A.J. Higginson

Writer and blogger giving the unheard a voice #equality #diversity

The illegal slaughter of these majestic beasts has caused outrage globally - and rightly so. Animals are being lost on an almost daily basis. In 2013 there have been in excess of 273 rhino slayings in South Africa alone.

Rosie Childs

Save the Children’s Digital Media Manager

Story-telling lets us break down one of the other big misconceptions about aid, that it's colonial, a white man's hero mission. In every Save the Children programme that I've visited at least 90% of the staff are from that country and are passionate about what needs to happen to improve life for their fellow citizens.

Kinan Madi

Emergency Officer with Unicef in Syria, Homs Field Office

I joined Unicef after about six months of working with the NGO. Being in Unicef gives me the chance to stay in my country, keep a job, and help vulnerable children at the same time. Life here does get lonely sometimes, with my family and friends out of the country. Everyone goes home before sunset and prefers to stay indoors for safety, which leaves no room for social life after work. I go home in the evening and continue working. Power supply is erratic, and water is available only every few days, and only for a few hours.

Justin Cash

Freelance journalist published by Total Politics, CityAM, the Reading Chronicle and others

Currently, UK businesses (excluding banks) are hoarding cash to the tune of £318bn. As valuable as investing in expanding their own production is, whilst demand remains deflated businesses simply have no incentive to do so. Instead of stockpiling this cash for a rainy day that's already upon us, business should be investing in philanthropic ventures.

Elaine Benton

Author and blogger; battling two chronic diseases whilst maintaining a positive attitude and sense of humour

A person suffering from a chronic disease or some form of disability, needs intimacy with their spouse or partner as much as anyone else. Being intimate brings a closeness to a couple and is a necessary part of a healthy relationship. Many patients, too embarrassed to talk about these matters, can end up suffering from a lack of affection and tenderness which is essential to us all.

Charlie McDonnell

Video-Blogger and Musician, most subscribed to individual on YouTube in the UK

Last week I travelled to Tanzania with Save the Children to launch their #ifyoutube social media campaign, which is part of the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign, a coalition of over 160 charities working to make 2013 the beginning of the end for global hunger.

Debbie E. Cook

Director of the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS)

It's World Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Day on Saturday 4 May. Whilst advanced AS can cause fusion in the neck, spine and sometimes other areas and hence a change in posture, it can often be invisible. Not many people know much about AS, despite the fact that it is not a rare condition. It also is a form of arthritis that affects young people.

Richard Darlington

Head of News at the London based centre-left think tank IPPR

This week has seen a row over whether the UK should continue to fund aid to South Africa. By pure coincidence, I am in Johannesburg at the moment. Aid...

Larissa Pelham

Food security advisor at CARE International UK

Small scale farming in Africa and Asia - that is, farming small plots of land of up to two hectares and typically much less - provides 80% of the food for the market places and households across these continents. And women produce 60-80% of the food in developing countries.

Jeffrey Gedmin

President and CEO of the Legatum Institute in London

Back in the city we meet with ex-prostitutes who have been rescued and are trying to transition to a new life. One young girl's father was murdered by trafficking criminals, so unhappy were they over the loss of 'property' and revenue.There's not much mercy to be found in the heart of the slave holder; even in Varanasi, the city of salvation.

Heidi Eldridge

Chairman, Mama Academy

The 5th of May is International Day of the Midwife and the UK should be supporting midwives and other maternity professionals more so now than ever before. Why? Because there is currently a baby boom, a shortage of 5,000 midwives and the UK has one of the worst stillbirth rates in the developed world according to the 2011 Lancet report.

Maria Sowter

Online Content Editor for non-profit volunteering NGO Frontier, passionate about travel, culture and digital media

Responsible travel that includes volunteering can the most rewarding kind, allowing the traveller an extended period of time to get to know and give something back to a community or cause.

Dr Alvaro Bermejo

Executive Director, International HIV/AIDS Alliance

David Cameron has identified other priorities for this summit - trade, tax and transparency - and will host a pre-meeting focused on world hunger. These are all vital issues, but the Prime Minister also needs to protect what has already been achieved and should encourage the G8 to deliver on past promises.

Su Sayer

Chief Executive, United Response

Something struck me while the Arab Spring was spreading throughout the Middle East in 2011. The main reason so much of the British media and public was enthusiastic about these revolutions was the hope they would result in the spread of democracy to other countries.

Hilary Stauffer

Deputy Director of Reprieve (War on Terror team)

The EU needs to be an ethical, moral, and legal counterbalance to the United States regarding the use of armed drones, and to play a leading role in developing the international standards which are emerging to govern their use. When the International Committee of the Red Cross has finally gone on record to state that certain aspects of the drone wars are "problematic," it is obvious that the time is ripe for action.

Neil Durkin

Press Officer at Amnesty International UK

In fact it's always timely to be reminded of the fact that journalists are a vital pillar of any properly functioning democratic society. And this is notwithstanding the recent hammering that some parts of the profession have taken in this country over phone-hacking and other illegal activity. The fall-out from Leveson shouldn't distract us from the extremely serious work that journalists regularly do.