How can we turn great ideas into lasting social impact? In this episode of the OECD Podcast, Shayne MacLachlan speaks with Jeroen Jutte, Head of the European Social Fund Coordination Unit at the European Commission. They explore how the EU is using its flagship funding instrument to support and scale social innovation—from pilot projects in disadvantaged communities to multi-country initiatives reaching millions. With funding of over €2 billion dedicated to social innovation, the ESF+ offers a powerful model for using public investment to solve social challenges. Tune in to learn how Europe is taking ideas from the ground and turning them into lasting change.

To learn more on ESF+:

https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en

https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en/social-innovation

Discover the Local Development Forum: https://www.oecd.org/en/networks/oecd-local-development-forum.html

Read the report Starting, Scaling and Sustaining Social Innovation: Evidence and Impact of the European Social Fund: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/starting-scaling-and-sustaining-social-innovation_ec1dfb67-en.html

Host: Shayne MacLachlan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities

Guest: Jeroen Jutte leads the European Social Fund Plus coordination unit in the Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion DG of the European Commission. He has also led units dealing with Romania/Bulgaria, the European Semester (EU economic governance), and one dealing with budget discharge as well as relations with the European Court of Auditors. Mr. Jutte is a macro economist by training.

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/en/about.html

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For far too long, healthcare performance indicators have centred on inputs—like funding and infrastructure—or processes—like hospital admissions or waiting times—without adequately capturing the experiences and outcomes of the people receiving care.

The OECD’s PaRIS Survey upends that dynamic, shining a light on how older people with chronic conditions feel about their care, how healthy they really feel, and how their everyday lives are affected.

The latest figures are now out: with over 107K patients in over 1800 primary care practices across 19 countries, the survey highlights that living longer doesn’t always mean living better, especially if care experiences are poor and chronic conditions aren’t managed in a way that reflects patients needs.

In this episode of the Behind the Numbers podcast, our host Ashley Ward is joined by OECD Health Economists Frederico Guanais and Michael van den Berg to explore the work behind this innovative survey.

Learn how policymakers, healthcare providers, and patients themselves can use these data to drive more people-centred healthcare.

Host

Ashley Ward, Director’s Office Advisor and Communications Manager (OECD Statistics and Data Directorate)

Guests

Frederico Guanais, Deputy Head of Health Division (OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs)

Michael van den Berg, Senior Health Economist (OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs)

To learn more about policy area: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/patient-reported-indicator-surveys-paris.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/en/about.html

To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/

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What happens when we flip the urban planning script — putting people, not cars, at the heart of our cities and regions? In this 15-minute episode, Professor Carlos Moreno - creator of the “15-minute city” and now a leading voice behind the “30-minute region” - joins the OECD’s Soo-Jin Kim to explore how we can build more inclusive, connected and resilient places.

From the sidewalks of Paris to rural areas reimagining public services, Carlos shares a bold vision of proximity, empowerment, and local opportunity. Tune in to hear how the future of urban and regional development might be just around the corner — literally.

Host: Shayne MacLachlan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities

Guests:

Carlos Moreno is a Franco-Colombian researcher and Professor at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, internationally recognised for developing the 15-minute city concept. He is currently expanding his work through the “30-minute region,” a model designed to bring proximity and accessibility to entire territories beyond urban centres. Carlos serves as Scientific Director of the ETI Chair (“Entrepreneurship – Territory – Innovation”) and advises cities and international organisations on urban innovation and sustainable planning.

Soo-Jin Kim is Head of the Urban Policies and Reviews Unit at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities. Her work focuses on helping national and local governments shape more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities. She leads cross-country reviews, develops policy guidance, and brings international perspectives to urban development challenges.

To learn more about policy area: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/urban-development.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to https://www.oecd.org/en/about.html

To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit https://www.oecd.org/

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What happens when First Nations take the lead in shaping the future of clean energy and infrastructure in Indigenous communities? In this episode, we hear from Mark Podlasly, CEO of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) and member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation in British Columbia. He speaks with Sinead Teevan from the OECD about how the coalition is helping First Nations secure ownership in major energy and infrastructure projects. The FNMPC, now representing 175 communities across Canada, focuses on the economic, environmental, and public policy interests of its members.

Together, they explore the power of Indigenous consent, the importance of equitable partnerships, and why integrating Indigenous values into policy and investment decisions isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s essential for reaching climate goals and long-term prosperity. With real-world examples, from clean energy projects to revenue-sharing agreements, this conversation highlights how economic reconciliation is not only possible, but already underway in Canada.

Looking ahead, Mark shares a bold vision: Indigenous communities not only participating in, but leading, global investment through Indigenous-controlled capital. And the world is taking notice. Groups from Australia, New Zealand, the US, and Latin America are reaching out to learn how First Nations in Canada are achieving results.

Host: Shayne MacLachlan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities

Guests:

Sinead Teevan is currently working as a Policy Consultant at the OECD, working on regional, rural and urban development. She is Indigenous from Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario, and has gained valuable experience in various roles, including as a Policy Intern at the Ministry of Energy in Ontario. Additionally, she been an active member of the Indigenous Student Association at Western University.

Mark Podlasly, a member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation in British Columbia, is CEO of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) in Canada. FNMPC is a national organization of 175+ Indigenous communities working to ensure environmental and economic values are reflected in major projects on traditional territories. He has global experience leading large-scale energy and infrastructure projects and has delivered strategy programs for companies like Unilever and Goldman Sachs. A frequent contributor on Indigenous-industry economic reconciliation, his work spans ESG, climate policy, and governance.

To learn more about policy area: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/regional-rural-and-urban-development.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to https://www.oecd.org/en/about.html

To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit https://www.oecd.org/

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Volunteers are the beating heart of any event, from the Olympics to your local school sports day. But beyond the medals and podiums, what impact does volunteering have on individuals, communities, and the broader economy?

In this episode, we speak to Max Jablonowski and Betty Anne Bryce, who volunteered at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. They share their behind-the-scenes experiences, the personal and professional skills they gained, and why volunteering is a powerful force for social good. They also explain what policy makers can do to support and sustain this essential activity.

So, join us as we explore the people-powered force behind the Olympics and discuss how we can harness its full potential for communities everywhere.

Host: Shayne MacLachlan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities

Guests:

- Max Jablonowski, Communications Manager for Business at OECD

- Betty-Ann Bryce, Senior Policy Analyst at the OECD (Centre for Entrepreneurship, Regions, and Cities in the Regional and Rural Unit)

To learn more about the report: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/unleashing-the-potential-of-volunteering-for-local-development_deab71bd-en.html

Discover the OECD involvement: https://www.oecd.org/en/networks/oecd-local-development-forum.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to https://www.oecd.org/en/about.html

To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit https://www.oecd.org/

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On a daily basis, we’re faced with a deluge of online content, only swelling further with the mainstreaming of generative AI and rising political polarisation. Improving our joint understanding of how people consume news, and how effectively they distinguish between fact and fiction, is one of the key challenges of our time.

The OECD Truth Quest Survey implements an innovative methodology to answer this question. With over 40,000 respondents across 21 countries, the survey provides unprecedented insights into media literacy and its implications for global policy making.

In this episode of Behind the Numbers, our host Ashley Ward is joined by OECD Head of Digital Connectivity, Economics and Society Molly Lesher to discuss the dangers of misinformation, overcoming measurement challenges, and the survey results so far.

Explore the work behind this innovative survey and learn how policymakers can use this data to create targeted strategies to fight misinformation.

Host: Ashley Ward, Advisor and Communications Manager (OECD Statistics and Data Directorate)

Guest: Molly Lesher, Acting Head of the Digital Connectivity, Economics and Society Division (OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation)

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/en/about.html

To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/

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L’intelligence artificielle générative transforme rapidement les marchés du travail, notamment à l’échelle locale. Elle aide à combler les pénuries de main d'œuvre et renforce la productivité. Mais elle creuse aussi la fracture numérique entre les zones urbaines et rurales.

Dans cet épisode des Podcasts de l'OCDE, Pauline Arbel et Karen Maguire accueillent Eric Pérès, le Secrétaire général de FO-Cadres.

Au fil de leur conversation, Karen et Eric explorent la question de l’impact géographique à l’ère de l’IA générative.

Invité : Eric Pérès

Animation : Pauline Arbel et Karen Maguire, Cheffe de division pour le Programme pour l'emploi et le développement économique au niveau local (LEED)

Pour en savoir plus: Rapport "Création d'emplois et développement économique local : La géographie de l'IA générative" paru en novembre 2024 en anglais. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/job-creation-and-local-economic-development-2024_83325127-en.html

Pour en savoir plus sur l’OCDE et ses travaux, consultez https://www.oecd.org/fr

Pour s’abonner à la lettre d’information de l’OCDE : https://www.oecd.org/fr/about/newsletters.html

The COVID-19 pandemic brought health statistics into the spotlight, from tracking excess mortality to understanding the financial impact on healthcare systems. But health statistics are just as vital today as they were during the pandemic.

In this episode of Behind the Numbers, Ashley Ward is joined by OECD Head of Health Accounts David Morgan and Policy Analyst Gabriel di Paolantonio to discuss how health data, like expenditure and mortality trends, helps countries benchmark progress, build resilient health systems, and prepare for future crises.

Explore the work behind these datasets, from maintaining cross-country comparability to publishing real-time mortality statistics, and find out why OECD Health Statistics is a trusted resource for researchers and policy-makers alike, worldwide.

Host: Ashley Ward, Advisor and Communications Manager (OECD Statistics and Data Directorate)

Guests:

- David Morgan, Head of Health Accounts, Health Division, (OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs)

- Gabriel di Paolantonio, Policy Analyst (Secretariat of the International Forum on TOSSD)

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/en/about.html

To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/

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How does the richest group of households in a country compare to the poorest? How can we expose the growing importance of the digital economy, often hidden in macroeconomic statistics?

These questions are at the centre of upcoming updates to the System of National Accounts (SNA), which aim to provide policymakers with the information required to better understand the distribution of income, consumption and saving, and the scale and impact of the digital transformation.

In this second episode of Behind the Numbers, Ashley Ward delves into the critical work that ensures ensure that the System of National Accounts (SNA), which provides the international standard for countries to measure their economies, keeps up with an ever-changing world, in conversation with Jorrit Zwijnenburg (Acting Head of National Accounts Division), Bram Edens (Environmental Accounts and Supply-use Tables), and former analyst Li Hiang Ng.

Host: Ashley Ward, Advisor and Communications Manager (Statistics and Data Directorate).

Guests:

- Jorrit Zwijnenburg, Acting Head of Division (National Accounts Division)

- Bram Edens, Head of the Environmental Accounts and Supply-use Tables Sections (National Accounts Division)

- Li Hiang Ng, Former Analyst (National Accounts Division)

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/en/about.html

To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/

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Most people know Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the go to number to evaluate an economy's performance. It is often referenced in the news, sometimes directly, other times implied in discussions of economic recession, recovery or boom. But other indicators, further removed from the limelight, are also vital for economic analysis: for example, Household Disposable Income (HDI) helps us to monitor changes in money that households have available to either spend or save for the future.

In this episode of OECD Podcasts, Ashley Ward goes behind the numbers to learn how they're compiled, what they're good for, and how they complement each other with the help of the National Accounts Division’s Sofia Sacks Ferrari and Philip Chan.

Host: Ashley Ward, Advisor and Communications Manager (Statistics and Data Directorate).

Guests:

o Sofia Sacks Ferrari, Statistician (National Accounts Unit)

o Philip Chan, Analyst (National Accounts Unit)

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/en/about.html

To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/

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