The Global Podcast

Following the popular uprising in Sudan which saw the overthrow of the Sudanese Dictator Omar Al-Bashir and the launch of the democratic transition in the country, the prospects for democracy have been in question i the lead up to elections. After the imprisionment of Sudanese PM Abdallah Hamdok and the military take over, thousands of Sudanese are declaring the transition over and calling for immediate democratic rule. With the uniqueness and fragility of these dynamics, it's surprising the US is not stepping up in its actions to ensuring sustainable peace and democratic processes being upheld. Is the US missing an opportunity to prove Biden's statement that "America is back"? Should the US get more involved and what should it do? We speak with Democratic and Electoral Transitions Professional Sherif Alaa in Khartoum and Dr Sharath Srinivasan of Cambridge University and author of When Peace Kills Politics to discuss more.

New Year, New Podcast! We're starting the first episode of the year, with our host Gesu Antonio Baez bringing you the top three things to watch out for in International affairs, which will affect diplomacy, development and business.

We’re back! After a very long pause, we’re introducing to you our new season of episodes which are focusing on a key and crucial theme for global affairs - understanding China. Mainly, what is Chinese diplomacy like? What are we getting wrong about China? What is China’s role in sustainable development? And more importantly, how can we engage better with China? Joining us for our first episode is our own China Political Consultant, Dr Su Yun Woo as we discuss the common misconceptions we are having around China and how we can expand our knowledge around this fascinating (yet polarising) world power.

We're going to be taking a pause to prep for the launch of our brand new season starting in September! With exciting new content and speakers on diplomacy and international development, it’s going to be amazing! Stay tuned!

The Sex Trade is among the biggest - yet most unknown - challenges to the United States. With millions of Americans being trafficked due to porous social systems and general societal neglect, it has become one of the greatest issues facing sustainable development within the United States. In a series of episodes dedicated to development in the US, we speak with American Journalist and host of the documentary "Sold in America" Noor Tagouri about the challenges, the dynamics and what could potentially be done.

In March, a group of developed countries including the UK, EU nations and the USA voted to block a waiver on trade regulations to copyright, petitioned by more than 100 developing countries in order to speed up COVID19 vaccine productions. This move has left a lingering scar that could prove to be a permeant shift in diplomacy going forward. This episode analyses the latest development and its implication for years to come.

COVID-19 has forced many policy makers to have key issues on gender equality and women’s health take a backseat. But just because there is a pandemic, does not mean that these issues will be on hold. What are the key global priorities for 2021 for gender equality and women’s health? And what can both policymakers and businesses do to progress them further? On this episode, we speak with Susan Markham of Smash Strategies and former USAID Women’s Empowerment Coordinator and Matt Jackson, UNFPA UK Director to discuss further.

The conflict surfacing in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray is intensifying as the government in Addis Ababa respond to local TPLF (Tigray Party Liberation Force) endeavours to secure autonomy with a military response. With an information blackout and muddle communication, understanding what is going on is a challenge. Even more so is how this conflict can threaten both the unity of the country and the diplomatic dynamics in the African horn. William Davison, Senior Analyst at International Crises Group speaks with us on The Global Podcast to understand what is going on as well as the implications for diplomacy in the region and development in Ethiopia.

Despite the harking of some foreign policy wonks on the end of globalisation, the greater interconnectedness of global affairs and business beckons to differ. And with a great connected world, even during a pandemic, means greater need for diplomacy. On this episode, we discuss the new diplomacy and emergence of diplomatic divisions in both businesses and tech.

With consistent discussion on the impact of COVID 19 on the global economy and geopolitics, we forget about the impact of those who work with the most vulnerable. On this episode, we speak with Katie Rickard of Impact Initiatives to discuss the situation on the ground, the gravity of the pandemic and the affect it is having on an already fragile humanitarian situation globally.

The Global Podcast will be on a summer break until mid-September. In the meantime, revisit past episodes while we work on bringing you amazing new ones.

The arrival of COVID-19 has led to global economic crisis with the halt of the global economy. But while leaders are focusing on economic stimulus packages, a recent report shows that they should be focusing on a more sustainable solution - green stimulus. We speak with UK Sustainability Expert Richard Smith to discuss more about this potential for both a sustainable economy and environment.

Lebanon is on the verge of bursting. With an ineffective government, high inflation, overwhelming numbers of refugees from both Syria and Palestine, as weak as dwindling opportunities for its youth, the Lebanese people have been protesting since late last year for change. But with COVID19 now added to the mix, Lebanon is now on the verge of complete collapse and burst, taking a toll on its most vulnerable populations. We are joined by Halim Shebaya, Interim Executive Director of the Arab Association of Constitutional Law and Christophe Martin, the Head of Delegation at the International Community of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Lebanon to discuss more about both the political and economic explosion in the country and the effect it is having on the most vulnerable of the Lebanese community.

Italy and Greece both have relatively weak economies prior to being hit by the COVID-19 health pandemic. News coverage of the virus plaguing Italy was rampid, but while Italy struggled to keep it at bay, Greece managed to contain the virus relatively swiftly. But with shutdowns and low tourism this summer, what will Italy and Greece look like post-COVID19? We speak to former Milan Correspondent for The Economist Alexandra Fattal and Nick Malkoutzis of MarcoPolis to discuss this further.

The COVID-19 virus has plunged the world into a high level of uncertainty and without a doubt, many developing countries are feeling that brunt. With The Economist having hailed this the African decade and many looking to the promises of Frontier Markets as “the next big thing”, what are their outlooks in a post-coronavirus world now that a deep recession is likely? Joining us to discuss more are Gavin Serkins (Managing Editor of New Markets Media and Intelligence), Andres Alma (Congressional Candidate and Professor of Law at Universidad APEC in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) and Michael Nderitu (Chief Risk Officer at AZA in Kenya) to discuss the African, Latin American and Frontier Market perspective.

In February of 2020, the USA had 3.5% unemployment in the entire country - a 50 year low. But then came COVID-19 and 20.6 million job losses. This has left many wondering - what happened to the plentiful jobs of Trump? Truth be told, they were plentiful - just not sustainable. On this episode, we explore how COVID-19 revealed a critical in sustainable jobs in the USA and what this could mean for its economic future.

While COVID 19 has been primarily ravaging Western and Developed Nations such as China, Italy and the USA, the developing world has not been immune to the coronavirus - or COVID 19 - either In fact, many experts fear it will be worst in Africa, Asia and Latin America due to the poor medical infrastructure and general social dynamics. But as the weeks progress, the reality has been different than what the media is portraying. But what are the repercussions of COVID 19 in this part of the world? Whether on its economy and socio cultural dynamics that will cause it to suffer more than what the virus can do? We speak with Dr Theodora Pepera (a British-Ghanaian OBGYN based in Accra), Dr Ryan Lloyd  of Centre College in the USA who specialised in Latin American affairs, and Lauren Anders Brown (award winning humanitarian film maker) to discuss COVID 19 in Africa, Latin America and the vulnerable communities in the refugee camps around the world to discuss the reality on the ground.

The Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) - comprising of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar - has become a hotspot for investment over the years. A recent report from the Milken Institute has uncovered not only the opportunities for investment, but also key actions that the GCC needs to take to make investment opportunities stronger both for governments and investors, leading to greater impact. We sit down with Dr Claude Lopez - Head of Research at the Milken Institute - to discuss more about the GCC, investment, and opportunities for greater social impact.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused not only social isolation and global panic but sudden rupture in global relations and business which can lead to long term damage. During this era of panic and fear, diplomacy is needed now more than ever by businesses and government in order to keep partnerships for social impact during this time of crisis.

Measuring impact has been the challenge for many social enterprises and NGOs when it comes to truly assess the real benefit of their work. But why is it a challenge? And why is it also such low priority for many organisations? We explore further the challenge and the reason why this overlooked aspect is more important than ever.

Replacing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were meant for all countries - developed and undeveloped - to achieve. But some countries are falling far behind and failing to really address it. On this episode, we speak to Dominic White, Co-Founder of UKSSD and Head of International Development Policy at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) -UK to discuss more on the UK perspective on tackling the SDGs and why they matter.

Since 2011, Turkey has been heavily investing in the war-torn state of Somalia - from humanitarian aid to investing in local infrastructure. With slow progress in stability returning to the country and the recent awarding of potential oil field discovery off the coast of Mogadishu to Turkey, has Erdogan's investment and risk taking in Somalia paid off finally for Ankara? And more importantly, what can this mean for businesses and sustainable development in the African horn? On this episode we go over Turkey's involvement and the potential this brings to the country.

With the US and Iran tensions escalating following the assassination of Iran's Major General Qasem Soleimani by the Trump Administration in Bagdad, rising worry over a potential conflict and heightened misunderstandings on both sides are leading many to question the future of stability in the region. Most importantly, what does this mean for businesses and sustainable development in the region? Bringing clarity to the tension, Sami Hamdi - Editor and Chief of The International Interest, joins us on The Global Podcast to bring both clarity and light to the tension and threats to businesses.

The Conservative party in the UK has won their biggest victory since 1987 this week, giving the blessing for Boris Johnson to pursue Brexit by the end of January 2020. Back in September, we spoke of what brexit could mean for the UK and sustainable development. With the possibility of a hard Brexit now in the mix, we're republishing this episode to give greater food for thought for the British government.

The UN has released a report this week with very dire news - we're failing to meet the Paris Agreement Goals. The threats of climate change continues to loom but is there a chance that businesses can help pick up the slack from governments in saving the planet? We speak with climate activist Chiara Soletti on the recent UN report and updates during Climate Week this past September as well as food for thought for businesses to get on board.

Afghanistan election results are due this week and with the new president in place, comes the key question - what of the Afghan peace talks? And with the involvement of the Taliban as a major stakeholder in these discussions, how much is sustainable peace and development being compromised? We speak with Alex Thier, former ODI Executive Director and previous senior official with USAID working on Afghanistan to discuss more about the country, the peace talks and its future for sustainable development.

Lebanon has seen a slew of protests in early October since the government decided to inject a tax on WhatsApp services in the country, proving to be the straw that broke the camel's back. But the protests in the street are the symptom of long-term neglect from the Lebanese government to its people. On this episode, we uncover how this occurred and make the case for the need for government to invest in citizens.

On this episode, we review Episode 8 in which we predicted the top five topics for 2019 in diplomacy and international development. Were we right? Were we wrong? The foredooming episodes will invite key experts where we look at the year and see how it went.

With almost 10 years to go before the deadline for the SDGs, we're still very much behind in achieving them; this is why partnership is key. In light of our recent article published on Modern Diplomacy, we're making the case for the need for partnership if we want a more sustainable world.

In Episode 32, we spoke of Italy's need for sustainable development. On today's episode, we explore the possibility by speaking with Andrea Pastorelli, CEO of Teach for Italy and Daniele Abate, Public-Funded Project Manager for H-Farm to discuss how focusing on education and entrepreneurship for social impact can potential save Italy. But most importantly, we uncover whether it is still possible, even the current economic crisis.

Brexit has been looming over the British conscience since the 2016 referendum. With many things unclear about what will happen in the supposed 31 October deadline to leave the European Union, equally uncertain is the status of the future of sustainable development in the UK. With British NGOs uncertain of their place with DFID and an unclear British strategy towards achieving the SDGs, we look at what is going on in the UK concerning sustainable development around Brexit and what could the future bring.

We're taking a break the month of August to provide you exciting new content starting in September.

UN agencies such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have immortalised the role of the humanitarian diplomat and the crucial role they play in safeguarding the interests of marginalised communities. But can diplomats for sustainable development be considered humanitarians as well? Or is there a fine line between humanitarian aid and sustainability? We uncover the definition of both and see if both actors have a similar approach in their way of saving the world. As mentioned in the episode: Osterman, C. "How globalisation didn't start with the local". Social Values UK. 2019.

For the past week, Puerto Ricans have been protesting in San Juan where they are calling for the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosello. This is following a revelation of corruption in the lead up for humanitarian and development relief for the island, which is still suffering from the aftermath of the 2017 Hurricane Maria storm. The island (a US territory) is suffering not only from a $102 billion cost in damage but also an economic crisis that is seeing many both die and flee from the island. But is there space for NGOs, impact investors and businesses with a social mindset to fill in the gaps where government has failed? We discuss the current dynamics of the island to understand the potential to make real social impact.

For those familiar with the African continent, one cannot deny the presence of China. Whether in infrastructure, businesses or the influx of Chinese migrant workers, Beijing has invested heavily in the continent and forged ties with many African leaders for its One Belt One Road initiative. While this has definitely led to an economic boom for the continent, is there a potential of this backfiring due to lack of due dilligence on both sides for sustainable development? On this episode, we discuss the real potential cost of easy access Chinese loans to African states and the implication this could have.

For years, contemporary Israeli society has seen a division between both Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs, especially when it comes to the booming start-up and tech scene that has seen Israel dubbed as "the start-up nation". But is there a space for non-profits and start-ups to foster sustainable development for peace through innovation? On this episode, we speak with Naama Nagar and Hans Shakur of the Nazareth-based non-profit Tsofen as they work to bridge Arab and Jewish entrepreneurs for real sustainable change via tech and empowerment.

Italy has been suffering from low economic growth and mass brain drain for the past decade, seeing the country fall faster and faster into a downward spin. But what role can sustainable development play in saving the country? What are the current gaps? In today's episode, we uncover the current Italian dynamics to understand the potential for sustainable development to lead to higher impact and growth for the country.

With all the hype on emerging markets, we forget there is one additional realm which very few impact investors have considered until now - frontier markets. On this episode, we speak with Gavin Serkin of New Markets Media and Frontier Funds to discuss what they are, why impact investors should be considering them and why they matter for a sustainable future.

In early June, US President Donald Trump announced a plan to implement tariffs on all Mexican goods until the Mexican government solves the current migrant crisis along the US border. But is this an appropriate solution? More importantly, is this even sustainable? We discuss the root cause of the migrant crisis, the current dynamics and propose a real solution, which businesses, NGOS and investors can also be on board for, which leads to real action and a positive solution.

On this inaugural series of Hot Talks, where we invite experts to discuss key themes pertinent to diplomacy in international development, we sit down with Chiara Soletti of the Italian Climate Network to discuss recent threats made by the Bolsonaro administration in Brazil against both the Amazon and the indigenous populations. We discuss the potential threat to the global climate that this move could have and highlight the opportunity that is present for both businesses and NGOs in taking up the role where government may be missing.

The Dominican Republic has witnessed unprecedented growth and an economic boom since the mid-2000's, rendering this island nation as the top receiver of FDI in Latin America and the fastest growing economy in the region. But apart from business and trade opportunities, what lies for sustainable development? While it is an emerging economy, what are they key gaps present and what can be done for greater social impact? We explore more on today's episode.

Since the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back in 2015, the word ‘sustainable development’ has become the most important word for global development. It is also one of the primary terms used by us at The Global Podcast. But what does it mean? We sit down with Charlotte Osterman, Director of Sustainable Development at Pax Tecum Global to explain what it means, where it came from and why it matters.

Venezuela has been in an economic crisis for years but the situation heightened when the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, was declared interim president by the assembly as a response to current President Nicolas Maduro's management of the country. Since then, the country has been the scene of a dire humanitarian crisis and the pawn of a geopolitical hand at play. Yet while the country's politics goes on, millions flee the country and basic human needs aren't being met. Can diplomacy in international development save Venezuela? Is there a role for NGOs and either state or non-state actors to engage to provide relief and aid for the Venezuelan people? On this episode, we invite Temir Porras Ponceleon (former Foreign Affairs Advisor to Hugo Chavez and former Chief of Staff to Nicolas Maduro), Daniel Lansburg-Rodriguez (Director of Latin America for Greenmantle LLC and Adjunct Lecturer at Northwestern Kellogg), and Ryan Lloyd (Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Sao Paulo) to discuss this crucial question - is diplomacy in international development still possible in Venezuela?

The Economist labelled Africa as the "Hopeless Continent" in the early 2000's. Fast forward to the present and it has now published a cover on how Africa is "rising". Businesses and governments are flooding to the continent to do business and Africa is now the scene of a rising amount of startups and entrepreneurs. So what is fuelling this? And what is this new kind of African innovation? We speak with Simon Duchatelet of the World Bank's Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation Global Practice to find out more on why this decade is indeed the 'African decade'.

On 17 April 2019, Indonesians went to the polls and voted in current President Joko Widodo (commonly called Jokowi) back into office for a second term. But with underachieving on certain developmental promises and a sudden alliance with the more conservative right wing, what political implications will this have for both development and sustainability for the country in the coming years? We provide the overview and analysis on this episode.

With the launch of the SDGs back in 2015, there was an opportunity for businesses and the private sector to come on board in supporting the global goals. But the pick up has been with mixed results. In this episode, we speak with Matt Loose of SustainAbility to discuss the opportunities available for businesses in supporting the SDGS and why it makes financial and commercial sense in saving the world.

Political will is the most used term in global affairs, business and in the NGO sector. But what is it really? Interestingly enough, we do and we don't. On this episode, we take the time to discuss what is this concept and why it is so crucial for your business, development program or investment if you want to see if grow and become more sustainable.

In early 2019, Brazil elected Jair Bolsonaro as its new president. Hailed as the "Trump of Brazil" by many media commentator for his far-right stances, he has come into office promising to tackle the country's urban violence and spiralling corruption which has caused much unwanted attention globally. Much like Trump, Bolsonaro dismisses climate change and his political focus is no longer on sustainable development for a country where economic inequality and poverty is still a reality. So what is the current political climate and will for sustainable development in Brazil? On this episode, we're joined by Dr Ryan Lloyd of the University of Sao Paulo, Amanda Lima of UNDP and political journalist Carlos Oliveira to discuss the current Brazilian political landscape, political will for the SDGs and the change for businesses and NGOs to influence for the sake of social good.

On 11 March 2019, US President Donald Trump slashes the 2020 Budget to US foreign affairs and international aid. This was done in effort to make room for costs to accommodate his proposal of the US-Mexico wall which led to the 35 day US government shutdown early this year. But in his attempt to make America 'great again', he's actually making it much worse, especially in regards to the power which USAID and development programs can yield for American image abroad. We dive in further into today's episode to explain why.

The 2010 Haitian Earthquake rocked Haiti to the core, killing thousands and inviting in a slew of NGOs along with their philanthropical dollars to the country. Yet the years that followed demonstrated abuse by NGO workers of the Haitian dynamics, disappearance of humanitarian funds and a lack of improvement to the plight of Haitians in a country which has yet to recover. So are NGOs to blame? We speak with the Founder of The Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, Brain Concannon, and Anthropologist Dr Timothy Schwartz who is the author of The Great Haiti Humanitarian Aid Swindle to uncover what NGOs have been doing in Haiti, how it has hindered recovery and what they can do to change in order to lead to sustainable development.

Global philanthropy is on the rise with famed organisations launched by the Clintons and the Gates taking full stage. With an aim to help reduce the wealth gap and foster both sustainable development and relief in marginalised and developing countries, are they actually achieving their goals? More precisely, is philanthropy only adding to the problem? We explore further in this episode and highlight the good, the bad and what can be done to change it.

Impact investing has been the buzzword as of late in global philanthropy and with the International Community of the Red Cross (ICRC) having launched 'humanitarian investment bonds' (HIB) back in 2017, it leaves one to wonder if investing in conflict is a good choice? Discussing the benefits of investment during conflict, we sit down with Sami Hamdi, Editor and Chief of The International Interest to uncover not only the advantages to the investor, but the potential to foster sustainable peace and economic empowerment.

The term 'development diplomacy' has been confused often with diplomacy in international development. On this episode, we take the time to dissect the two, explain their differences and their respective importance in foreign affairs, business and sustainable development.

The OECD has recently included in a questionnaire for sustainable development the need for democratic institutions. But does democracy actually foster sustainable development? We speak with Liberal International's Head of Human Rights, Tamara Dancheva on the case for democracy in leading to greater social impact.

According to the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, there are estimates that in 2018, US $12 trillion was invested in socially responsible investment funds. Impact investing is a rapidly growing industry with a huge potential to bring sustainable social impact. But what is it? In this episode, we dive in to what it is, how it works and how it can help both emerging and developing economies.

For years, the preferred method of US Foreign Policy against states deemed dangerous were economic sanctions. From Sudan to Iran, sanctions have proved to be more harmful to the people on the ground than the government. But with sanctions lifted from Sudan in 2017 and the EU rigorously trying for the sake of their businesses to bypass re-emerging sanctions from the USA against Iran, what are the opportunities that lay for NGOs, impact investors and businesses when the curtains of sanctions are lifted? And what is the political will present for them?

Africa is booming - there's no doubt about that! But some of the countries in the continent are really taking centre stage. One country in particular is Senegal. In this episode, we cover the political will present in the country that provides opportunities for businesses, NGOs and investors to engage with the country to further both social impact and sustainable development endeavours.

In a rapidly globalising word, businesses are needing to engage more with governments. And with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations promoting more Private-Public partnerships, businesses are going to need a lot more political tact in order to engage with governments. This means employing diplomacy itself. In this episode, we explain why diplomacy in business is crucial, especially for businesses that foster sustainable development and social impact.

On today's episode, we speak with Paul O'Brien, VP for Policy and Advocacy at Oxfam America to discuss the importance of NGOs understanding political will in order to push forward both advocacy campaigns and development programs. With development and politics often seen as two roads that don't cross, O'Brien goes over why it is important for NGOs to have more political savy when engaging with governments for a more sustainable outcome.

It's a new year, yet surprisingly old conflicts and baggage keep following. 2018 was a dynamic year and no doubt remnants of past events will inspire potential events in 2019. In this episode, we provide you with "The Top 5 to Watch in 2019" in both business and global affairs to guide you on opportunities and risks in both sustainable development and diplomatic engagement.

As we approach the holidays, we want to wish our listeners from our team at Pax and The Global Podcast, a very Merry Christmas and thank you all for listening and choosing to subscribe with us.

In September 2017, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched a new endeavour entitled “Humanitarian Impact Bonds” (HIBs) with the intention to sanction money from the private sector towards development in conflict zones. But can this be of benefit? How does it work and if it does work, how do we spread the word? We discuss more about the potential for HIBs in today’s episode.

The past few weeks have seen immense rioting all over France in response to President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to raise taxes on diesel fuel as a method to tackle carbon emission. The result was sparked anger from many workers already feeling the weight of heavy taxes and confusing many in the outside world on the status of order in France . Without a doubt, reducing carbon emission is crucial but what can be done to tackle this and not disempower citizens? We discuss both the background of protests in France, insight on the current one and a solution to appease both issues.

How vital is cross cultural diplomacy in today's world? How important is it in business? We invite Tayo Rockson, CEO of UYD Management and speaker of the TEDx talk "The Art of Diplomacy" to speak to us what we can learn from diplomats on cultural communication to apply to business and everyday life.

More than 20 years since the horrific Rwandan Genocide leaving around one million Rwandans dead, the country has made a complete 360 degree change, becoming East Africa's most up-and-coming emerging economy. Listen in to this quick overview and find out how Rwanda is committed to both global growth through sustainability and dynamic development.

In this episode, we speak with humanitarian and Founder of Teaspoons for Change - d'Arcy Lunn on how to get governments onboard for adopting the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.

In our inaugural episode we define the key theme of this podcast - diplomacy in international development - and explain why it is vital for international business and affairs.