One simple action can, in one moment define how you choose to live your life. 

Traveling through Southern Africa with my parents as a child, I had a chance encounter with a Zimbabwean boy of a similar age, who politely asked whether I had any spare ball point pens. Being of little intrinsic importance to me, I happily present him with a pen from my school bag. Here, I was struck by how genuinely thankful the boy was. I was somewhat puzzled by the response until my parents explained that the boy, unlike myself did not have any equipment for his schooling. “Now, you can both study together” I was told. For the first time I was able to perceive through this small gesture the importance of other people benefiting from my actions, particularly when confronting inequality. This image of hope has remained ever present in my mind in the years that have followed my first visit to the african continent and has driven my career within the development sector.

In the years that followed I developed a passion for art, enriched by the varied approaches people, over time, have taken to represent the world around them. Though originally inspired by the work of the renaissance artists, it was photography, rather than painting that would become my principle creative tool. Yet, the simplicity of composition and the reflection of human emotion and beauty found in the works of the renaissance masters provide my working frame of reference. My Bachelors Degree combined Photography, Film and Video and Graphic Design. Today these three disciplines are the route by which people construct their own impression of the world. The moving image, the still image and the magazine / web. As an artist, if you want to produce work that truly informs the public consciousness, then here is your modern canvas.

Driven by a motivation to produce socially conscious work, a natural route back to my early experience in Africa emerged. Following events in Sub-Saharan Africa in early 2002 I was taken back to my early experience in Zimbabwe. The absence of action, in spite of evident humanitarian need was a source of both concern and motivation. That June I undertook a series of photojournalist assignments as a volunteer, working with UK based NGOs who were responding to the effects of the food crisis. A challenging and rewarding time, I was confident that my photographic and written work could raise awareness of the crisis and bring people closer to the lives of their fellow man. Upon my return to the UK, one of my images spearheaded the Disasters and Emergences Committee fundraising appeal. Subsequent funding raised aided emergency response projects in the region.

Further exposure to development issues as a photojournalist fuelled my interest in development, interviewing and discussed causal factors and response strategies to poverty in its diverse forms with individuals at the grass routs of development and humanitarian relief. In the years that have followed I have diversified my skills within the humanitarian sector to include research, external relations and communication, advocacy and project design and implementation. Between 2004-2005 I assisted in the development of community empowerment projects and co-ordinated a series of meeting between the tribal leadership within the Lakota Nation, the most poverty stricken region of the United States for Lakota Aid. This was followed by an Advocacy role with Medecins Sans Frontieres where I devised and carried out advocacy strategies and fundraising on behalf of civilians forced to flee conflict in Colombia and Sudan’s Darfur region. In early 2005 I assisted in emergency relief operations in response to those affected by the Asian Tsunami. 

Driven by the desire to further my understanding of development and humanitarian intervention I undertook a Masters Degree at the University of Sussex in England, where I studied under the supervision of Professor Richard Black. My time at Sussex proved hugely rewarding in framing many of my early experiences within the wider humanitarian context, exploring different approaches to development practice, whilst developing research and vocational skills. A main area of interest to emerge from my studies was the importance of combining humanitarian assistance within an overall development agenda. Study topics included Refugees and Development, Aid and Projects, Concepts and Theories of Development, the Relief and Development divide and the new humanitarianism framework. My thesis discussed the parallels of humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced persons within Colombia’s Democratic Security Framework, following an increased interest in development in Latin America.  I graduating with merit in September of 2006.

From October 2006 to May 2008 I was based in Peru. Working as a development consultant, I developed a close working relationship with the philanthropy organisation Rotary International, assisting in the area of Project Development. In addition, I supported a civil society organisation called 'Organizacion de Afectados Tarinakuy', who represent an IDP community in Villa El Salvador, Lima. This allowed the opportunity the development my interest in internal displacement. Working as Civil Society Development Advisor, I providing technical assistance to the organisation in the areas of communications, project development and training. Finally I also undertook a consultancy with the international partner of EveryChild International, EveryChild Perú who specialize in Child Rights. As a Cooperation Advisor I developed a Strategic Fundraising and Business Plan in line with a national donor mapping study and advised in project development to encourage private sector partnerships.

Current based in Albania, I am working as a UNV Communications Specialist for the United Nations in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator. My work to date has included supporting the implementation of the inter-agency One UN Communcations Strategy and the design and execution of yearly communications workplans. I have acted as the communications focal point for Joint Programmes implemented under Delivering as One UN. In addition, I have coordinated press visits to project areas, developed and produced communications materials and documented key project outputs and successes. I have also lead the UN’s presence online through the web and social media platforms. I have design and coordinated a multi-donor Road Safety Public Awareness Campaign and coordinated activities to mark UN Days; including International Roma Day and Human Rights Day.

Enjoy your journey around my website. Updates will be added periodically, so please do return for more news from my explorations in international development. 

Gavin David White