Best Devex Global Development Podcasts (2025)

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This Week in Global Dev: #104: Foreign aid at a crossroads: What's next for global development? 33:00

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1d ago33:00

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With the U.S. Agency for International Development officially dismantled and its remnants folded into the State Department, the landscape of global aid is at a turning point. We delve into expert perspectives on what the future of foreign assistance might entail, exploring proposed transformations from widening the donor base beyond traditional Wes…

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This Week in Global Dev: #103: Did Sevilla save multilateralism — or just survive the heat? 18:55

9d ago18:55

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As the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development wraps up, Devex reporters Jesse Chase-Lubitz and Elissa Miolene join Associate Editor Thomas Cserép for a podcast episode reflecting on what transpired this week in Sevilla — beyond the sweltering 115 degrees Celsius heat.The big takeaway from FfD4 is the Compromiso de Sevilla, a d…

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Special episode: How blockchain is powering crisis-to-cash infrastructure 23:57

11d ago23:57

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Special episode: How blockchain is powering crisis-to-cash infrastructure by DevexBy Devex

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FfD4 kicks off as aid budgets shrink and U.S. steps back 22:48

12d ago22:48

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Development leaders have converged on Sevilla, Spain, for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, or FfD4 — the first such gathering in a decade — as shrinking aid budgets and a U.S. retreat from multilateral commitments reshape the sector.At the 2015 conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, official development assistance was…

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Special episode: Can health survive the development finance revolution? 24:06

12d ago24:06

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Special episode: Can health survive the development finance revolution? by DevexBy Devex

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This Week in Global Dev: #102: How cuts to Gavi reflect US disengagement from development 26:17

17d ago26:17

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This week, we have been closely following the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance’s high-level replenishment event in Brussels. Gavi, the leading international organization that provides vaccines to lower-income countries, finalized its five-year investment round event with more than $9 billion in pledges — falling short of its total budget request of $11.9…

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This Week in Global Dev: #101: Bonn climate talk updates, and how aid cuts are affecting US farmers 23:03

24d ago23:03

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This week, we are at the Bonn Climate Change Conference. From climate financing to the absence of the United States, we take a look at the major talking points at the summit and contemplate whether the talks will translate into actionable policies. We also look at how the Trump administration’s plans to cut foreign aid funding could create unexpect…

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This Week in Global Dev: Episode 100: What happened in global development over the past 2 years? 36:12

1M ago36:12

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In celebration of our 100th podcast episode, we’re revisiting the most impactful global development stories from the past two years, covering the period since our very first recording.From the evolving aid landscape to the critical discussions around localization, we explore some of the key themes in global development that we have been covering. W…

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This Week in Global Dev: #99: Trump budget targets US aid, plus what we heard at AfDB meetings 38:14

1M ago38:14

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On this week’s podcast episode, we unpack U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget request, which proposes sweeping cuts to foreign aid and includes the elimination of funding for major global health initiatives such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.The administration has also submitted a $9…

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This Week in Global Dev: #98: Key takeaways from WHA78, and Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s fallout 31:58

2M ago31:58

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This week we reflect on the 78th World Health Assembly, which Devex covered on the ground in Geneva. From the historic agreement of the Pandemic Treaty to the World Health Organization's strategies for addressing its persistent funding gap, we analyze the key takeaways from the conference. We also discuss the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitar…

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Special episode: Leadership, small business, economic growth in a changing landscape 27:13

2M ago27:13

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Explosive growth in the middle class, rapid urbanization, digitization and automation, the energy transition, and evolving geopolitics — these all present unique challenges for today’s businesses, said Jonathan Fantini-Porter, senior vice president of social impact in the Americas at Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.It’s against this backdrop…

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This Week in Global Dev: Live from WHA78: A look at the Pandemic Agreement 29:54

2M ago29:54

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With the 78th World Health Assembly in full swing, we dig into the main talking point of the conference: the Pandemic Agreement. The landmark treaty was adopted during this year’s edition of the annual summit. The agreement is designed to create a world better prepared for pandemics, ensuring a more equitable distribution of lifesaving medical inte…

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This Week in Global Dev: #97: Previewing the World Health Assembly, & Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ 27:37

2M ago27:37

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Next week, the global health community will convene in Geneva for the World Health Organization's annual decision-making summit, the World Health Assembly. We preview the pivotal discussions expected to shape the coming year, including the implications of recent leadership changes and cost-saving initiatives at WHO, as well as the evolving role of …

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This Week In Global Dev: Exclusive Interview: UNDP's Achim Steiner on the 'chronic erosion' of development 40:50

2M ago40:50

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For this special episode of our weekly podcast series, we sit down with outgoing UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. He reflects on his two terms, navigating the agency through transitions and current disruptions. Steiner candidly discusses the significant impact of Trump administration program cuts, detailing how they disrupted vital partnerships an…

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This Week in Global Dev: #96: Bill Gates’ big announcement, and Trump’s budget proposal 28:02

2M ago28:02

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This week, we learned that billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates will commit most of his fortune to the Gates Foundation, which will close in 2045. Before this date, the foundation will double its philanthropy, spending $200 billion over the next two decades. The announcement comes as the organization, which has given away $100 billion since 2000, …

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This Week in Global Dev: #95: How the first 100 days of Trump's presidency impacted global development? 37:55

2M ago37:55

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This week marked the first 100 days of the second Trump presidency. From the cutting of foreign aid programs to the laying off of government staff, we reflect on the second Trump administration's impact on the global development sector. On the topic of the U.S. government, the Department of Government Efficiency is also planning to shut down the Mi…

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Special episode: What’s at stake in the race for critical raw materials? 36:03

3M ago36:03

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Special episode: What’s at stake in the race for critical raw materials? by DevexBy Devex

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The food paradox: Why those who feed us can't feed themselves with Roger Thurow 29:00

3M ago29:00

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SummaryAward-winning journalist Roger Thurow reveals how conventional farming practices are simultaneously depleting resources and failing millions of farmers worldwide. His investigation finds that many receiving food aid are actually food producers, highlighting a fundamental flaw in global agricultural systems. Drawing from field research across…

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This Week in Global Dev: #94: Live from the World Bank meetings, an inside look at the targeting of MCC 34:10

3M ago34:10

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With the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in full swing, we are recording live from the conference. From the United States’ approach to the institutions to how to create more jobs in the global workforce, we take a look at the key discussion points at the summit. On the topic of the U.S., we chew over the possibility that …

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This Week in Global Dev: #93: What can we expect from the World Bank Spring Meetings? 40:39

3M ago40:39

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This week we published a story in which we spoke with 14 former and current World Central Kitchen staff members and contractors to find out what lay behind the deaths of seven of the nonprofit’s staff members in Gaza. The interviewees described a workplace plagued by risk, inadequate training, and a “build-the-plane-while-flying-it” mentality.With …

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Special episode: 5 billion people lack access to surgery. Here’s what needs to change 33:59

3M ago33:59

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Special episode: 5 billion people lack access to surgery. Here’s what needs to change by DevexBy Devex

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Vulnerability as risk: Garance Wattez-Richard on insuring the emerging middle class 30:59

3M ago30:59

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SummaryGarance Wattez-Richard, CEO of AXA EssentiALL, discusses the transformative potential of inclusive insurance in addressing vulnerabilities, particularly in low and middle-income countries. She sits down with Raj Kumar to share her journey into the insurance industry, the evolution of microinsurance, and the importance of regulatory framework…

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This Week in Global Dev: #92: Confusion deepens over USAID cuts as errors pile up 30:07

3M ago30:07

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Confusion surrounding U.S. foreign assistance deepened this week as USAID reversed several program terminations—including life-saving food aid—just days after announcing them. The World Food Programme called the initial cuts a “death sentence for millions,” and organizations are now raising questions about data accuracy and decision-making inside t…

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This Week in Global Dev: #91: Trump's USAID abolition plan: What does it mean for global development? 36:14

3M ago36:14

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The Trump administration formally informed Congress of its proposal to abolish USAID, merging key aspects of its operations into the State Department. This plan involves the complete shutdown of the agency and subsequent staff layoffs. Despite this, the U.S. government intends to preserve vital programs concerning humanitarian assistance, food secu…

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Business in challenging markets: Viva Ona Bartkus on building businesses in fragile economies 41:05

3M ago41:05

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SummaryDiscover why "business as usual" fails in the world's toughest places. Viva Ona Bartkus sits down with Raj Kumar to reveal the counterintuitive tactics that unlock massive opportunities where others fear to tread. Learn why:The most successful security strategy isn't higher walls – it's community ownershipHow to turn "middlemen with guns" in…

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This Week in Global Dev: #90: Which programs were hit hardest by the Trump administration’s aid cuts? 36:05

4M ago36:05

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This week, the Trump administration released a detailed inventory of 5,341 discontinued USAID programs, alongside the 898 projects that are still active. We dig into the ins and outs of the data to assess the true scope of the government's policy changes, as well as reveal which programs have been most affected. During the conversation, we also dis…

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Special episode: How research helps tackle climate-driven violence against women workers 38:54

4M ago38:54

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In this special episode of This Week in Global Development, Devex dives deeper into how climate change is driving increased gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work and the cutting-edge research that’s not only mapping its impacts but also improving our understanding of potential solutions.Hear directly from Kathy Baughman McLeod, …

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This Week in Global Dev: #89: Unpacking proposals to overhaul US foreign aid 27:32

4M ago27:32

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This week we dig into the different proposals on how the Trump administration could reform foreign assistance. According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s post on the social media platform X, 1,000 programs will be retained, with plans to potentially fold USAID into the State Department. We also learned that Peter Marocco, who acted as deput…

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This Week in Global Dev: #88: What does the latest federal ruling mean for US foreign assistance? 33:12

4M ago33:12

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This week a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to pay USAID partners for billions of dollars in foreign aid work completed before Feb. 13. The ruling also stated that the president does not have “unbounded power” in the realm of foreign affairs. This means that the U.S. government must spend the money that’s already been appropriated by…

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This Week in Global Dev: #87: The battle for USAID's future, and shock cuts to UK foreign assistance 23:09

4M ago23:09

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This week the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to not pay billions of dollars in foreign aid to USAID and State Department partners — lifting a temporary reprieve granted by Chief Justice John Roberts. On the topic of USAID, the U.S. African Development Foundation mounted a direct challenge to the Trump administrat…

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This Week in Global Dev: #86: The latest on the dismantling of USAID 34:55

5M ago34:55

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This week we closely followed the latest developments on the U.S. government’s attempt at dismantling USAID.We learned that the Trump administration has decided to cut 1,600 USAID personnel based in the United States, while also placing nearly all direct hires worldwide on administrative leave by midnight Sunday.Simultaneously, the Trump administra…

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Devex Book Club: Danny Sriskandarajah 47:25

5M ago47:25

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From refugee camps to Oxfam's helm, Danny Sriskandarajah has witnessed firsthand how real change can happen—not in boardrooms, but on streets and in communities. Drawing from his book "Power to the People," he challenges the development sector's top-down mindset by showcasing how citizen action, from anti-corruption movements to neighborhood repair…

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This Week in Global Dev: #85: In legal limbo: Inside the lawsuits against Trump's aid freeze 33:59

5M ago33:59

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This week we were closely following the lawsuits filed against the Trump administration for freezing U.S. foreign assistance. One of the lawsuits targets Elon Musk, stating that the billionaire has decimated the U.S. Agency for International Development without the authority to do so. However, the government appears to be determined to fight back a…

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This Week in Global Dev: #84: Fighting back: Can lawsuits save US foreign aid? 31:21

5M ago31:21

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This week we were closely tracking the legal battles surrounding USAID's closure, with lawsuits filed by both former contractors and NGO partners as the fallout from the agency's shutdown continues to reverberate across the global development community.USAID is not the only institution in the sector being affected by the new U.S. administration. We…

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This Week in Global Dev: #83: US foreign aid goes dark: USAID’s final hours 25:23

5M ago25:23

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This week our entire newsroom has been on the story of how the Trump administration has dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development. The administrative leave of much of USAID's workforce, including senior executives and almost all international staff, coupled with the layoff of thousands of contractors, has cast a long shadow over the …

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Davos Dispatch: Finland’s development minister on the impact of far-right parties on aid 21:00

5M ago21:00

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Ville Tavio, Finland’s minister for foreign trade and development and a member of the right-wing Finns Party, which he described as "somewhat like a Finland First party,” addressed misconceptions about conservative hostility toward international development during a special episode of This Week in Global Development from Davos, Switzerland.…

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This Week in Global Dev: #82: The fallout from the US foreign aid freeze 34:34

5M ago34:34

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Widespread confusion and uncertainty continue to ripple through the development sector following the U.S. government’s stop-work order on foreign aid programs. The directive has already resulted in mass layoffs this week, particularly among contractors and implementing partners reliant on USAID funding, while nearly 60 senior USAID officials have b…

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Davos Dispatch: Gavi CEO outlines 'leap Into 6.0' strategy, putting countries first 26:15

6M ago26:15

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Sania Nishtar, the CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, sees the organization’s new five-year strategy, dubbed “Gavi 6.0,” as an opportunity for a reset. She provided Devex with an exclusive preview.Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters: https://www.devex.com/account/newslettersBy Devex

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This Week in Global Dev: #81: What does Trump's first week in office mean for global development? 28:58

6M ago28:58

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This Week in Global Dev: #81: What does Trump's first week in office mean for global development? by DevexBy Devex

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Davos Dispatch: 'People may die' if US cuts foreign aid, says UNAIDS chief 22:17

6M ago22:17

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On a special special episode of This Week in Global Development, Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, warned of major consequences for people with HIV if U.S. under President Trump cuts funding to programs such as PEPFAR and the Global Fund. Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters:https://www.devex.com/account/newsletters…

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Davos Dispatch: IOM chief talks about the realities of migration and deportation 22:54

6M ago22:54

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Migration is surging worldwide — as is the backlash to it. Perhaps nowhere is this backlash more evident at the moment than in the United States, where newly minted President Donald Trump has said he will deport all of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the country.Amy Pope doesn’t think that is practical, or productive.Pope…

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Special episode: Creating a more inclusive world for people with intellectual disabilities 40:36

6M ago40:36

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Special Olympics' Chief of Global Youth & Education, Jackie Jodl, joins Raj Kumar for a podcast episode looking at how sports and education can drive societal change, the state of social inclusion for people with intellectual and learning disabilities, and the opportunities and risks presented by AI.This episode is sponsored by Special Olympics.…

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This Week in Global Dev: #80: What are the key global development trends to watch in 2025? 27:08

6M ago27:08

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As we kickstart 2025, we speak to Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar about the trends he believes will shape global development this coming year. We examine how significant shifts, including reduced government funding in traditionally generous countries and the evolving role of philanthropy, will impact the sector.We also revisit our exc…

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This Week in Global Dev: How Samantha Power performed a delicate balancing act as USAID chief 47:26

6M ago47:26

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In one of her last interviews before leaving office, Samantha Power spoke with Devex for a special edition of its This Week in Global Development podcast about navigating that push-and-pull, and how she expects the Trump administration’s USAID to face similar challenges. Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters: https://www.devex.com…

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This Week in Global Dev: #79: What will the Trump presidency mean for the United Nations? 29:49

6M ago29:49

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As the world gets ready for a second Trump presidency, significant uncertainty surrounds the United Nations as the organization prepares to implement substantial funding cuts. With the new administration predicted to prioritize national security over humanitarian and human rights principles, China may seek to fill the void left by the United States…

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This Week in Global Dev: 78: Jimmy Carter’s legacy on global health 29:15

6M ago29:15

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This week’s podcast kicks off with a look at the legacy of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100 on Sunday. Following his four-year presidency, Carter devoted four decades to humanitarian efforts, founding The Carter Center in 1982 to promote peace and improve global health. One of his most significant contributions …

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Design for billions: Inside the mind of Sanjay Purohit, a societal transformation expert 53:25

7M ago53:25

53:25

What does it take to transform an idea from one that serves hundreds to millions, if not billions? Sanjay Purohit has spent his career aiming to crack this code. As the CEO and Chief Curator of Centre for Exponential Change, Purohit knows firsthand that scaling social impact requires more than just good intentions—it demands a complete reimagining …

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This Week in Global Dev: #77: What were trends that shaped global development in 2024? 35:14

7M ago35:14

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This week we delve into the key trends that have shaped the global development landscape. From the impact of declining aid budgets in high-income countries to Donald Trump’s reelection, we examine how these forces are influencing the sector and consider their implications for the year ahead.We also explore the potential of cash transfers to revolut…

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This Week in Global Dev: #76: A new World Bank initiative, and an infrastructure project in Africa 41:11

7M ago41:11

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This week, we take a look at the Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance, known as CIVIC, a new, forthcoming World Bank Group initiative designed to support civil society organizations and social economy players. This venture seeks to foster more collaboration in line with the bank’s localization agenda, enabling civil society to play a crucia…

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This Week in Global Dev: #75: What do Trump's cabinet picks mean for U.S. foreign aid? 34:02

7M ago34:02

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As key appointments in the Trump administration come into focus, what will they mean for U.S. foreign aid? With high-profile picks such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary and Marco Rubio for secretary of state in the spotlight, all eyes in the development community are on Trump’s yet-to-be-announced choice to lead the U.S. Agency for Int…