Episodes

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

    The food paradox: Why those who feed us can't feed themselves with Roger Thurow
    Apr 28 2025
    Summary
    Award-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 multiple continents, Thurow highlights promising indigenous and regenerative farming approaches that could transform global food systems while addressing climate challenges.

    Chapters
    00:00 The Collision of Nourishment and Planetary Health
    02:30 The Journey into Agriculture and Food Security
    05:42 Unintended Consequences of Agricultural Practices
    10:25 Lessons from Farmers: Regret and Resilience
    14:26 The Debate: Regenerative vs. Modern Agriculture
    20:08 Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture
    25:15 The Role of Farmers in Global Agriculture
    27:54 The Importance of Listening to Farmers

    Want to stay updated on the latest news in global development? Subscribe to Devex’s Newswire: https://www.devex.com/newsletters/newswire
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    29 mins
  • Vulnerability as risk: Garance Wattez-Richard on insuring the emerging middle class

    Vulnerability as risk: Garance Wattez-Richard on insuring the emerging middle class
    Apr 15 2025
    Summary
    Garance 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 frameworks. The discussion highlights the profitability of inclusive insurance and its critical role in achieving sustainable development goals, especially in the context of climate change.

    Chapters
    00:00 The Risk of Vulnerability
    00:47 Revolutionizing Insurance for All
    01:37 A Journey into Development and Insurance
    06:45 The Evolution of Microinsurance
    11:41 Profitability in Inclusive Insurance
    14:50 The Risks of Insurance Solutions
    19:15 Regulatory Challenges in Emerging Markets
    23:07 Insurance as a Core Development Activity
    28:13 The Future of Insurance and Development

    Want to stay updated on the latest news in global development? Subscribe to Devex’s Newswire: https://www.devex.com/newsletters/newswire
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    31 mins
  • Business in challenging markets: Viva Ona Bartkus on building businesses in fragile economies

    Business in challenging markets: Viva Ona Bartkus on building businesses in fragile economies
    Apr 3 2025
    Summary
    Discover 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 ownership
    • How to turn "middlemen with guns" into business partners
    • Why Chinese companies are winning while Western firms hesitate
    Plus: The radical partnership model that's transforming dangerous markets from Uganda to Colombia. Bartkus shares explosive insights from 15+ years working with multinationals, Special Forces, and local communities in conflict zones.

    Chapters
    00:00 Embedding Business in Local Communities
    01:53 The Journey to Frontline Markets
    07:02 Understanding Market Dynamics
    11:18 The Role of Middlemen in Local Economies
    12:45 Security Through Community Engagement
    16:14 The Next Round of Globalization
    20:02 The Competitive Landscape of Global Investment
    23:42 Collaboration Between Security and Development
    25:28 Bridging the Gap Between Business and Humanitarian Efforts
    28:41 The Role of ESG in Business Strategies
    31:17 Adapting Business Models for Extractive Industries
    36:43 The Future of Development Finance

    Want to stay updated on the latest news in global development? Subscribe to Devex’s Newswire: https://www.devex.com/newsletters/newswire
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    41 mins
  • The Undergrowth Effect: Danny Sriskandarajah on unlocking citizen power

    The Undergrowth Effect: Danny Sriskandarajah on unlocking citizen power
    Feb 24 2025
    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 cafes, creates lasting social transformation. In an era where just 3% of humanity lives in truly open societies, Sriskandarajah presents a compelling case for what he calls "the undergrowth": the vital networks of civic engagement that bypass traditional institutions to build solutions from the ground up. His message is both urgent and optimistic: in a world of climate crisis and democratic decline, our most powerful lever for change isn't waiting for permission—it's citizens reclaiming their power.
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    47 mins
  • Design for billions: Inside the mind of Sanjay Purohit, a societal transformation expert

    Design for billions: Inside the mind of Sanjay Purohit, a societal transformation expert
    Dec 23 2024
    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 of how we approach societal change. Since 2016, he's been pioneering "Societal Thinking," an approach that's reached over 500 change leaders across 20 countries, tackling everything from climate action to gender equity. Think scale: A curation of ideas to help you—the first in his groundbreaking trilogy on social transformation—captures these battle-tested insights.
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    53 mins
  • Juan M. Lavista Ferres on "AI for Good"

    Juan M. Lavista Ferres on "AI for Good"
    Apr 24 2024
    In this episode of the Devex Book Club podcast, President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Microsoft's Juan M. Lavista Ferres to talk about how he got his start with computer science, what AI can do (and what it can’t), and how Beluga whales can help detect war crimes in Syria.
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    43 mins
  • Alex Amouyel on "The Answer is You"

    Alex Amouyel on "The Answer is You"
    Mar 25 2024
    Doing meaningful work doesn't have to come at the expense of your whole life. In fact, Alex Amouyel argues that anyone can create a life full of impact. In this episode of the Devex Book Club, Alex takes us through her own winding career trajectory, from her time as a scientist to her current role as President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation, and shares that with enough will and determination, everyone has what it takes to make a difference.

    For more information on upcoming episodes and to sign up for our mailing list, visit the Devex Book Club here: https://pages.devex.com/devex-book-club.html
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    40 mins
  • Howard French on "Born in Blackness"

    Howard French on "Born in Blackness"
    Feb 26 2024
    Reframing six centuries of world history in a single book is no easy feat. Doing it in lively, engaging prose that keeps you hooked the whole way through is even harder. But such is the talent of Howard French, longtime foreign correspondent and author of Born in Blackness, our Devex Book Club selection for this month.

    For more information on upcoming episodes and to sign up for our mailing list, visit the Devex Book Club here: https://pages.devex.com/devex-book-club.html
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    53 mins