Best Devex Global Development Podcasts (2025)

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

26d ago36:14

36:14

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…

1
Special episode: What’s at stake in the race for critical raw materials? 36:03

6h ago36:03

36:03

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

24h ago29:00

29:00

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

5d ago34:10

34:10

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 …

1
Ep. 47 Changing Federal Funding Market Series Episode II - Monica Harris, former Senior IT Acquisition Advisor, DHS 31:03

5d ago31:03

31:03

Monica Harris, former DHS Senior IT Acquisition Advisor, joins Mike Shanley to discuss the federal funding market. The conversation focuses on how evaluation criteria are determined, government's evaluation and award process, proposal tips, and how to influence before the RFP drops. Resources: GovDiscovery AI Federal Capture Support: https://www.go…

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

12d ago40:39

40:39

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

13d ago33:59

33:59

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

14d ago30:59

30:59

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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Confusion deepens over USAID cuts as errors pile up 30:07

19d ago30:07

30:07

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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Ep. 46 Changing Federal Funding Market Series Episode I - Christy Hollywood, Business Development Consultant 27:43

26d ago27:43

27:43

Christy Hollywood, Senior Business Development Consultant, joins Mike Shanley to discuss key trends shaping federal business development and capture, strategies for competing and winning in a shifting market, emerging opportunities and challenges, and what this means for business development teams. Resources: - GovDiscovery AI Federal Capture Suppo…

1
Business in challenging markets: Viva Ona Bartkus on building businesses in fragile economies 41:05

27d ago41:05

41:05

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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Ep. 45 IMF & Uncertain Global Markets 30:13

28d ago30:13

30:13

Elizabeth Shortino, Former Acting U.S. Executive Director at the IMF, joins Mike Shanley to discuss the role of the IMF and U.S. Executive Director, how the IMF assesses political risk, IMF engagement in emerging and frontier markets, and insights for business expanding into new markets. BIOGRAPHY: Elizabeth Shortino recently served as the Acting U…

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

1M ago36:05

36:05

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

1M ago38:54

38:54

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

1M ago27:32

27:32

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…

1
This Week in Global Dev: #88: What does the latest federal ruling mean for US foreign assistance? 33:12

2M ago33:12

33:12

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

2M ago23:09

23:09

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

2M ago34:55

34:55

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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Ep. 44 - Trump II: USAID and Foreign Policy Priorities 31:22

2M ago31:22

31:22

James Richardson, former Director of the Office of Foreign Assistance, joins Mike Shanley to discuss the Role of the State Department under Trump II, foreign assistance priorities, budget implications, and intra-government coordination. BIOGRAPHY: James “Jim” Richardson is the Executive Director to the 70th Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, working …

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Devex Book Club: Danny Sriskandarajah 47:25

2M ago47:25

47:25

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

2M ago33:59

33:59

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…

1
This Week in Global Dev: #84: Fighting back: Can lawsuits save US foreign aid? 31:21

3M ago31:21

31:21

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…

1
This Week in Global Dev: #83: US foreign aid goes dark: USAID’s final hours 25:23

3M ago25:23

25:23

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

3M ago21:00

21:00

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

3M ago34:34

34:34

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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Ep. 43 Dr. Alma Golden, former USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health: Trump II USAID Global Health Priorities 31:32

3M ago31:32

31:32

Dr. Alma Golden, former USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health, joins Mike Shanley to discuss Trump II USAID funding priorities, what will be similar and different than Trump I, opportunities for new partners, and USAID and global health overall. RESOURCES: Contact Dr. Alma Golden at [email protected] Women’s Optimal Health Framework The …

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

3M ago26:15

26:15

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

3M ago22:17

22:17

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

3M ago28:58

28:58

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

3M ago22:54

22:54

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…

1
Special episode: Creating a more inclusive world for people with intellectual disabilities 40:36

3M ago40:36

40:36

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.…

1
This Week in Global Dev: #80: What are the key global development trends to watch in 2025? 27:08

3M ago27:08

27:08

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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Ep. 42 - Alice Albright, CEO, Millennium Challenge Corporation 29:52

4M ago29:52

29:52

Alice Albright, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), joins Mike Shanley to discuss MCC's role in US foreign policy, key MCC accomplishments, future countries and sectors of work, and how organizations can partner with MCC. RESOURCES: - MCC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/millennium-challenge-corporation - MCC Instagram: htt…

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

4M ago47:26

47:26

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

4M ago29:49

29:49

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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Ep. 41 Election Results: USGLC on the future of America's Global Leadership 55:57

4M ago55:57

55:57

Liz Schrayer, President & CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), joins Mike Shanley to discuss election results, takeaways, and USAID funding, the impact on foreign aid and partners, USGLC analysis of results and Impact 2024 work, and what actions listeners can take. Resources https://www.usglc.org/ Join your state Advisory Committee …

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

4M ago29:15

29:15

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

4M 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

4M ago35:14

35:14

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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Ep 40: USAID Market Annual Year End Show 1:00:38

4M ago1:00:38

1:00:38

Sabrina Amburgey, Vice President of Business Development at ACDI/VOCA, Udunopa Abalu, Director of New Business at the International Development Group, Velora Loughmiller, Chief Business Development Officer at Blumont, and Christy Hollywood, Chief Operating Officer at Konektid International join Mike Shanley to discuss 2024 market trends, local part…

1
This Week in Global Dev: #76: A new World Bank initiative, and an infrastructure project in Africa 41:11

5M ago41:11

41:11

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

5M ago34:02

34:02

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…

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Ep 39 - Stacey Young, USAID Chief Knowledge Officer: Knowledge Management, AI, & the new KMOL Policy 1:01:24

5M ago1:01:24

1:01:24

SHOW NOTES Stacy Young, Chief Knowledge Officer at USAID and Melissa Patsalides, Senior Advisor for Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning, join Mike Shanley to discuss Knowledge Management, AI, and the new Knowledge Management and Learning Policy at USAID. RESOURCES USAID's Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning Policy USAID's …

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Ep. 38: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 24:34

5M ago24:34

24:34

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female elected head of state in an African nation and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate joins Mike Shanley to discuss the role of aid donors, localization, and women and development. This episode was recorded live at the Society for International Development-US Annual Dinner on 13 November 2024. BIOGRAPHY: Intern…

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This Week in Global Dev: #74: Did COP29 deliver? 32:36

5M ago32:36

32:36

This week we reflect on the United Nations COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, which wrapped up over the weekend. We take a closer look at the outcomes, analyzing nations’ commitment to a new $300 billion annual global climate finance target and exploring whether it’s sufficient to support the needs of the lower-income countries most impa…

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This Week in Global Dev: #73: The latest from COP29, and key takeaways from the G20 summit 35:28

5M ago35:28

35:28

As COP29 comes to a close, we take a look at what negotiators are still racing to resolve in the final hours of the ambitious two-week conference. From building carbon markets to establishing private sector partnerships to meet the funding gap, we also contemplate whether the discussions will lead to meaningful action and address the issues posed b…

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What role can the private sector play at the ‘finance COP’? 43:20

5M ago43:20

43:20

For this special episode of our weekly podcast series, Devex EVP and Executive Editor Kate Warren sits down with leaders from Bayer and Mars who discuss the challenges and opportunities for the private sector in addressing climate change.By Devex

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Ep 37: Dr. Jerry Brown, TIME Magazine Person of the Year, Ebola Response, Global Health, and Aid Donors 57:38

5M ago57:38

57:38

Dr. Jerry Brown, TIME Person of the Year, joins Mike Shanley to discuss Dr. Brown's work during the Ebola crisis, COVID-19 response and lessons learned for global pandemic preparedness, becoming TIME Person of the Year, and the role of international aid donors and implementing partners. Co-host: Care Africa Medical Foundation (CAMF) focuses on buil…

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Leaders push for climate adaptation funding in the face of escalating risks 35:01

6M ago35:01

35:01

Leaders push for climate adaptation funding in the face of escalating risks by DevexBy Devex

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How agricultural innovation and science can help tackle climate change 38:44

6M ago38:44

38:44

Agriculture is both a driver of climate change, with around 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions coming from direct on farm emissions, and a potential game changer in mitigating it, if carried out sustainably. Yet currently agriculture receives only 4.3% of total mitigation and adaptation finance, making it an underutilized part of the solution t…

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Devex Global Development Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen