One of the biggest challenges in grant management is that the most critical targets of funding are hard-to-reach people in hard-to-reach places.

In this, the first episode of the series, our host Tim Smith leads a discussion on efficient grant allocation with Steve Fussell, who was Chief Administrator, Office of Organizational Excellence, Seminole County Government in Florida, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Amy Fenstermacher, EY Americas Grants and Relief Funds Management Leader.  14 mins.

Successful grant programs demand a relentless focus on outcomes. Grant administrators must implement effective monitoring procedures and gather comprehensive information while grant recipients, on the other hand, want to enjoy a smooth customer journey.

In the second episode of the series, host Tim Smith talks outcomes with Michael Cooper, Senior Civil Servant, and Head of Defra’s Group Grants Hub, and Matt Wilson, EY EMEIA Grants and Relief Funds Management Leader.  14 mins    

Grant and relief fund programs operate in complex, dynamic ecosystems, with an ever-present risk of fraud, misallocation and waste. And nowhere is this truer than for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

In this episode Tim discusses how to address such complexity with Dr. Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Director and Executive Coordinator of Environmental Finance at the United Nations Development Programme, Maryam Hussain, EY International Fraud and Corruption Investigator, and Simon Inglis, Leader of the EY Grants and Relief Funding Management Team. 16 mins

Innovative, reliable and secure technology can help grantmaking organizations target the right people, track fund flow, spot fraud and waste and measure impact. 

In our fourth episode of the series, host Tim Smith talks about how to harness the indisputable power of technology to improve grant management, with his guests Andrea Sampanis, Solutions and Services Lead, Grants Quality Service Management Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Amy Fenstermacher, EY Americas Grants and Relief Funds Management Leader. 19 mins

How Cape Town became a world leader in water reduction

In this episode the Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, tells Meghan Mills how averting “Day Zero” led to a new strategy for water resilience. 16 mins

Why collaboration and accountability are key to achieving climate goals

In the seventh episode of The City Citizen, Heather Taylor, CFO and Treasurer for the City of Toronto, talks to Meghan Mills about making sure her budget gets results. 14 mins

How creative thinking and bold action are transforming Port of Spain

With its rich cultural heritage, beautiful surroundings and thriving industries, Port of Spain has a lot to offer. But even in idyllic locations like Trinidad and Tobago, capital cities have challenges to address - including how to transition to a smart, sustainable future.

Mayor, Joel Martinez describes how he’s rejuvenating the city by building on its strengths and increasing civic pride. 10 mins

How Warsaw is becoming a sustainable city for all

For the last couple of decades, Warsaw has been facing challenges common to cities of its size, from climate change to social inclusion. More recently, its physical and cultural closeness to Ukraine has also put it on the front line of a migration crisis.

In this episode, the Deputy Mayor of Warsaw, Michał Olszewski, explains the initiatives used to tackle these challenges. 12 mins

How one city is creating partnerships to realize growth and climate goals.

Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix, talks to Meghan Mills about Phoenix’s journey to become the most sustainable desert city in the US. 15 mins

How hosting the Olympics is helping a fast-growing city meet its needs.

With preparations underway for 2032 we are joined by Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane and John Kimlin, EY Partner, Oceania, Government and Health. 22 mins