New appointment to lead increased focus on advocacy at Book Aid International
Book Aid International, which fights poverty in the developing world by creating reading and learning opportunities for the poor, is increasing its focus on advocacy for policy change, including through the creation of a new advocacy team.
"Our latest three year plan commits Book Aid International to securing policy change among donors and in developing countries to ensure that poor people have access to information" said executive director Sara Harrity MBE.
"Our newly created advocacy team will lead that work and I'm delighted to announce that Joseph O'Reilly has been appointed to head the new team."
Joseph is a highly experienced policy analyst and advocate with over ten years experience in international development.
Immediately before joining Book Aid International, Joseph was a Senior Policy Adviser at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, where he was involved in efforts to secure international policy and funding commitments to scale up HIV prevention, care and treatment. He has also worked as a consultant for Amnesty International, Oxfam and Safer World and is a former Policy and Campaigns Director of the UK's National AIDS Trust.
Joseph O'Reilly said he understood the importance of Book Aid International's to the global fight against poverty. "I've seen first hand the vital role that access to information plays in effectively tackling HIV/AIDS and in protecting human rights in the developing world. I also know that lack of information inhibits good decision making and stifles development," he said.
"I'm very excited to be joining Book Aid International and to have the opportunity to make access to vital information a reality for marginalised communities in the developing world."