Podcast: I Think You’re On Mute

At the heart of the response: Vanuatu and the path to localisation

What’s changed in Vanuatu’s localisation journey since 2019?

How did last year’s earthquake test local leadership and coordination?

And where is progress strongest across the seven domains of localisation?

In a new episode of I Think You’re On Mute, produced in partnership with PIANGO, we unpack fresh research carried out with VANGO on how localisation has evolved in Vanuatu since our 2019 baseline.

One year on from the earthquake, co-hosts Beth Eggleston and Pamela Combinido-Elfa sit down with local research consultant Linda Kenni and Shirley Abraham from VANGO to share insights from those at the heart of the response, looking at what’s shifted, what’s stalled, and what still needs to change to make localisation a reality.

Podcast co-hosts and guests:

Co-Host: Beth Eggleston

Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Co-Host: Pamela Combinido-Elfa

Leader, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Guests: Linda Kenni

Independent Research Consultant – Vanuatu

Shirley Abraham

Secretary General of Vanuatu Non-Government Organisations (VANGO)

Podcast research and links:

Humanitarian Advisory Group | Localisation in Vanuatu: Demonstrating change

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/localisation-in-vanuatu-demonstrating-change/

Humanitarian Advisory Group | All localisation research reports

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight-category/localisation/

Humanitarian system reform in Syria

As Syria experiences major upheaval in the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s ousting from power in late 2024, the humanitarian response finds itself at a crossroads characterised by both significant challenges and new opportunities.

In a special episode of I Think You’re On Mute, in partnership with the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub, host Beth Eggleston is joined by Aya Yagan and Mazen Alhousseiny to discuss the evolving situation and key research insights from our recent report: AFTER ASSAD: Navigating Syria’s Humanitarian Crossroads.

Full podcast transcript: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/podcast-i-think-youre-on-mute-humanitarian-system-reform-in-syria/

Podcast host and guests:

Host: Beth Eggleston

Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Guests:

Aya Yagan

Technical Director at NSDation Consultancy Services

Mazen Alhousseiny

Capacity Strengthening Adviser at HelpAge International

Podcast research and links:

Humanitarian Advisory Group | After Assad: Navigating Syria’s Humanitarian Crossroads (April 2025) https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/after-assad-navigating-syrias-humanitarian-crossroads/

Concern Worldwide | Beyond Barriers: Overcoming Funding & Human Resource Obstacles to Achieve a Localized Humanitarian Response (January 2025) https://beyondbarriers.concernusa.org/

Podcast I Think You’re On Mute:

A window of opportunity for humanitarians in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is celebrated for its rapid economic growth, resilient communities, and robust disaster management frameworks. Yet, it's grappling with political upheaval, climate risks, and humanitarian challenges that test the limits of even the most resilient systems.

In this special episode of I Think You’re On Mute, in partnership with the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub, your host Beth Eggleston and guests Dr. Ehsanur Rahman and Farah Kabir explore the needs and opportunities for the humanitarian system to adapt with the shift in political landscape.

Full podcast transcript: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/podcast-i-think-youre-on-mute-a-window-of-opportunity-for-humanitarians-in-bangladesh/

Podcast host and guests:

Host: Beth Eggleston

Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Guests:

Dr. Ehsanur Rahman

Adviser of National Alliance of Humanitarian Actors in Bangladesh and a Convening Committee member of CSO Alliance.

Farah Kabir

Country Director for ActionAid Bangladesh.

Podcast research and links:

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/a-window-of-opportunity-priorities-for-humanitarian-system-reform-in-bangladesh/

Humanitarian Advisory Group | A Window of Opportunity: Priorities for Humanitarian System Reform in Bangladesh

In this special episode of I Think You’re on Mute, host Beth Eggleston reflects on the journey of the Humanitarian Horizons research programme, which has driven insights and influence across the humanitarian sector over the past seven years.

Beth explores the diverse research areas that have shaped humanitarian practice, from examining mental health support for and recruitment practices of local staff, to reducing the environmental impact of humanitarian operations and shifting the power to local actors.

We look back on our achievements, our challenges, and the lessons learned, asking ourselves what worked well and what could have worked better if… Join us as we dive into the research and ideas that are shaping a better humanitarian future.

Podcast host and guests:

Host: Beth Eggleston

Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Guests:

Pamela Cajilig

Independent Consultant

Eranda Wijewickrama

Executive at Humanitarian Advisory Group (HAG)

Podcast research and links:

Humanitarian Advisory Group | Humanitarian Horizons research programme:

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/humanitarian-horizons/

Humanitarian Advisory Group | Greening the System research:

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/humanitarian-horizons/greening-the-system/

Humanitarian Advisory Group | Framework for Greening Humanitarian Action in the Pacific:

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/framework-for-greening-humanitarian-action-in-the-pacific/

Humanitarian Advisory Group | A Pathway to Localisation Impact: Laying the Foundations:

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/a-pathway-to-localisation-impact-laying-the-foundations/

Humanitarian Advisory Group | Power, People and Local Leadership research:

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/humanitarian-horizons/people-power-and-local-leadership/

The humanitarian sector has made significant strides to support more localised action with various frameworks and tools, but there’s still a gap in understanding how these approaches impact affected communities.

Over the past three years, the Humanitarian Advisory Group has been exploring ways to measure the impact of localisation at the community level. A Pathway to Localisation Impact: Laying the Foundations, introduced a model to support humanitarian actors to better define and understand the impact of their localisation practices on crisis-affected populations.

This model was tested with organisations in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. In this episode of I Think You’re On Mute, host Beth Eggleston talks to Aaftab Ullah and Zaki Ullah, members of the partnering research team that tested the model in Pakistan.

Podcast host and guests:

Host: Beth Eggleston

Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Guests:

Aaftab Ullah

Manager M&E, GLOW Consultants

Zaki Ullah

CEO, GLOW Consultants

This episode features the following audio:

Locally-led humanitarian aid: Peter Walker at TEDxLakeGeneva

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=vCGjRIVdOpc

Podcast research and links:

Humanitarian Advisory Group | A Pathway to Localisation Impact: Laying the Foundations

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/a-pathway-to-localisation-impact-laying-the-foundations/

Humanitarian Advisory Group | The Beginning of the Road: A practical approach to defining and measuring localisation impact for communities

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/the-beginning-of-the-road-a-practical-approach-to-defining-and-measuring-localisation-impact-for-communities/

Humanitarian Advisory Group | Crossing The Bridge: A Practical Guide to Support Good Intermediary Practice

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/crossing-the-bridge-a-practical-guide-to-support-good-intermediary-practice/

Humanitarian Advisory Group | Bridging the Intention to Action Gap: The Future Role of Intermediaries in Supporting Locally Led Humanitarian Action

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/bridging-the-intention-to-action-gap/

Many forms of non-economic loss and damage are irreversible, like the loss of biodiversity and species extinction, the loss of cultural heritage and culturally significant sites, and the loss of ancestral lands – all of which erodes traditional knowledge and practices. The consequences of these losses can resonate for decades – or even centuries.

Indigenous and local knowledge systems can provide valuable wisdom and insights into managing and mitigating non-economic loss and damage. In this episode of I Think You’re On Mute, your host Beth Eggleston explores non-economic loss and damage in the Pacific with climate change expert Dr Moleen Nand.

Podcast host and guests:

Host: Beth Eggleston

Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Guests:

Dr Moleen Nand

Climate Change Expert

This episode features the following audio:

Fiji One News: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1100131867710760

Podcast research and links:

Humanitarian Advisory Group | Greater Than The Sum of Its Parts: Building a shared agenda for operational actors on non-economic loss and damage in the pacific islands - https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts-building-a-shared-agenda-for-operational-actors-on-non-economic-loss-and-damage-in-the-pacific-islands/

Anticipatory technology

You've likely heard the buzz around artificial intelligence, or AI, and machine learning, but how exactly are these technologies shaping the future of disaster preparedness and response?

In this episode of I Think You’re On Mute, your host Beth Eggleston explores the innovative technology being tested and employed to enable efficient and effective anticipatory action with guests Sandra Uwantege Hart and Vlad Cozma.

Podcast host and guests:

Host: Beth Eggleston

Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Guests:

Vlad Cozma

CashCap Regional Expert for Asia & Pacific at NORCAP – a part of the Norwegian Refugee Council

Sandra Uwantege Hart

Specialist in community inclusion and adoption of blockchain and DeFi applications in emerging markets.

This episode features the following audio:

WFP| Innovation Bites: Understanding Blockchain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taxjH2wxO1Y

Podcast research and links:

Anticipatory action and cash transfers for rapid-onset hazards: Practitioners’ note for field testing - https://reliefweb.int/report/world/anticipatory-action-and-cash-transfers-rapid-onset-hazards-practitioners-note-field-testing

On the Front Foot: Envisioning a Model for Anticipatory Action in the Pacific - https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/on-the-front-foot-envisioning-a-model-for-anticipatory-action-in-the-pacific/

Full transcript: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/podcast-i-think-youre-on-mute-anticipatory-technology/

By institutionalising anticipatory action within social protection systems, preparedness becomes a regular part of disaster risk management rather than an ad hoc or reactive measure.

In this episode of I Think You’re On Mute, your host Beth Eggleston looks at how anticipatory action can tap into existing social protection systems to respond to potential crises swiftly and efficiently, while protecting the most vulnerable groups, exploring a pilot by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the Philippines with guests Rhodora G. Alday and Ruth Georget.

Full podcast transcript: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/podcast-i-think-youre-on-mute-protection-through-early-action/

Podcast host and guests:

Host: Beth Eggleston

Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Guests:

Director Rhodora G. Alday

Department of Social Welfare and Development

Speaks to anticipatory action and existing social protection systems in the Philippines.

Ruth Georget

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Speaks anticipatory action interventions in the Philippines.

This episode features the following audio:

Anticipation Hub | Anticipatory action: five key policy asks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O1zb_Bg-7Y

FAO: Building on Social Protection for Anticipatory Action and Response in Emergencies and Disasters (B-SPARED)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O1zb_Bg-7Y

Podcast research and links:

Humanitarian Advisory Group | On the Front Foot: Envisioning a model for anticipatory action in the Pacific - https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/on-the-front-foot-envisioning-a-model-for-anticipatory-action-in-the-pacific/

FAO | Adopting anticipatory action and shock responsive social protection to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience: Learning from the ASEAN region - https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/2035e8bc-0751-46f3-8e88-0c62990c951d

The humanitarian sector's push for localisation has resulted in an increasing presence of local and national staff in international organisations. This has many benefits for the sector, but it can also bring unintended consequences for local organisations.

Our research shows, it's not just what the humanitarian system is doing, but also how it conducts its operations that impacts on both short- and long-term outcomes. So what are some of the initiatives that are seeking to shake things up, get better results and change the status quo?

In this episode of I Think You’re On Mute, your host Beth Eggleston explores how we can deliver humanitarian response differently through respectful recruitment practices and new initiatives that ensure affected communities are at the heart of humanitarian response, with guests Kate Sutton and Nanette Salvador-Antequisa

Full podcast transcript: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/humanitarian-horizons/i-think-youre-on-mute/

Podcast host and guests:

Host: Beth Eggleston

Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Guests:

Kate Sutton

Advisor, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Speaks to impact of staff mobility and respectful recruitment practices

Nanette Salvador-Antequisa

Founder and Executive Director of ECOWEB

Speaks to locally led action in the Philippines and new Flagship Initiative

This episode features the following audio:

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Philippines, Gustavo Gonzalez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32kvpxz4Avc&t=139s

Podcast research and links:

Humanitarian Horizons | Respectful Recruitment in Humanitarian Response: Why we need it and how to do it - https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/respectful-recruitment-in-humanitarian-response-why-we-need-it-and-how-to-do-it/

In November 2023, the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum meeting was held and the host, the Cook Islands, chose the theme: Our Voices, Our Choices, Our Pacific Way, underscoring the importance of local context and how tackling challenges needs to be locally led.

The Pacific region is home to a strong and extensive resilience network, rooted in traditional knowledge, so what we can learn from the region that’s leading the way when it comes to doing humanitarian response differently?

In this episode of I Think You’re On Mute, the Pacific is in focus. Your host Beth Eggleston explores how anticipatory action differs from disaster preparedness, and how we can better support locally led action across the region while leveraging traditional knowledge, with anticipatory action and localisation specialists, Catherine Jones and Akmal Ali.

Full podcast transcript: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/podcast-i-think-youre-on-mute-our-voices-our-choices-our-pacific-way-supporting-locally-led-action-in-the-pacific/

Podcast host and guests:

Host: Beth Eggleston, Co-Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Guests:

Catherine Jones

Anticipatory Action Lead for Asia-Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Speaks to how anticipatory action differs from disaster preparedness and what other regions can learn from the Pacific.

Akmal Ali

Facility Aiding Locally-Led Engagement (FALE) Pacific, PIANGO

Leader, Humanitarian Advisory Group

Speaks to localisation in the Pacific and the importance of leveraging traditional knowledge.

This episode features the following audio:

Start Network: https://www.youtube.com/@StartNetworkGlobal

Podcast research and links:

Humanitarian Horizons | On The Front Foot: Envisioning A Model For Anticipatory Action In The Pacific

https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/on-the-front-foot-envisioning-a-model-for-anticipatory-action-in-the-pacific/

The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent

https://www.forumsec.org/2050strategy/