Sophie Stevens, Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for the XCEPT programme at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), shares reflections from over a year and a half of overseeing the programme. As the person accountable for its delivery, effectiveness and value for money, she outlines how XCEPT has made a meaningful impact across more than 15 geographies.

She highlights three key areas of influence: in-depth, long-term research that informs policy on issues like Sudan’s borderlands; the power of relationships and trusted networks that enable rapid crisis response; and the role XCEPT has played in challenging binary thinking—state versus non-state, licit versus illicit—and in revealing the complex interconnections shaping today’s conflicts.

Sophie also discusses how sustained investment in local research networks has built access, insight and credibility, and how these partnerships have helped FCDO and others respond in moments of crisis. From urgent briefings during the outbreak of conflict in Sudan to hosting dialogue platforms with local civic actors, she underscores the value of regional partnerships and grounded expertise. Lastly, she reflects on the trade-offs between policy and academic impact, and the need for continued balance between the two.