They are instantly recognisable. Rucksacks full of concept papers, water canisters bouncing from the waist and beaded sandals on their feet, they stride purposefully through Africa’s airports and hotel lobbies.

Often young, always enthusiastic, they are today’s face of Britain in Africa, trying to turn Tony Blair’s promise of ending poverty into reality.

They are largely recruited from aid agencies and nongovernmental organisations and could hardly be more different from the crusty Foreign Office types so long associated with Britain’s presence in Africa. The “gin and tonic” brigade was criticised for turning a blind eye to human rights violations so long as the dictator in question bought British goods. However, many of these types spent entire careers in Africa. They spoke local languages and may have done more to alleviate poverty than decades of aid.

Aidan Hartley, a British author who lives in Kenya, said: “They were not always the pleasantest bunch, but they knew what they were dealing with.”

The newcomers speak the politically correct language of the “aid business” and arrive with a messianic zeal but they often know little about the history of the countries where they are posted. Some appear so young they could even be on a “gap year”.

Shortly after Hilary Benn became Development Minister in 2003 a department aide in Burundi asked The Times its opinion of the minister. “Very impressive, can’t always have been easy for him with a father like Tony Benn,” your correspondent said. The aide replied, with total sincerity: “Who exactly was his father?”

Recruits in Mr Benn’s department are often idealistic and have worked at the sharp end of a humanitarian crisis. They are not necessarily well versed in British politics. “They are not bad people — the question is: are they the type who should be involved in government policy, particularly when dealing with some very nasty governments?” asked a former diplomat.

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