DevDive

In conversation with Onome Ako, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Action Against Hunger Canada, an international humanitarian organization that fights hunger and its root causes worldwide. She has led initiatives in more than 20 countries with organizations including Amref Health Africa, World Vision Canada, AfricaRecruit (a program of the Commonwealth) and UNESCO-Regional Bureau for Education. She has an M.Sc. in Management of NGOs and Social Policy from the London School of Economics.She was named to the 2020 Canadian Women in Global Health list. She was also recognized as one of 2021 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award, which spans the private, public and not-for-profit sectors and recognizes outstanding women across Canada.

In this episode, the second of our series on the SDGs, we speak to Onome about her work in addressing hunger and food insecurity. She shares her parents' efforts in helping the community around them get access to clean and safe drinking water, her journey in the development space, and her vision for Action Against Hunger. We also discuss the impact of covid-19 on global hunger, and what can be done by governments, organisations, communities, and individuals. 

Welcome to the first episode of our new series on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For the next 17 episodes, we shall be diving into each of the goals, profiling individuals and organisations and learning about their work. 

In the first episode of the SDG series, we look at SDG 1- End Poverty in all its forms everywhere. In conversation with Professor Santiago Fiorio Vaesken, Head of Global Partnerships at Poverty Stoplight, which aims to eliminate poverty from a multidimensional perspective. Based out of Paraguay, he is an elected member of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and a university professor in international relations. He has a Masters degree in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Santiago is a specialist in human rights, international humanitarian law and international cooperation, with experience in humanitarian assistance, risk management and international relations.

In this episode, we discuss the vision, mission, and approach of Poverty Stoplight, how can interventions targeted at poverty elimination be made sustainable, working with multiple stakeholders, the impact of the pandemic that pushed an additional 119-124 million people back into extreme poverty in 2020 potential strategies to reverse the trend. We also talk about a human rights approach to poverty elimination, and whether we need to revisit target 2030. We conclude by hearing about Prof. Santiago's D-Dream. 

You can reach out to the team at Poverty Stoplight via- LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/poverty-stoplight/) and Instagram (@povertystoplight). Their website is https://www.povertystoplight.org/.

In this episode, we- Anushna and Mehrin- are in a freewheeling conversation with each other about our development journeys, seasons 1 and 2 of DevDive, feminism, and our D-Dreams. 

In conversation with Simon Jeffrey, Policy Officer at Centre for Cities, UK. While overseeing the broader policy agenda, Simon is the policy lead on devolution and transport. He focuses on the introduction and development of metro mayors and how cities can improve urban mobility to support more jobs, more housing and higher wages. Simon joined Centre for Cities in 2013, originally working on the Centre’s events programme. He previously worked at the think tank Progress and has a degree in Politics at the University of York.

In this episode, he speaks to us about his interest in politics and processes, moving from the events to the policy team of his organisation and future plans. We also discuss the impact of covid-19 on urban transport and mobility and its long-term impact on the sector. 

In conversation with Kruti Munot, Project Manager at GIZ where she works with local governments in Africa on issues of climate change and urban development. She is a postgraduate in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Environmental Science. Based in Brussels, her interests lie in urban development, circular economy, and the role of financial institutions in driving sustainable development.

In this episode, she speaks to us about her interest in urban development, cities, and sustainability, her work in India, Europe, and Africa, and her plans to find and highlight interlinkages among sectors. 

In conversation with Masachs Boungou, a fourth-year doctoral student in Global Studies Program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he is developing his dissertation around a model of business entrepreneurial action that takes its point of departure in the entrepreneur’ personal disturbing experience and the role of the sensemaking associated to that personal disturbing experience. Prior to that, he majored in a dual masters’ degree in Sustainable International Development and Conflict Studies at Brandeis University, where he held a Fulbright Fellowship and founded the Brandeis University Fulbright Chapter. After his Fulbright Fellowship, he founded a Nunga Program, a social nonprofit organization for youth empowerment in Brazzaville, Congo. Masachs is recipient of the Award Grant for Social Change, the Pollination Project, 2020 and the New Leaders Group Award by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in 2018.

In this episode, he speaks to us about his growing up years, Fulbright experience, the process of applying for a PhD, and his future goals. About why the doctoral degree holds value both at a personal and family level, and words from his grandfather that inspire him.