Inside the corruption scandal that tarnished the UN

Inside the corruption scandal that tarnished the UN

This week, we take you inside a Devex exclusive: the $60 million fiasco at the United Nations, a complex story with an equally complex set of characters, including Vitaly Vanshelboim, whose rise and fall left a black mark on a key U.N. agency. Once revered as a financial wizard, Vanshelboim was the man credited with pulling UNOPS back from the brink of bankruptcy. However, as our investigation reveals, behind the diplomatic prestige and profits lay a shadow world of secret side deals, luxury cars, and a $60 million trail of broken promises.  Now, as the former U.N. assistant secretary-general faces a reckoning from a Spanish prison cell, we discuss the lingering question: For a system that prides itself on rigorous oversight, is this incident a one-off or emblematic of something deeper?  To dig into this story and others, Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger sits down with Managing Editor Anna Gawel and Senior Global Reporter Colum Lynch for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. Request an invitation to attend Devex Impact House @ WHA in Geneva: https://pages.devex.com/devex-at-wha-79.html

Reform or be defunded: The Trump administration’s demands for the UN

In an internal memo seen by Devex [https://www.devex.com/news/exclusive-us-threatens-to-halt-un-funding-unless-conditions-met-112382], the Trump administration has threatened to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the United Nations [https://www.devex.com/organizations/united-nations-un-41567] unless it adopts a slate of nine “quick win” reforms. We break down the demands and what they reveal about the United States’ new road map for multilateral engagement. We also received a recent congressional notification [https://www.devex.com/news/scoop-usaid-tells-congress-it-has-19b-to-spend-on-closing-out-awards-112386] which reveals that USAID [https://www.devex.com/organizations/united-states-agency-for-international-development-usaid-45096] has up to $19.2 billion to close out terminated foreign assistance awards. We explore what that funding would be spent on. To discuss these stories and others, Devex Business Editor David Ainsworth speaks with reporters Colum Lynch and Elissa Miolene for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. During the sponsored segment of the This Week in Global Development podcast, brought to you by The Fred Hollows Foundation, Devex Executive Vice President Kate Warren sits down with Dr. Caroline Casey, president of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, to discuss why restoring sight is not just a health intervention, but a critical lever for unlocking women’s economic participation, reducing unpaid care burdens, and accelerating progress on gender equality. Sign up [https://www.devex.com/account/newsletters] to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.

The new world order of aid: Inside the Skoll World Forum

This week, we are on the ground in Oxford for the Skoll World Forum, an annual international convening of social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and leaders across government and civil society. While the global development community faced significant headwinds from foreign aid cuts this time last year, the atmosphere at this year’s forum remains optimistic and focused on resilient solutions. During the conversation, we explore why the forum remains a cornerstone for the global development community, as well as share what we are learning about how philanthropic organizations see their role evolve in the post-aid era. To discuss the latest news from the Skoll World Forum, Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar and Business Editor David Ainsworth for this edition of our weekly podcast series. Sign up [https://www.devex.com/account/newsletters] to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters.

Special edition: Visionomics - how eyeglasses drive economic growth

In a special edition of the This Week in Development podcast, Devex Executive Vice President Alan Robbins sits down with Ambassador Keisha McGuire, chief global affairs officer at RestoringVision [https://www.devex.com/organizations/restoringvision-105646], to explore the profound economic ripple effects of addressing near-vision loss, or presbyopia.  While often dismissed as a mere "annoyance," age-related vision loss is a significant barrier to global health and economic development. RestoringVision has coined the term "visionomics" to describe the vital intersection of vision, health, and the economy. For millions in low- to middle-income countries, the inability to see clearly can lead to a devastating economic impact on households, communities, and countries. The case for investing in vision is mathematically undeniable: For every $1 invested in vision services in these regions, there is a $28 return on investment [https://www.iapb.org/news/every-1-invested-in-eye-health-could-yield-a-28-return/]. Despite this, eye health has historically lagged behind other global health priorities. However, the tide is turning with major new funding commitments and increased political mobilization leading up to the first-ever Global Summit for Eye Health in November 2026 [https://globalsummitforeyehealth.org/] in Antigua and Barbuda. By treating vision not just as a medical cost but as a catalytic investment, organizations can advance at least seven Sustainable Development Goals, proving that a simple pair of reading glasses can be one of the most cost-effective tools for reducing global poverty. Listen to this episode of This Week in Global Development to hear the whole discussion.

Global Progress in the AI Era: The future of AI will be decided by small choices with big stakes

In this episode of Global Progress in the AI Era, a government minister and tech entrepreneur argue that the future of AI will be determined by thousands of small choices.  Taking part in the conversation hosted by Devex Senior Editor for Special Coverage Catherine Cheney were Amini founder and CEO Kate Kallot, as well as Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy.