Diaspora in Development

In this episode we speak to Marina Kobveza, is the Director of Programmes and Partnerships at MapAction. She is a humanitarian leader with 20 years of experience, here on the show to discuss everything from the impact of George Floyd’s murder to the need for data to be evidenced with empathetic narratives. Marina introduces you to her own career in humanitarian aid through her lived experience. As a child in Azerbaijan, that first encounter with humanitarian aid, inspired her to put her energies into one of her first career choices, The Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. She has seen first-hand, how large international agencies have failed to support those most in-need with ineffective leadership and bloated internal structures. On the show, she gets to the heart of decolonising narratives in aid and supporting narratives that use data, to inform and persuade, keeping human experience at the centre of aid. Some of the areas we’ll cover on the episode are: ·      The challenges in humanitarian aid and its ethical considerations ·      The decolonisation process in humanitarian aid ·      The impact of identity and keeping immigrant influences at the centre of her work ·      What solutions we have when aid budgets are cut in traditional supporting countries ·      How the humanitarian system needs to become leaner to benefit from diaspora funding ·      How there has been a growing recognition for mental health support among aid workers   As the international humanitarian aid sector is rocked by shockwaves from the US and across the western world, what solutions are there? How do you lead with empathy? Continue to humanize communities? Lead with dignity that promotes sustained support? Marina tackles this and more on Diaspora in Development.   The opinions shared on this forum are the opinions of the individuals and are not the opinions of the organizations and institutes that they work for

In this episode of Diaspora in Development, we sit down with Andhira Yousef, an independent researcher dedicated to elevating refugee-led research in East Africa. With collaborations spanning Oxford University’s Refugee Hub, Columbia University, and ODI, Andhira has worked extensively on documenting grassroots refugee-led organizations and improving energy access in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda. She shares insights on how community-driven research shapes impactful policies and programs, emphasizing the need for genuine participation over tokenization Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on how the power of meaningful engagement can transform the refugee experience.

In this episode we speak to Themrise Khan, an independent analyst, writer and researcher. Her insight challenges much of the conventional wisdom surrounding foreign aid. Does it have the impact that we’d like or is it perpetuating and supporting existing infrastructure issues? From post-World War II reconstruction efforts to the significant financial aid given to Pakistan after 9/11, we unravel the complex relationship between development aid and foreign policy. Themrise looks at some of the critical differences between development and humanitarian aid, drawing forth her own and many other women’s experiences of working i n international development-based roles. From the political to the personal, through our reflections, we uncover some of the highs and lows of working international development. From the inspiring legacy of humanitarians like Molana Abdul Sattar Edhi to the frustrations of stalled progress. This interview takes a hard look at migration, a constant feature of our headlines, and dissects the economic motivations of aid and the often hostile reception migrants face in host countries. For the diaspora, the episode emphasize responsible engagement and the importance of supporting their homelands thoughtfully. The opinions shared on this forum are the opinions of the individuals and are not the opinions of the organizations and institutes that they work for. You can find Themrise Khan Youtube channel here : https://www.youtube.com/@themrisetalks [https://www.youtube.com/@themrisetalks]

We speak to Dr. Bashair Ahmed about her career and Humanitarian Organization Shabaka. We delve into the role of diaspora engagement in development and humanitarian response. Dr. Ahmed has an illustrious career having worked with United Nations agencies and international organizations focused on fragile and conflict-affected countries. Dr. Ahmed has consulted on a wide range of migration and diaspora initiatives, including protecting irregular migrants; the development of e-trainings on humanitarian principles for diaspora organizations; and guiding diaspora engagement in development and humanitarian response. Bashair holds a doctorate in Migration Studies from the University of Sussex, where she is also currently a Research Associate, Find more about Shabaka here: https://shabaka.org/ [https://shabaka.org/]

In honor of Caribbean Heritage, we speak to trailblazer Dr. Adelle Thomas Adaptation Lead at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Vice Chair of Working Group II for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Adelle made history by becoming the first English-speaking Caribbean scientist and the First Female Caribbean Scientist to be elected to the panel.  Adelle took a pragmatic approach to her studies, which led her to be a leading voice on the climate challenges facing the Caribbean. We apologize this episode has some sound issues that could not be addressed in editing.