Devex Podcasts

Next week, the global health community will convene in Geneva for the World Health Organization's annual decision-making summit, the World Health Assembly. We preview the pivotal discussions expected to shape the coming year, including the implications of recent leadership changes and cost-saving initiatives at WHO, as well as the evolving role of philanthropic organizations in funding global health.

We also discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s self-described “big, beautiful bill,” which made its way through a key congressional tax-writing committee on Wednesday. The 389-page plan would increase taxes on private foundations, place a 5% tax on remittances for non-U.S. citizens, and allow the government to revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations it says support terrorists.

To analyze these stories, and others, Devex Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger sits down with Managing Editor Anna Gawel and senior global health reporter Jenny Lei Ravelo for the latest episode of our podcast series.

Join our global health reporting team in person or online in Geneva from May 19 to 22 as we host a series of events and roundtables on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly. This journalist-led summit will bring sector leaders to discuss and explore solutions to some of the most pressing issues in global health.

Check out the lineup of programs and register here:

https://pages.devex.com/devex-checkup-at-wha-78.html

For this special episode of our weekly podcast series, we sit down with outgoing UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. He reflects on his two terms, navigating the agency through transitions and current disruptions. Steiner candidly discusses the significant impact of Trump administration program cuts, detailing how they disrupted vital partnerships and supply chains in crisis-hit countries. Hear his take on these impactful cancellations within the larger context of UNDP's work.

Steiner also addresses the concerning trend of declining development finance for much of the developing world, despite overall ODA figures. He confronts the growing skepticism around multilateral institutions and the critical need for internal reflection. Looking ahead, Steiner highlights UNDP's adaptation through new partnerships and financing, urging a global shift towards innovative funding solutions, especially for the most vulnerable nations. Tune in for this crucial discussion on the changing face of development.

This week, we learned that billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates will commit most of his fortune to the Gates Foundation, which will close in 2045. Before this date, the foundation will double its philanthropy, spending $200 billion over the next two decades. The announcement comes as the organization, which has given away $100 billion since 2000, marks its 25th anniversary.

Meanwhile, at the end of last week, U.S. President Donald Trump’s budget proposed an unprecedented slashing of U.S. foreign assistance, making huge cuts to global health, humanitarian aid, and core economic and development work. We discuss the details of Trump’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, and its potential impact on the global development sector.

As the future of foreign aid remains in limbo, 400,000 boxes of food for malnourished children remain stuck in the United States.

To explore these stories and others, Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with reporters Sara Jerving and Elissa Miolene for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series.

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This week marked the first 100 days of the second Trump presidency. From the cutting of foreign aid programs to the laying off of government staff, we reflect on the second Trump administration's impact on the global development sector.

On the topic of the U.S. government, the Department of Government Efficiency is also planning to shut down the Millennium Challenge Corporation. However, efforts are underway to try and save the agency, which has enjoyed bipartisan support and is seen as a key tool to countering China's geopolitical influence.

We also look back at the key takeaways from the Global Inclusive Growth Summit hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, where Devex was a media partner.

To dig into these stories, and others, Devex Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar and Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series.

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Special episode: What’s at stake in the race for critical raw materials? by Devex

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

With the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in full swing, we are recording live from the conference. From the United States’ approach to the institutions to how to create more jobs in the global workforce, we take a look at the key discussion points at the summit.

On the topic of the U.S., we chew over the possibility that the uncertainty surrounding potential tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration may be more damaging than the tariffs themselves, drying up liquidity and forcing painful choices on indebted nations.

During the conversation, we also get into our scoop on the Department of Government Efficiency’s targeting of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. In the coming weeks, the agency is expected to face a reduction in both staff and programming.

To explore these stories, Business Editor David Ainsworth sits down with reporters Adva Saldinger and Jesse Chase-Lubitz, who are covering the Spring Meetings this week, for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series.

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This week we published a story in which we spoke with 14 former and current World Central Kitchen staff members and contractors to find out what lay behind the deaths of seven of the nonprofit’s staff members in Gaza. The interviewees described a workplace plagued by risk, inadequate training, and a “build-the-plane-while-flying-it” mentality.

With the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund coming up next week, we discuss what the gathering will mean for the global development sector. It’s the first World Bank meeting since U.S. President Donald Trump’s election in January, and all eyes will be on how the United States will approach the talks and its relationship with the institution.

We also take a look at the key takeaways from our event with U.S. Rep. French Hill, a Republican from Arkansas and chair of the House Financial Services Committee, who argued that the World Bank is disproportionately focused on climate change and it needs to be pushed “back on course.”

To unpack what happened to the World Central Kitchen staffers in Gaza and to look ahead to the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings, Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with reporters Adva Saldinger and Elissa Miolene, as well as Clemence Landers, vice president and senior policy fellow at the Center For Global Development.

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Special episode: 5 billion people lack access to surgery. Here’s what needs to change by Devex

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