Awake At Night

António Guterres' drive to serve those less fortunate saw him rise from a volunteer in the slums of Lisbon to the highest spheres of politics, eventually taking on the world's most important diplomatic role. Now in his final months in office, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations shares what keeps him awake at night.

"First of all, [it's] the enormous suffering because of all the conflicts and injustices that we have. Second, thinking about the future, the two existential threats that we are facing. One is climate change, and the other is artificial intelligence running away without control."

Preventing wars, easing suffering, acting as the world's moral compass, all these and more count among the formidable expectations placed on the UN Secretary-General. In this episode, António Guterres looks back on the milestones and setbacks of a long career, reflects on the personal tragedy of the loss of his first wife, and shares why his lasting hope is rooted in the promise of "We, the Peoples."

Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-antonio-guterres-it-is-a-gift-to-serve-humanity

Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hOdCTRbMfyQ

Growing up in rural Spain, Alvaro Lario's parents managed a small fruit farm that sold melons in local villages. Now he is President of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and is helping small scale farmers to thrive all around the world.

"All of these people are extremely entrepreneurial. They're extremely creative. They have a lot of willingness and energy. Many times it's just the lack of opportunity or the lack of means, and I think that's what makes this job or this role very rewarding."

The UN supports rural communities around the world as they gain economic self-reliance through agricultural activities. In this episode, Alvaro Lario reflects on attracting private sector investment for those projects, on what indigenous groups can teach others about resilience to global shocks, and shares how building one new road can transform thousands of lives.

Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-alvaro-lario-planting-hope-in-remote-communities

Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cww_7PYrvTY

Garry Conille knows that resilience, hope and determination can be powerful foundations for change. Now UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, he hopes to contribute his wide-ranging experience to help accelerate the country's development.

Meanwhile, he hasn't let go of his brimming optimism towards his troubled home of Haiti, where he served as prime minister. "It's been years of challenges and stress and distress, yet when you walk in the streets of Haiti, you will see these young children with their hair just tightly done, and these uniforms tightly pressed, walking for hours to go to school. [That's] what defines Haiti more than anything else."

The UN and its agencies stand alongside all low and middle income countries as they work to improve the lives of their citizens and those who seek shelter within their borders. In this episode, Garry Conille reflects on the dangers faced by young migrants, on the promise of Kenya as a new hub for diplomacy, and about his drive to seek solutions for even the most intractable problems.

"I've seen countries take their future in hand and transform themselves. Having worked in different countries, I've seen countries come from a very bad place and do well, and find unity and create a vision and rebuild. So I know that's possible. I'm also convinced that there was no problem that we have in Haiti, for which there's not a proven solution."

Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-corinne-momal-vanian-the-UN-is-my-life-my-family

Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CMMqQyjxaI

Outgoing Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation Corinne Momal-Vanian previously spent three decades serving with the United Nations. For her, the UN's founding values have always been a north star, not just for her career, but also for her family and her whole life.

"It's really putting the human dignity at the center. That every human being deserves to live a fulfilling life and life in dignity, that's also at the heart of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and those are truly universal aspirations."

From working against apartheid to stabilising post-genocide Cambodia, Corrine Momal-Vanian has deployed for the UN at compelling moments across the world. In this episode, she looks back on serving two Secretary-Generals during some of the darkest and dangerous moments in the organization's history, and shares why the UN was always so much more than a job.

"Despite all our efforts, people just don't realize that actually their whole life is assisted by the UN... making international phone calls to flying planes internationally, sending mail abroad and having vaccines that are certified by the WHO as being healthy and useful." Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-corinne-momal-vanian-the-UN-is-my-life-my-family

Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShsqmkX9akc

Máximo Torero Cullen is one of the world's leading voices on global hunger and food security. Currently serving as Chief Economist at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), he uses his economic expertise to work towards the goal of a world where nobody goes to bed hungry.

"I have been through many problems in life, which I have learned a lot as an economist. I was in the hyperinflation in Peru. I was in wars in Peru and terrorism... I have been in massive earthquake situations. So I have seen a lot, but I never expected how complex this sector would become."

FAO partners with governments around the world to invest in areas with untapped agricultural potential, transforming lives in rural farming communities. It also works to secure the global food supply during crises such as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, or the crisis in Strait of Hormuz. In this episode, Máximo Torero Cullen reflects on the process of dampening food price shocks, on investing in sustainable nutrition, and shares why he always trusts the knowledge of farmers.

Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-maximo-torero-cullen-devising-an-end-to-hunger

Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XzRaFSKPW_s

As a child, Ozonnia Ojielo survived a brutal civil war in his native Nigeria in which starvation was used as a weapon. After training as a lawyer, an encounter with fellow survivors gave him new purpose and propelled him to his current role as the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia.

"She started crying. All the other guests started crying. I started crying as well. There I was, a very successful lawyer making a lot of money. But I said to myself, this is much more valuable. Trying to change people's lives, or at least be there as a voice for them."

From Rwanda to Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, Ozonnia Ojielo has supported communities around the world as they navigate difficult journeys from violence to peace. In this episode, he reflects on the long shadow of genocide, on the delicate work of reintegrating both perpetrators and victims, and shares why the biggest currency the world can offer young people is hope. Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-ozonnia-ojielo-surviving-war-to-fight-for-peace Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cN7ImhAXj8s

Oil price surges have put international shipping in the spotlight in recent months. But what about the people behind the headlines? What happens to them when the news cycle moves on?

"[Seafarers] feel forgotten because when they turn on the media, all the headlines are about how petrol is going up, how this is affecting the global economy, how things goes three, four times the price that normally they will pay for it, and nobody talks about the seafarer. We need more countries to recognize them as key workers."

With up to 90 percent of all goods globally transported by sea, the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) works to help commercial shipping and international trade ride the waves of war, piracy and geopolitics.

Growing up near the Panama Canal, Arsenio Dominguez was always fascinated by mighty cargo ships sailing through on their way to distant shores. Now Secretary-General of the IMO, his role is to defend seafarers and give shipping the recognition it deserves.

"Whenever you affect shipping, everybody else gets affected, even if you're not part of the conflict. This is not good for anyone. This is not good for the global population, for the global economy, for politics. We need to protect shipping more."

In this episode, Arsenio Dominguez reflects on years of back-to-back challenges for international shipping, on efforts to decarbonize, and shares why the power of positive thinking and the encouragement of his mother have always been his guiding lights.

Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-arsenio-dominguez-open-the-strait

Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LsGArn7T8i8

Growing up in rural South Africa, Tshilidzi Marwala first learned about engineering from his grandmother's handmade clay pots. Now rector of the United Nations University, the Under-Secretary-General is a vocal advocate of using artificial intelligence (AI) for good.

"I would not trust AI. You are not supposed to trust AI. You are supposed to use it, always doubt it, always verify what it tells you, cross validate, so that you can be able to use it responsibly."

Education has been a driving force throughout Tshilidzi Marwala's life, alongside the seismic transitions he has witnessed in his native country and around the world. "We [returned to South Africa just after the end of apartheid] and then we realized that freedom is beautiful… Democracy is a beautiful concept, but it's a very difficult journey. It's not an overnight thing."

With a doctorate in neural networks among his many academic achievements, the UNU rector is familiar with the architecture behind the current rapid developments in AI. In this episode, he reflects on the intersection of political freedom, education and technology, and shares why digital literacy is among the most important skills of our age.

"[AI is] making health accessible to people ... if you look at issues of food production, zero hunger is a reasonable goal. You know, I think AI can play a big role."

Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-tshilidzi-marwala-use-ai-responsibly-for-a-better-world

Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/y1Kh_BzIV7A

Born to Italian parents in Venezuela, Allegra Baiocchi has been on the move ever since and has lived in more than 25 countries around the world. Now UN Resident Coordinator in Mexico, she believes in the power of the United Nations to improve the well-being of all people, wherever they are.

"I am truly an optimist. I do think we can turn this around, but it does need a lot of people taking action, and so I stay awake at night trying to figure out how to get people to act."

Formerly the UN's chief humanitarian coordinator for western and central Africa, Allegra Baiocchi faced down overlapping deadly crises, from Ebola and war, to drought, famine and displacement. In this episode, she reflects on the highs and lows of her long and varied career, and shares how she brought up children who are as much citizens of the globe as she is.

"There's still so much magic in the UN, because while we look at the disagreement, we're not seeing how much agreement is happening every day on many, many issues, and just that, you know, being able to bring the world around any topic and actually have them agree is incredible."

Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-allegra-baiocchi-why-I-am-still-an-obstinate-optimist

Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7HA8wArE3aI

War is Mary Maker's earliest memory. Born in South Sudan and named Nyiriak — meaning "war" — she spent her youth living and working in one of the world's largest refugee camps. Now a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, she is raising her voice on behalf of those she left behind, helping refugee students land scholarships to top universities.

"I want to be seen. I want to be heard. I want to be acknowledged. I want to be at the table, making decisions and feeling like a part of something. Are you able to see us? Are you? Are you able to go beyond the news and really understand that this is someone like you?"

After her family fled to safety, Mary built a new life of opportunity through education and hard work – finding her feet, and her voice, on stage. In this episode, she shares how she overcame a childhood marred by death and conflict, and how theater became both her refuge and her path forward.

"You're taking this new title, the refugee ... and you see the UNHCR logo, with the hands holding each other. And I remember my mom trying to spell it out for me, UNHCR. And she's like, we're safe. I think we made it."

Edited transcript, photos, multimedia and more at the AAN website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s13-mary-maker-launching-a-new-life-from-a-refugee-camp

Podcast full video available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8kCtNQJGf4s