maps has all the regional subtlety of an Andy Burnham speech. For the record, Apple Maps, the M3 is NOT in the “direction of the Midlands”. Harrumph.
September 13, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Apple Maps has all the regional subtlety of an Andy Burnham speech. For the record, Apple Maps, the M3 is NOT in the “direction of the Midlands”. Harrumph.
I'm fine with getting reminders to respond to journal review applications. But I got one on Friday , and then the reminder on Sunday! This doesn't make me more likely to agree to do the review. And don't send reminders on a weekend. I don't check emails anyway over weekends, but still...
September 8, 2025 at 8:23 AM
I'm fine with getting reminders to respond to journal review applications. But I got one on Friday , and then the reminder on Sunday! This doesn't make me more likely to agree to do the review. And don't send reminders on a weekend. I don't check emails anyway over weekends, but still...
I'm one of the guests talking about the impact of aid cuts on @bbcworldservice.bsky.social podcast The Inquiry (along with three other great guests: Harvard's CID Fatema Z Sumar, George Ingram from the Brookings Institution, & Edinburgh's Francisca Mutapi. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
The Inquiry - What is filling the USAID funding gap? - BBC Sounds
US President Donald Trump has cut spending to USAID. What happens next?
www.bbc.co.uk
April 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I'm one of the guests talking about the impact of aid cuts on @bbcworldservice.bsky.social podcast The Inquiry (along with three other great guests: Harvard's CID Fatema Z Sumar, George Ingram from the Brookings Institution, & Edinburgh's Francisca Mutapi. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
One of our former
@soasdevelopment.bsky.social students, @jyotirsondhi.bsky.social has written on aid from and to India in the context of the attack on USAID. It's a great read, and you can find it here: thewire.in/world/us-shu...
@soasdevelopment.bsky.social students, @jyotirsondhi.bsky.social has written on aid from and to India in the context of the attack on USAID. It's a great read, and you can find it here: thewire.in/world/us-shu...
US Shuts Down Aid. What about India?
These are testing times for international cooperation; India must stand alongside the developing world. Through aid, and otherwise, time is ripe for India to truly earn the title of the leader of the ...
thewire.in
March 25, 2025 at 10:27 AM
One of our former
@soasdevelopment.bsky.social students, @jyotirsondhi.bsky.social has written on aid from and to India in the context of the attack on USAID. It's a great read, and you can find it here: thewire.in/world/us-shu...
@soasdevelopment.bsky.social students, @jyotirsondhi.bsky.social has written on aid from and to India in the context of the attack on USAID. It's a great read, and you can find it here: thewire.in/world/us-shu...
Reposted by Mike Jennings
The aid tap is being turned off - USAID is suspended, and the UK is moving funds to defence. What happens to those who depend on this assistance? Phil Dobbie and I hear from @mikejennings101.bsky.social @soasuni.bsky.social
whycurve.com/episode/aid-...
whycurve.com/episode/aid-...
Aid Emergency | The Why Curve
The aid tap is being turned off. USAID has suspended all its programmes and the UK is diverting much of the budget for overseas development to buying tanks and...
whycurve.com
March 20, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The aid tap is being turned off - USAID is suspended, and the UK is moving funds to defence. What happens to those who depend on this assistance? Phil Dobbie and I hear from @mikejennings101.bsky.social @soasuni.bsky.social
whycurve.com/episode/aid-...
whycurve.com/episode/aid-...
Thanks for inviting me on - it was an interesting (and important) conversation.
The US will lose soft power through its USAid cuts. And who will fill the vacuum? @mikejennings101.bsky.social from the University of London joins Phil and Roger on this week’s Why Curve podcast: whycurve.com/episode/aid-emergency
March 20, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Thanks for inviting me on - it was an interesting (and important) conversation.
I was invited by @phildobbie.bsky.social & Roger Hearing to chat about the state of development aid at a point of crisis on their The Why Curve podcast. Interesting conversation, and hopefully addressed a few issues of importance around aid in the episode out now. whycurve.com/episode/aid-...
Aid Emergency | The Why Curve
The aid tap is being turned off. USAID has suspended all its programmes and the UK is diverting much of the budget for overseas development to buying tanks and...
whycurve.com
March 20, 2025 at 8:59 AM
I was invited by @phildobbie.bsky.social & Roger Hearing to chat about the state of development aid at a point of crisis on their The Why Curve podcast. Interesting conversation, and hopefully addressed a few issues of importance around aid in the episode out now. whycurve.com/episode/aid-...
Latest Why Curve podcast looks at dev aid in a Trumpian world with a guest appearance from me! Always fun to hear one's verbal tics. But I had fun recording & hopefully an interesting conversation on the state of development aid right now. You can judge for yourself. whycurve.com/episode/aid-...
Aid Emergency | The Why Curve
The aid tap is being turned off. USAID has suspended all its programmes and the UK is diverting much of the budget for overseas development to buying tanks and...
whycurve.com
March 20, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Latest Why Curve podcast looks at dev aid in a Trumpian world with a guest appearance from me! Always fun to hear one's verbal tics. But I had fun recording & hopefully an interesting conversation on the state of development aid right now. You can judge for yourself. whycurve.com/episode/aid-...
I’ve been re-reading Pope Paul VI’s 1967 encyclical on development for a project, and reminded just how radical it has remained (or how far the world has moved in the opposite direction perhaps)?
March 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I’ve been re-reading Pope Paul VI’s 1967 encyclical on development for a project, and reminded just how radical it has remained (or how far the world has moved in the opposite direction perhaps)?
I think it's a law now that all academics must pen at least one opinion piece on the latest Trumpian lunacy, & here's mine for @theconversation.com. I look at the cancellation of Pepfar programmes & the implications of destroying it.
theconversation.com/trump-is-can...
theconversation.com/trump-is-can...
Trump is cancelling a Republican project to wipe out Aids – putting millions of lives at risk
Millions of people worldwide are likely to lose access to anti HIV drugs, and thousands more people could die, after the US cut project funding.
theconversation.com
March 11, 2025 at 11:29 AM
I think it's a law now that all academics must pen at least one opinion piece on the latest Trumpian lunacy, & here's mine for @theconversation.com. I look at the cancellation of Pepfar programmes & the implications of destroying it.
theconversation.com/trump-is-can...
theconversation.com/trump-is-can...
Ah, the 1st sign of spring: a newspaper article about hot cross buns going all fancy / awful with flavour additions. As reliable a sign of the new season as any daffs beginning to put their heads up.
March 1, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Ah, the 1st sign of spring: a newspaper article about hot cross buns going all fancy / awful with flavour additions. As reliable a sign of the new season as any daffs beginning to put their heads up.
Brilliant double-bill inaugural lectures tonight at SOAS from Profs @tommytanner.bsky.social and Uli Volz. the theme running through both was climate change, adaptation, resilience and climate finance. A great showcase for the work being done by these two, and at SOAS.
February 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Brilliant double-bill inaugural lectures tonight at SOAS from Profs @tommytanner.bsky.social and Uli Volz. the theme running through both was climate change, adaptation, resilience and climate finance. A great showcase for the work being done by these two, and at SOAS.
Having spent pre-Christmas seeing present ideas, and then ideas on new year resolutions, self-improvement and wellbeing activities afterwards, in @theguardian.com, it makes me chuckle when it has articles accusing other media of being overtly middle class fantasies!
January 8, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Having spent pre-Christmas seeing present ideas, and then ideas on new year resolutions, self-improvement and wellbeing activities afterwards, in @theguardian.com, it makes me chuckle when it has articles accusing other media of being overtly middle class fantasies!
My favourite list of the year:
He’s making a list.
He’s checking it twice
He’s measured the oven
To see if the space will suffice.
Serving dishes chosen,
Timings are set.
The plan is made
So no need to fret.
We eat at 2
If all are here.
But whether 2, 4 or 6
We’ll be of good cheer
(and drunk!)
He’s making a list.
He’s checking it twice
He’s measured the oven
To see if the space will suffice.
Serving dishes chosen,
Timings are set.
The plan is made
So no need to fret.
We eat at 2
If all are here.
But whether 2, 4 or 6
We’ll be of good cheer
(and drunk!)
December 24, 2024 at 6:37 PM
My favourite list of the year:
He’s making a list.
He’s checking it twice
He’s measured the oven
To see if the space will suffice.
Serving dishes chosen,
Timings are set.
The plan is made
So no need to fret.
We eat at 2
If all are here.
But whether 2, 4 or 6
We’ll be of good cheer
(and drunk!)
He’s making a list.
He’s checking it twice
He’s measured the oven
To see if the space will suffice.
Serving dishes chosen,
Timings are set.
The plan is made
So no need to fret.
We eat at 2
If all are here.
But whether 2, 4 or 6
We’ll be of good cheer
(and drunk!)
Xmas stuffings, done; bread & cranberry sauces, done; gravy base, done; red cabbage, done and sitting in the freezer with the rest. Xmas pud, steamed and being regularly topped up with enough brandy to stun an elephant. Christmas prep is coming on strong. 🎄
December 7, 2024 at 5:58 PM
Xmas stuffings, done; bread & cranberry sauces, done; gravy base, done; red cabbage, done and sitting in the freezer with the rest. Xmas pud, steamed and being regularly topped up with enough brandy to stun an elephant. Christmas prep is coming on strong. 🎄