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Aurora Podcast V2 by Devex

After U.S. President Joe Biden opted not to run for reelection, his vice president, Kamala Harris, seems poised to become the official nominee of the Democratic Party. We explore how she would approach U.S. foreign policy, as well as provide an update on Project 2025. We also discuss our exclusive story in which we reported that the Biden administration is to resume food aid delivery in Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, even as it exchanges fire with the Iranian-backed rebel movement. As USAID continues to make progress on its localization agenda, we dig into what the biggest barriers, opportunities, and avenues are to make meaningful progress and help support local communities. Even though localization is a hot topic in global development, it appears as though some countries continue to mostly fund their own NGOs due to inflexible rules and regulations. To dig into these stories, Adva Saldinger sits down with Devex reporters Colum Lynch and Elissa Miolene for the latest episode of our weekly podcast

As localization continues to be a hot topic in global development, nearly every international nongovernmental organization seems to be rethinking their role in the aid sector, and debating how, when, and if they should continue showing up. We discuss how INGOs are aiming to rebalance the equation between INGOs and local groups, and whether the reforms will help empower and give voice to local communities. This week we also published an interview with PEPFAR chief John Nkengasong, who warned that if the world fails to eliminate HIV as a public health threat by 2030, political leaders will lose interest in fighting the disease paving the way for its resurgence. Are INGOs working themselves out of a job? What is the future of PEPFAR, the U.S. global AIDS initiative? To dig into these stories, and others, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Business Editor David Ainsworth and Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger for the latest episode of the podcast series. Sign up to the Devex Newswire an

Is the era of the “humanitarian cowboy” over? This week, Devex contributor Lauren Evans wrote a piece analyzing what’s become of this common aid worker stereotype — often a charismatic, risk-taking white male who moves from one disaster or conflict zone to the next — and whether, in the era of localization, there’s still room for them in the humanitarian space.   As part of Devex Pro week — a week of in-depth analyses and conversations for our Pro members — Devex Business Editor David Ainsworth is looking into the concept of “tied aid,” and the extent to which countries still principally fund their own NGOs. While some countries, like the United Kingdom, have made tied aid illegal, in many cases there are rules and regulations that continue to make it prohibitively difficult for global south organizations to access funding directly. The Netherlands has a new far-right minister for foreign trade and development cooperation, Reinette Klever, who is charged with overseeing aid cuts worth billions of euros in th

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives has proposed drastic cuts to foreign aid and United Nations funding in a 2025 budget bill that it passed last week, including ending funding to Ukraine. While the bill is unlikely to make it through the Democratic-led Senate, the House bill is something of a blueprint for the months ahead and how a new Donald Trump administration would approach foreign policy. On the topic of Republicans, we reported that Trump is distancing himself from the conservative Heritage Foundation's Project 2025. He has proposed a new platform — titled “America First: A Return to Common Sense” — that was approved during a vote of the Republican National Committee on Monday. While there was no mention of foreign aid, we ponder what his leadership would mean for it. Across the pond, Anneliese Dodds was appointed as the United Kingdom’s minister of state for development, as well as minister of state for women and equalities, following Labour’s victory in the United Kingdom general el

This week British voters head to the polls to elect the country’s new prime minister, with the Labour Party set to end 14 years of Conservative rule. While Keir Starmer’s government is not planning to immediately restore development spending to 0.7% of gross national income, nor reestablish The Department for International Development, we discuss whether a change in leadership will affect the country’s aid and migration policy. The United Kingdom is not the only country cutting its aid budget. During the European elections we saw citizens across the continent elect right-wing leaders, who are opting to prioritize European interests. We also take a look at what we expect from the European Commission's development policy, which is set to emphasize an increased focus on lending and private capital mobilization. For the latest episode of our weekly podcast series, Devex’s Managing Editor Anna Gawel sits down with U.K. Correspondent Rob Merrick to discuss what elections across Europe mean for the global developm

This week we look back at an article we wrote earlier this month on the WHO Foundation, which has funneled $24 million to the World Health Organization since its launch in 2020. We examine the foundation’s strategy, including its plans to ensure that donor funding to WHO is seamless and aligned with its priorities. Also on the topic of global health, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance launched its $9 billion replenishment target. We examine the key takeaways from the organization’s next five-year strategy and highlight the pledges made so far. We also reflected on the main talking points from last week’s Forecasting Healthy Futures summit, which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan. With the city also set to host the United Nations Climate Conference, COP 29, later this year, the event was an opportunity to bring global health to the forefront of discussions around climate change. For the latest episode of the This Week in Global Development podcast,, Devex President & Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Anil Soni

This week we take a look at Republicans’ approach to foreign policy if Donald Trump were to win in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections in November. From implementing cuts to changing the United States’ foreign aid priorities, we dig into what a second Trump presidency would mean for the global development sector. We also reported on new data from USAID which shows that just 9.6% of the agency’s eligible dollars were channeled toward local groups last year — rather than major international development contractors — down from 10.2% the year prior. With one year left before USAID’s ambitious 2025 deadline to channel 25% of its funding to local organizations, it seems very unlikely that the agency will hit its goal. On the topic of USAID, we also discuss an opinion piece by the agency’s chief, Samantha Power, in which she outlines how USAID is planning to meet its localization targets. To dig into these stories and others, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Managing Editor Anna

This week we take a look at the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, where 578,000 have been displaced, mostly due to violence. We explore what is being done to address the hardships faced by the affected population, including bringing essential food supplies, as well as discuss what life is like on the ground. On the topic of food insecurity, we also dig into a UNICEF report, which found that 181 million children under age 5 worldwide are experiencing severe food poverty — which can have lifelong consequences for their health and development. We stress the importance of having programs that prioritize the providing of a balanced diet to malnourished children. On a more positive note, we also report on how CRISPR gene-editing technology could change the way we eat by making crops tastier, more nutritious, and more resilient to climate change. Nonetheless, questions remain on the extent to which the technology will be available to farmers who need them the most. For the latest edition of the podcast series, Deve

This week we reported on a House foreign affairs subcommittee hearing in which Republicans tried to paint the U.S. government’s entire approach to foreign assistance as wasteful and counterproductive — but they faced pushback from Democrats who argued that human rights grants are critical in the global contest between democracy and autocracy. The hearing took place against the backdrop of a proposed House of Representatives budget bill that would impose an 11% cut across U.S. foreign affairs spending, which would be 19% less than what President Joe Biden requested. The proposed funding bill cuts “wasteful spending” and “continues reestablishing American leadership” where the Biden administration has been lacking. We also look back at an event that took place in Washington D.C., during which U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan discussed tackling humanitarian crises, adapting to the rise of artificial intelligence, and partnering with other nations to drive development through debt relief and infra

In 2020, media reports and an independent investigation revealed one of the largest sexual misconduct scandals in U.N. history, in which more than 50 women accused ebola aid workers — including World Health Organization staffers — of sexual exploitation and abuse during the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic of Congo.   At last year’s World Health Assembly, WHO’s Dr. Gaya Gamhewage spoke at length about the organization's new policies for addressing sexual misconduct allegations. Gamhewage was appointed to lead a new unit investigating such claims in 2021. In the final podcast episode from WHA77, Devex Associate Editor Rumbi Chakamba is joined by Dr. Gamhewage to discuss the progress her department is making, the challenges faced, and the lessons other agencies and NGOs can learn from WHO.

This week Devex’s editorial team was on the ground in Geneva, Switzerland, closely following the conversations taking place at the 77th World Health Assembly. As well as attending the summit itself, we also hosted Devex CheckUp @ WHA 77, our very own event happening on the sidelines of the main event. From following the pandemic treaty negotiations to addressing global health issues, we provide an update from the conference that brings together health leaders from around the world. We also discuss the World Health Organization’s announcement of a November fundraising event to usher in this finance. This is a new approach for the world’s leading public health agency as it hopes to raise $11.1 billion to fund its work over the next four years. To look at the key stories from WHA 77, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Fatema Sumar, executive director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University, as well as Devex Senior Reporter Jenny Lei Ravelo for the latest e

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health of populations across Africa were put at risk because of dysfunctional global health systems. For example, African nations were at the back of the queue for medical countermeasures, including vaccines. In the wake of the pandemic, leaders across the continent have worked to build stronger health systems — but there are still barriers at the international level standing in the way.  At this week’s World Health Assembly in Geneva, health leaders from across the continent are calling for changes to global health systems. These include more equitable access to health innovations and financing that aligns with country priorities. “Those who can do more should agree to give in order for us to meet each other at a level where everyone will feel safe,” said Dr. Magda Robalo, President and co-founder of The Institute for Global Health and Development. In this podcast episode, Devex global health reporter Sara Jerving speaks with Dr. Robalo and Dr. Githinji Gitahi, chief execu

A two-year negotiation process for a pandemic treaty concluded on Friday without reaching a consensus, as countries remained divided on numerous provisions, including technology transfer and equitable access to medical products. This week, health officials at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, will need to determine the next steps. Before Friday’s decision, Devex Senior Reporter Jenny Lei Ravelo spoke with K.M. Gopakumar, legal adviser for the Third World Network, an independent international nonprofit network that advocates for the needs of people from the global south, about the contentious issues in the negotiations and how opposition to the pandemic treaty in some countries impacted the process. For front-line and behind-the-scenes reporting on global health, sign up to the Devex CheckUp newsletter: https://www.devex.com/newsletters/devex-checkup

This week we report on Kenyan President William Ruto’s visit to Washington, D.C., the first by an African leader since 2008. We dig into what the occasion means for the relationship between Kenya and the wider African continent, including whether it will lead to closer economic ties between the United States and Africa as a whole. During the conversation, we also look back at our interview with Sen. Chris Coons about the visit, in which we discussed the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, and the U.S. Africa policy. We are also keeping a close eye on the farm bill — a $1.5 trillion piece of legislation that shapes food assistance both within the United States and abroad. While the legislation largely focuses on domestic policy, it also governs the operations of Food for Peace, a flagship food assistance program that distributes American-grown commodities across the globe. However, it has been proposed that at least 50% of funds should go toward U.S.-grown commodities and ocean freight. As the reau

This week marked a significant development in the philanthropic world with Melinda French Gates resigning from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to focus on the "next chapter" of her philanthropy. As part of the separation agreement with her former husband Bill Gates, French Gates will receive an additional $12.5 billion for her work on behalf of women and families, an area which she has been pushing to get involved with. On the topic of philanthropy, we also took a look at where MacKenzie Scott has been spending her money. Known for her unorthodox attitude to philanthropy, she has already given away $17.3 billion since 2020, mostly as unconditional grants. While many have praised her approach to philanthropic giving, it appears as though few have followed suit when it comes to allowing recipients to decide how they would like to spend the funds they receive. We also reported on Unlock Aid’s plans to launch a platform dubbed the “Glassdoor for Primes'' in the coming months. The tool would allow local or

The European Parliamentary elections will take place next month, and with anti-aid and anti-migrant parties poised to make big gains, there are fears for the future of the world's second-largest development budget. According to one senior Brussels politician, the controversial swiping of €2 billion from the development pot to fund a crackdown on illegal migration could just be the start of the European Union’s reduced focus on supporting global development initiatives. We explore how Europe’s political landscape is changing, as well as what it could mean to the EU’s approach to foreign assistance. In South Africa, we found that the country’s politics is preventing NGOs from effectively delivering health services to refugees and migrants. Aid groups and civil society organizations are trying to untangle the snarled problem of how to guarantee access to health services for all people who are far from home — whether that home is in another country or somewhere else in South Africa — without creating dispariti

This week we discuss the establishment of the Africa Club by the African Union, an initiative that the continent’s leaders hope will drive reform of the global financial architecture. With African states currently spending more on debt repayments than they are on health care or climate action, the goal is for the alliance to leverage more funding for global development efforts. On the topic of Africa, we also reported on a gathering of African leaders who outlined their funding priorities for the International Development Association, the World Bank's fund for the lowest-income countries. From building climate resilience to greater energy and digital access, we examine why IDA is such an important tool for countries in the global south. We also break down leaked documents from the European Commission that outline its development vision for the next five years. To almost nobody’s surprise, it appears as though the EU is planning to pursue a foreign aid agenda based on its own economic interests rather than

IDA, or International Development Association is the world bank’s fund for the poorest countries. IDA provides grants and low-cost loans that countries can use for a variety of needs from health to education to infrastructure. This year it's up for replenishment and so the bank is going to donors to ask for a new influx of capital. In this episode, we speak to Dirk Reinnerman, the Director of the IDA Resource Mobilization and IBRD Corporate Finance at the World Bank, about his pitch to donors in the IDA replenishment, and how it ties to broader bank reforms. We also hear from Garghee Ghosh, the president of global advocacy and policy at the Gates Foundation about what makes IDA unique, and Serah Makka, the Africa Executive director at the ONE Campaign.

Juan M. Lavista Ferres got his start with AI for good in an unlikely way: He really didn’t want to go hiking. While working at Microsoft running randomized control experiments, Ferres had a colleague who was raising money for research on sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, to which he had lost a child. The campaign involved climbing the Kilimanjaro mountain — decidedly a no-go for Ferres. Ferres didn’t want to climb a mountain, but he did want to contribute to his friend’s cause. So rather than lacing up his hiking boots, he got together with a group of colleagues to analyze the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s cohort-linked birth/infant death dataset, an open-source dataset that’s logged tens of thousands of SIDS cases in the United States. Using machine learning models, Ferres and his colleagues were able to manipulate the vast amount of data in ways that had never been done before, revealing new links between risk factors in infants and SIDS. It was through this effort that Ferres re