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Contributor Guidelines

Submitting guest blogs is open to Global Washington’s members of the Atlas level and above. We value a diversity of opinions on a broad range of subjects of interest to the global health and development community.

Blog article submissions should be 500-1500 words. Photos, graphs, videos, and other art that supports the main themes are strongly encouraged.

You may not be the best writer, and that’s okay. We can help you shape and edit your contribution. The most important thing is that it furthers an important conversation in your field, and that it is relatively jargon-free. Anyone without a background in global development should still be able to engage with your ideas.

If you include statistics or reference current research, please hyperlink your sources in the text, wherever possible.

Have an idea of what you’d like to write about? Let’s continue the conversation! Email comms@globalWA.org and put “Blog Idea” in the subject line.


Banking on Women: Financing the Future of Economic Growth

By Annie O’Donnell

Panelists.

“Banking on Women” – a joint event, organized by Global Washington and the World Affairs Council, held at the Rainier Club on May 10, 2018. Photo: Andie Long/Global Washington.

“It’s really a no-brainer,” says Saara Romu, founder of Selkea, explaining the benefits of financial inclusion for women in global development. Not only does it increase countries’ GDP growth, but it improves the overall well-being of families and communities in developing countries.

Investing in women has repeatedly shown to be the fastest way to impact communities and increase ROI. For this reason, development organizations, the private sector, and policy makers are focusing on deliberate efforts to create access to financial markets for women.

A panel of distinguished women in the field of financial inclusion convened at the Rainier Club on May 10th through an event co-hosted by Global Washington and the World Affairs Council of Seattle. Continue Reading

Reflections on Global Washington’s Event, “Women Hold Up Half the Cup: Empowering Women in Coffee-Growing Regions of the World”

By Ulrike Hoessle

Global Washington reception on women’s empowerment in coffee-growing regions.
Speakers included Andrea Ribeiro Gonçalves Mendes, COOPFAM; KJ Zunigha, Global Partnerships; Frank Rubio, Oikocredit; Kelly Goodejohn, Starbucks; Colleen Anunu, Fair Trade USA; and Kristen Dailey, Global Washington. Photo by Hanna Hwang.

In April 2018, the Global Specialty Coffee Expo returned to Seattle – the “world’s capital of coffee,” according to Global Washington Executive Director, Kristen Dailey. To mark the occasion, Global Washington held a reception alongside the Expo to highlight how its members are working towards women’s empowerment in coffee-growing regions of the world. Continue Reading

Key Travel Survey Reveals Jump in Last Minute Travel Booking, Increased Use of Sharing Economy Platforms, and Heightened Travel Risk Awareness

By: Sean Kelly, President – Key Travel US

Every year, Key Travel distributes an annual survey to travelers and travel organizers at over 350 organizations across the NGO, academic, and faith sectors. This survey helps us capture valuable insight into the policies, attitudes, and preferences of our unique client base. This year’s results gave us a better understanding of our clients’ booking preferences, safety and risk management strategies, and travel trends.

Some interesting findings include: an increase in travel being booked by email or online, often outside of normal business hours, and at the last minute. We also observed an increase in the use of sharing platforms when traveling for work, such as booking accommodations through Airbnb. While the survey results saw a decrease in security felt by travelers, there was a positive uptick in management strategies to mitigate risk to the traveler. Continue Reading