The President of the 79th session of the General Assembly, Philémon Yang, said it was a profound honour to welcome Member States to the “august” General Assembly Hall for the debate, and acknowledged the presence of nine of his predecessors.

CLIP: UN President of the General Assembly's opening remarks at UNGA

Among the major development initiatives under discussion at the United Nations this week in New York is an ambitious goal set out by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, which aims to get electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.

During the high-level week of the U.N. General Assembly, Devex caught up with Andrew Herscowitz, CEO of the M300 Accelerator, which aims to make these ambitions into reality.

M300 is based at the Rockefeller Foundation and supported by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, or GEAPP, and Sustainable Energy for All, two international organizations focused on bringing clean energy to everyone.

Herscowitz is the former head of Power Africa, a previous energy initiative that, in its first decade, helped deliver new or improved electricity to nearly 200 million people in Africa. But he said the latest project was even more ambitious. In fact, he said, it was “probably the biggest thing that's happening in international development right now.”

It needs “quantum leaps in a couple of different areas” for the accelerator to succeed in its goals, he said. But he told Devex that he was confident that he and his allies had the resources to make those leaps happen.

Devex Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger sits down with Herscowitz to discuss more about M330 for a special episode of our weekly podcast series.

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Devex @ UNGA 79: How a quantum leap is needed to bring energy to 300 million Africans

It’s no secret that promises to deliver more humanitarian and development funding to local and national organizations have not been fulfilled. 

During the high-level week of the 79th U.N. General Assembly, Devex caught up with Degan Ali, who heads the Kenya-based NGO Adeso. Ali is a leading voice in the aid decolonization movement, which seeks to decenter the voices of Western decision-makers and shift more power to local leaders in the global south. 

Ali discussed the lack of trust and credibility given to local NGOs compared to international organizations, challenges in meeting the 2016 “Grand Bargain” target of 25% funding to local organizations, and how bureaucracy and risk aversion in organizations like the U.S. Agency for International Development is hindering localization efforts.  

And while she gave USAID Administrator Samantha Power credit for elevating the localization agenda, Ali called the effort to get bilateral organizations to shift to locally led development an “impossible, impossible uphill battle.” 

“But where I do feel like there's hope and there's opportunity, is for the [international] NGOs to change and philanthropy to change, and those are the spaces where we need to put a lot of pressure,” she said. “And that's what we're trying to do at Adeso with the Pledge for Change with the INGOs, and the decolonizing philanthropy work that we're doing.” 

Devex Global Development Reporter Elissa Miolene sat down with Ali for a special episode of our This Week in Global Development podcast series.

Devex @ UNGA 79: What it would take to move the needle on locally led development

This week Devex is in New York covering the 79th United Nations General Assembly as well as the Summit of the Future. In addition to hosting our very own summit on the sidelines of these events, we are also closely following the conversations happening at the U.N. and around the rest of Manhattan that are most important to the global development community. 

From reforming the international financial architecture to addressing geopolitical issues — we explore whether the discussions taking place will lead to meaningful change and help achieve the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. 

What does the Pact for the Future mean for the world? And is the legitimacy of the U.N. on the line?

For the latest episode of our weekly podcast series, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar discusses with Senior Global Reporter Colum Lynch the most important updates from the 79th United Nations General Assembly. 

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This Week in Global Dev: #66: What's happened so far at the 79th United Nations General Assembly?

In a special edition of the This Week in Global Development podcast recorded on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, chef and entrepreneur José Andrés spoke with Devex’s Kate Warren to discuss his humanitarian work with World Central Kitchen and the challenges of addressing global hunger.

For Andrés, having a set system for food aid doesn’t work. This explains WCK's unique approach. Rather than shipping in prepackaged food aid to various humanitarian situations, WCK partners with local communities and restaurants to provide culturally relevant, cost-effective meals.

This model, while seemingly obvious, is not the norm in the humanitarian sector. Andrés believes that the tendency to overcomplicate solutions often prevents effective action. "Sometimes big problems, they have very simple solutions, but [it] seems humans, we’re very good at overcomplicating the problems," he said. 

"We don't respond [in] every place in the same way," he explained, citing examples of serving fresh fish in Gaza to avoid it going to waste, and bringing in food from European countries to support Ukraine's collapsed distribution systems despite the quantity of grain available.

Andrés emphasized the importance of adapting to local conditions and empowering communities to be part of the solution. “The most important, is having boots on the ground,” he said. For Andrés, there is “nobody better than the local community to help you respond.”

The risks faced by humanitarian workers are a sobering reality for Andrés, who has lost employees in Gaza and Ukraine. He expressed a deep sense of responsibility, noting that “if we were not there, this wouldn't be happening.” However, he believes that the potential to save lives outweighs the dangers, stating, “If not, those people on their own will be alone, forgotten and anyway, dying.”

Andrés sees both the promise and peril of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. While AI has the potential to revolutionize food production, distribution, and waste reduction, he also cautions against its misuse, calling for robust regulations and safeguards to prevent AI from being weaponized against civilians or humanitarian workers.

Looking ahead, Andrés shares his skepticism about the world's ability to achieve the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals within the limited time frame to 2030, citing a lack of accountability and the disillusionment of young people with leadership. He emphasized the need for more support for youth to become agents of change and for real, tangible progress to be made, not just empty promises.

“Doing good and promising good is not good enough. We must do a smart good,” he said.

Devex @ UNGA 79: Why ‘boots on the ground’ are key to food aid, according to José Andrés

In April, a group of multilateral development banks signed an agreement to work more closely together, known as a viewpoint note, which set a series of goals, including scaling up their financing capacity, and delivering more on climate. 

Earlier this week, at the U.N. General Assembly, the heads of MDBs sat down with U.N. leaders to identify how they could make more progress to deliver those goals. Devex heard from Ilan Goldfajn, president of the Inter-American Development Bank, about the steps taken so far.

Goldfajn said there had been considerable progress in unifying the goals of the MDBs with the Group of 20 major economies and with U.N. agencies.

MDBs have increased lending capacity by $400 billion over the next 10 years, mostly through reforms but partly due to closer working, Goldfajn explained. He added that last year, the banks had lent a quarter more on climate and doubled the amount of finance mobilized, compared to 2022.

He also highlighted several projects where IDB had worked together with the World Bank and the EIB.

Devex Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger sat down with Goldfajn for a special episode of our This Week in Global Development podcast series.

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Devex @ UNGA 79: MDBs want to cooperate more closely. What progress have they made?

Att unga vill bo i olika landsbygder är en viktig framtidsfråga i hela Sverige. Men vad behövs för att de faktiskt ska vilja det? Och varför känner många att det inte finns förutsättningar för att göra det utan att de behöver flytta till större städer för att få det som de vill ha det.

I detta avsnitt av Landet träffar vi både några som jobbar med att öka ungas möjligheter att stanna kvar i - eller flytta till - platser utanför tätorterna och en som forskat på vad som spelar roll för ungas beslut att lämna eller bli kvar i landsbygderna.

Gäster är sociologen och forskaren Lotta Svensson vid FoU Hälsingland, Eli Mårtensson som leder projektet Landsbygdens Hjältar i Småland, en satsning på att få unga att engagera sig i sitt samhälle, samt Zaio Hellgren som är med och driver projektet Nöteriet i Skåne. 

Programledare: Helene Almqvist
Producent: Ingrid Whitelock

#181 Vi bor kvar eller drar – om att möta upp ungas engagemang

LocalHero säsong 2 avsnitt 143: 

Fortfarande I Scandic Europa I Göteborg och vi samtalar nu med Hanna Glad.

MSc International Administration and ... Fokus på att ge de unga i staden en plats att få prata om sina lokala förebilder och ungt engagemang.

Vi samtalar om:

Om jobbar deltid på Förebilderna https://forebildarna.se/teamet/
Om Junior projektledare rollen och att jobba då när de behöver henne.
Om Frihamnsdagarna.
Att tro och ge ungdomarna utrymme. Även att vikten att blir sedd och bekräftad.
Att förebilder kan vara vem som helst som en kompis, kollega och med mera. 
Att ungdomar och barn är förebilder.
Om det fina goda egenskaper och kvalitet som människor har. 
Att arbetet med att ta kontakt med ungdomarna genom att de får driva projekt.
Om Förebildsprogrammet och att själv varit en ungdom för Förebilderna.
Om Förebildspodden/ Youngfuture.se som skapar förebilder.
Om olika projekt som ungdomarna har haft. 
Om panelsamtal mellan ungdomar och politiker.
Om organisationen Mitt livs val https://www.mittlivsval.com/

Om HoloHouse och statsvetenskap.
Om vart kommer drivkraften ifrån?
Om engagemangen att lyfta människor som ungdomarna.
Att ta upp det lilla är också viktigt och om samarbete.
Att ungdomarna ska stå på rampljuset.




"Jag samlar på förebilder" - Hanna Glad

Hanna, Jonna, Nicole och Sara pratar om AI och dess utveckling. Hur påverkar AI skolan, arbetsmarknaden och samhället i allmänhet?

Ung Media-podden: AI och dess påverkan på samhället

[Intro]
Unggalabungga
Snippa och slämm
Ungga min hjälte
Skicka mig hem


[Chorus]

Unggaaaaa bunggaaaa, skapade en galen fantasi
Unggaaaaa bunggaaaa, smittade hela landet med hiv
Våran förfader och patriark
Ungga bungga han va stor och stark
Han åkte med på Noahs ark
Och han bor i ett träd i en park

[Verse]

Ungga min bungga snopp och magi
Skapa hela världen med en colonoscopi
Mellan majs vidunder då träder han fram
Och han hadde en afghan i sin famn

Ungga män bor i träd
Äter kokosnöt kan du sjunga med
Skala bananer med en en leende läpp
gillar bara barn om dom har en pläpp

[guitar solo]

[Chorus]

Unggaaaaa bunggaaaa, skapade en galen fantasi
Unggaaaaa bunggaaaa, smittade hela landet med hiv
Våran förfader och patriark
Ungga bungga han va stor och stark
Han åkte med på Noahs ark
Och han bor i ett träd i en park

[Verse 2]

Men så en dag, tidigt på en kväll
Så hörde man bonk honk pang och smäll
Ungga vaknade av ett gnäll
Negkern va inte snäll

Negkern va brunstig, väldigt het
Han pratade med Ungga sin stora profet
Han berättade att han knullat en get
Sen sprang han iväg och sket!

[Bridge]

Ett sorgset tjut släppte Ungga ut
Han va sur och förvirrad med erekterad kuk
Hur ska han nu nånsin se mamma mu
Negkern va elak inte gul
om man är kines är man gul

[Chorus]

Unggaaaaa bunggaaaa, skapade en galen fantasi
Unggaaaaa bunggaaaa, smittade hela landet med hiv
Våran förfader och patriark
Ungga bungga han va stor och stark
Han åkte med på Noahs ark
Och han bor i ett träd i en park


Unga Den Store

This week takes a look at an internal email seen by Devex, which outlines the U.S. Department of State’s priorities for the United Nations General Assembly. In addition to not mentioning the world “development,” the Trump administration is calling for a “fundamental rethink” of the international humanitarian system, and a decreased reliance on the country that was once the world’s largest donor.

We also discuss the dire humanitarian situation of refugees in Malawi, who are facing slashed food rations and shrinking health and protection services due to U.S. aid cuts. This crisis, particularly severe in the overcrowded Dzaleka refugee camp, is pushing a vulnerable population to the brink. With food assistance drastically reduced, many are resorting to desperate survival tactics, including sex work and child labor, to feed their families.

To dig into these stories and others, Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with Managing Editor Anna Gawel and Global Development Reporter Ayenat Mersie for the latest episode of our podcast series. 

Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters:
https://www.devex.com/account/newsletters

This Week in Global Dev: #109: Trump’s plan for UNGA, and the impact of aid cuts on refugees in Malawi

Hello and welcome to the podcast where we unpack the most pressing public health challenges. In this episode, we’re diving into a critical issue: noncommunicable diseases — or NCDs — Mental Health, and the urgent call to action coming from the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on NCD Prevention, Control, and Mental Health Promotion, also known as HLM4.
Joining us today is Renato Oliviera, Chief of the Mental Health and Substance Use Unit at the Pan American Health Organization. Welcome and thank you for being here.


Mental Health and Suicide Prevention - UNGA Fourth High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health

Hello and welcome to the podcast where we unpack the most pressing public health challenges. In this episode, we’re diving into a critical issue: noncommunicable diseases — or NCDs — Mental Health, and the urgent call to action coming from the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on NCD Prevention, Control, and Mental Health Promotion, also known as HLM4.
Joining us today is Dr Rosa Sandoval, Regional Advisor, Tobacco Control & Economics of NCDs from the Pan American Health Organization.  Welcome and thank you for being here.

Policies to reduce NCDs risk factors: Tobacco - UNGA Fourth High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health

This week, the Devex team is on the ground at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. On the sidelines of the high-level talks, we are hosting a series of events with some of the most influential voices in global development at our dedicated venue, Devex Impact House. 

From the future of foreign assistance to the latest plan to reform the U.N., we discuss the forces shaping the sector and defining a new era of global development. This comes amid President Donald Trump's plans to reshape the international system, with a clear focus on reducing foreign aid and challenging long-standing international norms.

With the U.S. appearing to retreat from the U.N., we explore who the contenders are to fill the gap left by the world’s largest economy. 

To explore the key conversations we are following at UNGA, Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with Senior Global Reporter Colum Lynch, as well as Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar, for this special episode of our weekly podcast series.

Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters:
https://www.devex.com/account/newsletters

Live from UNGA80: What's at stake for global development

Hello and welcome to the podcast where we unpack the most pressing public health challenges. In this episode, we’re diving into a critical issue: noncommunicable diseases — or NCDs — Mental Health, and the urgent call to action coming from the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on NCD Prevention, Control, and Mental Health Promotion, also known as HLM4.
Joining us today is Dr Mauricio Maza, Cancer Prevention and Control Regional Advisor of the NCDs program at PAHO.

Cancer: Access, Equity, and Action - UNGA Fourth High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health

Hello and welcome to the podcast where we unpack the most pressing public health challenges. We’re diving into a critical issue: noncommunicable diseases — or NCDs — and the urgent call to action coming from the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on NCD Prevention, Control, and Mental Health Promotion, also known as HLM4.

Joining us today is Dr Roberta Caixeta, NCD surveillance, prevention and control regional advisor at the Pan American Health Organization.

NCD Surveillance - UNGA Fourth High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health

This week we are on the ground in New York to cover the 80th United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week. 

Our discussion breaks down President Donald Trump’s address at the summit, where he called climate change a hoax, denounced Europe’s energy policies, and focused on the urgent need to address uncontrolled migration.

The global drive for emissions reduction is moving forward despite the Trump administration's stance on climate action, with high emitters, including China, submitting their Nationally Determined Contributions, or their climate action plans to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

To dig into these stories and catch up on what’s happening at UNGA80, senior editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with senior global reporter Colum Lynch and global development reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. 

Note on episode: David Lammy’s current title is deputy prime minister, not prime minister as mentioned in the episode.

Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters:
https://www.devex.com/account/newsletters

This Week in Global Dev: #114: UNGA80: Trump, climate, and the biggest headlines from the summit

This week, we discuss the details of the “Accra Reset,” an effort to declare an end to the era of development-as-usual and to push for the creation of new governance, business, and financing models. With traditional donors cutting foreign assistance, African nations and others are using the initiative to jointly invest, design, and create solutions with external partners.

With official development assistance plummeting, governments are under pressure to make up their global health funding shortfall through taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages.  However, these levies may not be a financial panacea.

During the conversation, we also look back at how U.S. objections stalled the long-negotiated United Nations declaration on noncommunicable diseases, sending it to a full General Assembly vote this month, and look ahead to the World Health Summit.

To dig into these stories and others, Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with Senior Reporter Sara Jerving and contributing reporter Andrew Green for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. 

Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters:
https://www.devex.com/account/newsletters

This Week in Global Dev: #115: Could taxes fix the global health funding crisis?

Local Hero är en podd om förebilder och eldsjälar där vi intervjuar personer som brinner för det de gör, inspirerar och gör något gott i världen. Dessa personer har olika yrken, sysselsättningar och professioner. Det kan vara stort som smått men något gott.  Antonio och Nils är två kollegor från en förskola, tycker inte att detta ska tas för givet och vill därmed lyfta dessa människor, sprida ljus och hopp samt inspirera andra.

UN News audio products range from daily interviews to our flagship podcast series, ‘The Lid Is On’.  On our Sound Cloud account we  provide also audio clips of statements. 

For other audio products such as our Monday-Friday 'News in Brief', please visit our UN News website - Audio Hub where you can download the full range of bulletins, packages, podcasts and interviews, in easy-to-use mp3 format. 

All our products can be downloaded and used free of charge and without attribution by broadcasters in their programmes or as a source of information and materials for individual reporters.

https://news.un.org/en/audio-hub

Podden bortom storstan med Sveriges landsbygder i fokus.  Heta ämnen med engagerade och kunniga människor på 20 minuter. Landet produceras av Landsbygdsnätverket.

We're the world’s leading independent news organization covering global development.

Ung Media-podden - en podcast för unga medieproducenter och journalister. Vi kämpar för ungas rätt att höras i mediebruset!


* Tidigare Knytpodden - som var ett samarbete mellan Ung Media och RUM

New tracks tagged #unga