A hungry man wakes up from a day nap in anticipation that his wife will bring him lunch food. As his hunger deepens, he loses patience. He jumps off the bed and approaches his wife at the kitchen.

When he opens the kitchen door, he angrily asks his wife for food.  However, his frustrated wife tells him there is no food yet because people are being chased back from the forest over firewood gathering. Before she completes explaining her statement, her husband slaps her, and starts beating her up. 

A neighbor hears her loud cry and runs in to help. He separates the couples and explains to them about the new concept of making briquettes from plant residences as a cheap, convenient and safe cooking fuel they can make from home.

An environmental expert then warns refugee men and women against fighting over fuel for cooking, explaining that women and men should work together to make briquettes as fuel for cooking. He says briquettes can be made faster, burns for long, produces enough heat, and cooks clean and faster, leading to low demand for firewood and a green refugee settlement.

This message was produced by Allvox under the GreenCamp project in Imvepi refugee settlement, Uganda.


Briquettes for clean and safe cooking- Bari - rfb

A man whistles as he walks to his garden at mid-morning. He finds her neighbor, Ms. Akulia, removing and making heaps of dried plant wastes. 

The man greets Akulia and then asks her why she is heaping the dried plant residues. Akulia replies, saying she wants to burn them before planting crops. The man interrupts her, telling her by burning the plant residues she degrades the soil fertility, deprives it of useful organic nutrition, and pollutes the air and worsens the harsh climatic changes. 

An agricultural expert warns community members against burning plant residues, stressing that plant residues are organic manure to the soil, provide heavy mulches to crops and trees by preventing excessive heat from stunting growth while retaining water for long period. This he says moves the community to a fertile land with green refugee settlement. 

This message was produced by Allvox under the GreenCamp project in Imvepi refugee settlement, Uganda.

No agricultural wastes burning - Bari - rfb

In this episode of Social Impact Pioneers, we explore how the next generation is reshaping climate action, social innovation and systems change—not by waiting their turn, but by leading from the front. Meet Social Impact Pioneers: Penelope Gregoriou and Muhammad Hassan Dajana.

Penelope and Hassan, both World Economic Forum Global Shaper and members of the Schwab Foundation's Youth and Social Initiative, join this conversation to share insights and experiences from South Africa and Pakistan respectively.

Penelope is a sustainability strategist and ESG expert with a sharp focus on climate finance, sustainability reporting and transformative systems change. An alumnus of the UN SDG Innovator programme and a member of the World Benchmarking Alliance, she combines technical rigour with a deep commitment to centring humanity in climate policy.

Hassan is a Fulbright Scholar and edtech entrepreneur scaling climate education across Pakistan. His projects—spotlighted by the UN and World Economic Forum—range from planting 10,000+ trees in urban heat zones to pioneering “green masjids” that embed environmental stewardship within religious teaching. His mission is bold: to empower 100 million learners to engage with climate justice.

Together, they explore a grassroots leadership that is bold, collaborative and global in its reach. From rethinking how we measure impact to driving climate adaptation through community-led solutions, Penelope and Hassan share practical insights into how young innovators are disrupting silos, bridging sectors, and transforming moral urgency into policy reality.

Listeners will discover:
• How youth-led climate solutions are scaling from the ground up.
• Why grassroots leadership is central to tackling systemic inaction.
• How collaboration across business, civil society and government is shaping a more resilient future.

If you’re searching for fresh thinking on leadership, collaboration and systems change, this conversation is essential listening.

Social Impact Pioneers—where the changemakers of today shape the world of tomorrow.
Links:
Muhammad Hassan Dajana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassandajana/
Penelope Gregoriou on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelope-gregoriou/
The Global Shapers Community: globalshapers.org
World Economic Forum: Leveraging green, blue and social infrastructure for disaster recovery and preparedness: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/leveraging-green-blue-and-social-infrastructure-for-disaster-recovery-and-preparedness/ 
World Benchmarking Alliance: https://www.worldbenchmarkingalliance.org
Clima Synth: https://www.instagram.com/climasynth_/
For Upcoming Updates on Darakht: Sign up here https://darakht.beehiiv.com/ 

How today's youth are taking the lead in global climate action
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2023/07/empowering-tomorrows-climate-leaders-how-youth-influence-climate-action/ 

Puff Recycles
https://www.instagram.com/puffcycle.ch?igsh=dHh4YTIzYnk2eTlx

Hamara Kachra Hamari Zimadari
https://www.instagram.com/hkhk_shaperskhi?igsh=N3ZucGdlZmp0cGdq

How collaborative action on smog could cast new light on India-Pakistan relations
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/01/smog-india-pakistan-collaboration/

Plastic Free Pakistan
https://www.instagram.com/plastic free pakistan?igsh=azJkamU4bGR4MTQ2

Our Green Blue Rawalpindi.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gmdGmUdsj2eXi_fdFqhvqyWu2pRGWBg1

And if you liked this episode, take a listen to: 
Business-NGO Partnerships for Social Impact, With Diageo and Care: https://businessfightspoverty.org/business-ngo-partnerships-for-social-impact-with-diageo-and-care/

The Future of Climate Action: Youth Leadership and Systems Change with Penelope and Hassan

Investments in skills are instrumental in achieving social and economic goals. From the perspective of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, skills are important to achieving SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, SDG 4 which includes TVET, and others. 

Be that as it may, levels of financing of skills and lifelong learning remain inadequate and not in tune with national development needs. The national financing gap for SDG4 during the period 2023-30 for example is large and growing in low- and middle-income countries.

The importance of skills will be reaffirmed at the Second World Summit for Social Development in November 2025 that builds on the 10 Commitments of the first Social Summit in 1995 and aims at accelerating poverty eradication and promoting full employment, decent work, and social inclusion. 

So, can we bridge the investment divide? In this podcast, we address these issues, specifically the issue of financing skills and lifelong learning for economic and social development, with our guests Jean-Francois Klein, ILO Employment Policy advisor, and Pedro Moreno da Fonseca, ILO Technical Specialist on Lifelong Learning.

Skills financing: An eroding pillar of social development?

How does one out of five sisters from rural Nigeria grow up to be UN Deputy Secretary-General? Blessed with tenacity, determination and grit, Amina Mohammed has always been driven to improve the lives of her fellow human beings and our planet. Rising to the top of the United Nations, her vision has helped shape the world’s blueprint for a brighter future.

“One step at a time, this whole life is about a journey. Make each step count. It is about taking people with you. Don't do this alone. It's too heavy. You need people to cry with you, laugh with you.”

Amina Mohammed is known for making the impossible possible, and has relied on a strong moral compass and the strength of her convictions across a long and varied career of service. In this episode, the UN Deputy Secretary-General and mother-of-six and grandmother to five reflects on what the Sustainable Development Goals have meant in her own life and shares what chocolate and traditional clothes have to do with strong leadership.

“Muslims in Nigeria say, well, there you go, this is a woman working in the international scene, and she's not shy or embarrassed to wear her culture or her religion and to stand proud with it.”

Related content and photos: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night/s11-amina-j-mohammed-on-lifes-journey-make-each-step-count

S11-E8: On life’s journey, make each step count, with Amina J. Mohammed

Listen to this podcast conversation to learn about The Power of Participatory Radio. Social Impact Pioneers - Meshack Kitungu Kawinzi and Hannah Davis share how one of the world’s oldest and most trusted communication tools, radio, is being harnessed to change lives and strengthen communities. From the rolling tea fields of Kenya to smallholder farms across Africa, Asia and Latin America, participatory radio is reaching people often left behind in the digital revolution, offering knowledge, voice, and agency in their own languages.

Meshack and Hannah have dedicated their careers to amplifying the voices of farmers, women, and workers who are rarely heard, yet who are central to the fight for gender equity, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.

Meshack Kawinzi is a visionary educator and health informatics specialist with more than two decades in global development. He has led transformative initiatives such as Farmers’ Voice Radio and HERProject, directly benefiting over half a million smallholder farmers and workers across East Africa. Today, alongside lecturing and policy advocacy, he continues to shape development practice through research, mentoring, and digital innovation.

Hannah Davis is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and ethical trade. Over the past 20 years, she has worked with smallholder farmers worldwide—supporting cooperatives, advancing gender justice, and co-creating the Farmers’ Voice Radio methodology at the Lorna Young Foundation. This approach is now used in 15 countries, reaching more than two million farmers with vital, practical knowledge.

Together, Meshack and Hannah show us how radio is not just about broadcasting messages—but about handing farmers the microphone. From breaking down gender barriers to sparking community-led solutions, Farmers’ Voice Radio proves that participatory radio is more than a programme: it is a movement of empowerment, resilience, and connection.

So whether you are working to engage people on social issues or looking for a dose of inspirational and uplift – this conversation is for you.

Links:

Meshack Kawinzi bio https://www.linkedin.com/in/meshack-kawinzi-6ab43b65/
Hannah Davis bio https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-davis-472a8628/
Farmers' Voice Radio: https://www.farmersvoiceradio.org/
Farmers' Voice Radio resource hub: https://www.farmersvoiceradio.org/resources
Twinings Sourced with Care programme: https://sourcedwithcare.com/
FCDO Work and Opportunities for Women programme: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/work-and-opportunities-for-women
WOW/Twinings partnership project summary: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-and-opportunities-for-women-programme-project-profile-twinings-partnership/work-and-opportunities-for-women-project-profile-twinings-partnership
The HERproject streams mentioned by Meshack have since evolved and expanded into RISE, an international coalition focused on embedding gender equality at scale across global garment, footwear, and home textiles supply chains: https://riseequal.org/
World Radio Alliance: https://www.worldradioalliance.com/
Statistic about listenership comes form 2019 Deloitte report: https://www.deloitte.com/in/en/about/press-room/deloitte-global-tmt-predictions-2019.html


And if you enjoyed this conversation, please take a listen to:
Why Business Resilience is the New Social Impact, with Nyika Brain: https://businessfightspoverty.org/why-business-resilience-is-the-new-social-impact-with-nyika-brain/

The Power of Participatory Radio with Hannah and Meshack

Learn Plern Plern_Ep.279 (อินเนอร์เบอร์ยั่งยืน)

Insured losses from natural catastrophes surpassed $135bn globally in 2024, according to Insure Our Future. 

Flooding, droughts and other extreme weather have impacted supply chains as diverse as fruits and vegetables from southern Europe, to semiconductors from China. 

How can businesses respond proactively and plan ahead to boost the resiliency of their operations and supply chains?

We ask George Richards, director of JRP solutions, to share his expertise.

Whether you’re a business leader, climate expert, environmental professional, youth activist, or just have a passion for all things green – this podcast is for you!

Say hello: podcast@fav-house.com


#SustyTalk: How are climate shocks already disrupting supply chains?

Explore the groundbreaking Canada Global South Ideas Forum 2026 and the UnityNet International plan for regenerative peace and foundational security. 
This episode unpacks how Indigenous, Afro-diaspora, and Western perspectives come together in the Declaration of Unadulterated Pluralism, blending wisdom across continents for concrete action.
Discover how twinned global events, real-world grassroots projects, and innovative data monitoring—anchored in the IDEAS framework—are reshaping the future of AI, universal basic services, and ecological regeneration. 
Dive into practical steps, diverse partnerships, and a year-round global movement aimed at measuring progress by real community wellbeing, not just economics.

Unpacking UnityNet Global Peace AI and Foundational Security 2025-10-11

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Hello, and welcome to the Business Fights Poverty podcast, where we bring you engaging conversations with social impact trailblazers. Dive into a wealth of insights, diverse perspectives, and valuable advice, all designed to enlighten and inspire. Gain first-hand understanding of how businesses and thought leaders are addressing the world's most pressing social challenges, empowering you to make well-informed decisions and take meaningful action. So, sit back and join us as we explore the frontiers of business-driven social impact.

As more voices, businesses and initiatives pick up the conversation on the importance of tackling the climate crisis, this new page acts as a central home to edie's #SustyTalks and other upcoming special audio features.

Building on the success of edie’s long-standing Sustainability Uncovered podcast series, edie Extra is the place to find all the in-depth conversations with sustainability professionals about sustainability professionals.

From discussing the hot topics in sustainability space, to recounting the personal career journeys of green leaders, edie Extra is the one-stop location for all of edie’s extra multimedia content.

Whether you’re a business leader, climate expert, environmental professional, youth activist, or just someone with a passion for all things sustainability and climate action – this page is a must-have for your bookmarks to keep up to date with latest sustainability developments.

We're improving lives of refugee youth, women and children through innovative programs in education, climate resilience, & community advocacy.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations and is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that labour peace is essential to prosperity.

Today, the ILO helps advance the creation of decent work and the economic and working conditions that give working people and business people a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress. Its tripartite structure provides a unique platform for promoting decent work for all women and men. 

Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

Website: https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaFlemingUN
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelissaFleming
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissarfleming

What does it take to be a United Nations worker in some of the world’s most complex and dangerous places? How are UN humanitarians, human rights advocates, prosecutors, development experts, climate leaders and peacekeepers improving our world? Stationed in all reaches of the world and witness to suffering and atrocities, how are they helping people and coping themselves? 

To find out, Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, meets them.

Here, you will discover extraordinary personal stories from people who devote their lives to helping others.

New tracks tagged #SDGs