GDP - The Global Development Primer

Development in the Era of Rupture

In an era of compounding shocks and shifting borders, global development can no longer afford to be a sector that is procedurally sophisticated but politically naive. We must urgently explore how to move beyond linear models of development cooperation to build strategic resilience in a non-linear world where conflict and volatility are the new central realities of development. Rosemary McCarney spoke at the Canadian Association of International Development Practitioners Conference in Ottawa with the opening Keynote Address. GDP caught up with her just afterwards to discuss her ideas on the new era of global development. Rosemary is the 2020-2021 Senior Fellow in Foreign and Defence Policy at Massey College. Rosemary was appointed the inaugural 2020 Pearson Sabia Distinguished Visiting Professor in International Relations at Trinity College, University of Toronto where she teaches Multilateral Diplomacy -Global Governance. Rosemary McCarney served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the Office of the United Nations and to the United Nations Conference on Disarmament based in Geneva, Switzerland. Rosemary is also an award-winning humanitarian and business leader, a recognized public speaker and author and an expert on international economic development. An experienced senior executive and academic, she has developed strong business management and organizational leadership skills over 30+ years of global executive, legal and academic experience. Immediately prior to her Ambassadorial appointment, Rosemary successfully led Plan International Canada, one of the oldest and largest charities in Canada and a member of the global Plan Federation, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer.

Can international research centres be a means to a more sustainable and inclusive world?

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is a unique approach to global development that not only continues on, but may in fact thrive through one of the most turbulent times in Global Development. At a time when many foreign aid and global development agencies are folding up, IDRC champions and funds research and innovation within and alongside developing nations. Embracing new technologies with new partners in the global South, IDRC may provide a refreshing, albeit hopeful, approach to the future of global development. For a taste of that optimism, we're joined by IDRC Vice President of Strategy Regions and Policy, Maggie Gorman Vélez, who will be speaking at the Canadian Association of International Development Professionals (CAIDP) Conference in Ottawa. Following graduate studies, Maggie Gorman Velez began her career at IDRC in the capacity as a Professional Development Awardee. Subsequently, over 20+ years, she has served in progressively senior roles across a diversity of portfolios at the Centre. Maggie brings a depth of experience in international research and development, with a proven track record of strategic leadership as a member of the IDRC Centre Management Committee and more recently of the executive team. Over the past several years she has played a critical role in the development and implementation of Strategy 2030. She holds an MA in International Affairs from Carleton University's Norman Patterson School and a BA (Hons) in Economics from St. Thomas University. She sits on the board of her local community association and is the mother of three busy children.

"Your Skepticism is Warranted": Claude AI

I can't believe we're doing this. But here it is. Inspired by Senator #BernieSanders, I sit down with #ClaudeAi to have a conversation about any shady business going on with Ai. Data collection, microtargeting, and undermining democracy are all discussed with this ChatBot. We go further: I ask Claude to take a stance on whether or not non-human technology exists on Earth, and it says, definitively, "no!" But when asked to consider if Israel's actions in Gaza mount to genocide? "Unclear". In both cases, the bot swerves and dodges the questions while reinforcing a clear bias.. In this half-hour conversation, you'll be able to hear how the bot responds to questions, and responds when called on using deceptive behaviour. Claude is a chatbot designed by anthropic using Constitutional AI to ensure that it helps and does no harm. Claude responds to questions and helps with coding and data interpretation.

No Good Can Come From This: Why is Trump isolating Cuba from the World?

Donald Trump has bullied everyone. But when it comes to Cuba, Trump's bellicosity is different. Unlike many of the executive orders hastily signed with an immoderate sharpie stroke, Trump's economic weapons against Cuba are backed up with congressional acts dating as far back as the 1960s. This makes them harder to undo and more serious to enact. Currently, Cuba is facing its worst crisis in history. No oil imports, minimal foreign aid, limited tourism, rolling blackouts, health crises, and all against a backdrop of 2.5 million outmigrants. What will come next for Cuba? What does Trump really want with Cuba beyond "regime change"? To help make sense of it, Dr. John Kirk joins us this week on GDP. John Kirk is an internationally renowned expert on Cuban politics and society. He is the author/co-editor of 20 books on Cuba. A Professor of Latin American Studies at Dalhousie University in Canada since 1978, Dr. Kirk is an active researcher and policy advisor on all matters related to Cuba.

Say "ayo" to the Fund for Armenian Relief.

Armenia doesn't always get mentioned in Global Development dialogue, but the struggle for economic and social indepdence is very real among many at-risk communities within the country. The Fund for Armenian Relief has advanced fundraising and developed programs that go beyond meeting basic needs; they help people gain skills and become financially self-sufficient. In this podcast, we meet Bree Carriglio, who has played a key role in connecting grassroots donors to projects that empower local communities of Armenia, such as women displaced by conflict who then train for tech jobs. Bree Carriglio is the Executive Director of Development and Institutional Marketing at the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), where she leads strategic development initiatives, institutional partnerships, and communications to advance FAR’s mission of supporting vulnerable communities in Armenia. With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit development, marketing, and brand strategy, Bree has been instrumental in driving impactful fundraising efforts, particularly in humanitarian aid, healthcare, and education programs. Prior to her role at FAR, Bree held key leadership positions at BOND New York, where she spent nearly 14 years overseeing marketing strategy, brand development, and relocation services for one of New York’s largest independent real estate firms. Her expertise in crafting compelling messaging and donor engagement strategies has been featured in publications such as Forbes, where she writes about fundraising, philanthropy, and nonprofit communications. Bree holds a degree in English Language and Literature from Barnard College and remains dedicated to leveraging storytelling and strategic partnerships to drive meaningful change. Check out www.farusa.org for more.