A man has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List for his services to helping fight poverty.

Richard Teuten, from Haringey, will receive the recognition following a 35-year career at the UK Department for International Development and its predecessor the Overseas Development Administration.

Among his achievements, Mr Teuten led UK negotiations which secured a commitment from the World Bank to double its financing to fragile states.

This has helped improve the lives of civilians in poor and conflict-affected states like Yemen, countries in East Africa and the Sahel.

Following the news he would be receiving an OBE, Mr Teuten said: “I am very pleased to have been recognised in this way. It is in part a testament to all the fantastic collaboration I have received from a series of generations of DFID colleagues.

“The award is especially important as a signal for all of those who are carers as over much of the period, I have been helping my sister support my parents face degenerative illnesses and my autistic brother.

“I am particularly proud of our success in developing the International Development Act in 2002; in turning round the future of the Stabilisation Unit by showing its worth in Afghanistan and beyond; in helping land the London conferences on Syria in 2016 and Jordan in 2019; and in realising so many of the UK’s objectives across the International Financial Institutions over the last eight years.”

International Development Secretary, Alok Sharma, added: “It is fantastic to see so many international development workers receiving honours for their tireless work supporting people in developing countries. Congratulations to all of them.”