'Lid Is On' Podcast

The Gambia, the smallest country on the African mainland, and one of the least developed countries in the world, has been going through a transition to full democracy since 2017, the end of a two-decade long dictatorship.

In the first episode of a mini-series recorded in The Gambia, Conor Lennon talks to Niania Dabo-Tourey, the country head of the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF, one of several UN agencies accompanying the country on this journey), about the ways they are supporting rural communities to adapt to the climate crisis, learn the skills they will need to start new businesses, and grow the economy in a sustainable way.
Audio: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Photo: UN News/ Hisae Kawamori
Music: Within the Earth. Ketsa

Given Taken

Resurgence of The Gambia – A small country with big ambitions

Many women and girls in The Gambia are affected by “period poverty”, meaning that they are unable to afford menstrual products, which puts them at risk of infection, and discouraging them from attending school.
In the second of our Lid Is On episodes recorded in The Gambia, one of the world’s least developed countries, Conor Lennon from UN News heads to Basse, in the rural Upper River Region, to find out how the UN is addressing period poverty, and providing employment for vulnerable women and girls.
Audio: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Photo: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

Resurgence of The Gambia – Tackling period poverty

When it comes to climate action, The Gambia can proudly lay claim to being the first country to meet its commitments under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreements.

But, like all developing countries, its people are suffering disproportionately from the effects of the climate crisis, particularly more unpredictable rainfall, and flooding.

In episode three of our mini-series recorded in The Gambia, Conor Lennon heads to the Central River Region, to find out how, with the support of the UN, rural communities are adapting to the changing environment and, at the same time, learning to becomes more self-sufficient.
Audio: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Photo: UN News/ Hisae Kawamori
Music: Within the Earth. Ketsa

Resurgence of The Gambia – Meeting the climate challenge

Gambia has the highest per capita emigration rate of any African nation; between 2015 and 2020 over 33,000 Gambians, mainly young men, left home in search of better opportunities in Europe, despite the low likelihood of success, and significant dangers.
Since the end of the dictatorship in 2017, thousands of migrants have returned, and the UN is helping them to find jobs and start small businesses, as well as running projects aimed at developing the wider economy, and dissuading others from making the perilous trip by convincing them that they can have succeed at home.
In the fourth episode of our mini-series recorded in The Gambia, Conor Lennon meets a returned migrant making a life for himself and his family in the capital, Banjul, after a traumatic, two-year-long attempt to reach Italy.
Audio: Conor Lennon\
Photo: UN News/ Hisae Kawamori
Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

Resurgence of The Gambia –  Bringing it all back home

In the last of our mini-series recorded in The Gambia, we look at the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs, and how the UN is helping new companies to grow, bringing much-needed jobs to rural areas.
Conor Lennon meets Musa Darbo, who quit his well-paying job in the US to return home and start a rice business, in order to employ struggling smallholder farmers, and end The Gambia’s dependence on imported rice.
Audio: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Photo: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

Resurgence of The Gambia – Support for job creators

This year’s UN World Water Development Report warned of a global water crisis, unless international cooperation is rapidly stepped up.
On this week’s episode of The Lid Is On, recorded the day after the release of the study on 21 March, Conor Lennon speaks to Richard Connor, the editor-in-chief of the report, Kristin Meyer from the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and Neil Dhot, from the International Federation of private water operators.
The conversation took place as part of the SDG Media Zone sessions at the UN Water Conference, held between 22 and 24 March.
Audio: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Photo: UNDP Chad/Jean Damascene Hakuzim
Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

Working together to halt the global water crisis

Water doesn’t respect borders, and 153 countries share basins. Water scarcity is increasing, and so is the potential for conflict: “Water for Cooperation” is one of the key themes of this year’s conference.
On this week’s episode Conor Lennon from UN News speaks to Suleiman Adamu, Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Water Resources, and Sonja Köppel, the Secretary to the UN Water Convention.
The recording took place as part of the SDG Media Zone, on the day that Nigeria joined the Convention, an international instrument designed to help iron out water disputes between countries.
Audio: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Photo: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

Keeping cross-border water cooperation flowing

Unless drastic changes are made the future of water looks bleak.
On World Meteorological Day, held on 23 March, Conor Lennon spoke to Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation, Lindsey Blodgétt, Former President of the World Youth Parliament for Water, and Maarten van Aalst, Director of the Dutch Royal Meteorological Institute, about the changes that societies need to make, in order to cope with the changing climate in the coming years.
This episode was recorded live as one of the SDG Media Zone sessions at the UN Water Conference, which took place between 22 and 24 March.
Audio: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Photo: UNDP Chad/Jean Damascene Hakuzim
Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

The future of water

What makes a good aid chief? That’s the question we set out to answer in Humanitarian Leadership Stories, a mini-series produced in collaboration with the UN Humanitarian Office, OCHA.
Helping people in emergencies is part and parcel of being a humanitarian, but there’s a lot more to helping vulnerable communities than you might think, as we’ll hear, in this compelling podcast series.

In this first episode, Daniel Johnson from UN News talks to Susan Namondo-Ngongi on her time as UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Eritrea.

Audio: UN News/ Daniel Johnson
Post-production: Srdan Slavkovic
Music: Ketsa, Night Whispers
Photo: UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi

Humanitarian Leadership Stories - Eritrea

In the second episode of Humanitarian Leadership Stories, our co-production with OCHA, the UN Humanitarian Office, top UN relief officials explain how the key humanitarian principle of putting people in crisis first – and remaining accountable to them – guide their work. 
Daniel Johnson hears how UN humanitarian coordinators go about their work, taking calculated risks where armed groups are concerned, and not shying away from standing up to authority either.
Audio: Daniel Johnson
Post-production: Srdan Slavkovic
Music: Ketsa, Night Whispers
Photo: UNHCR/Sahat Zia Hero

Humanitarian Leadership Stories – Standing up for people in crisis

In the third episode of Humanitarian Leadership Stories, our mini-series produced in collaboration with the UN Humanitarian Office, OCHA, Daniel Johnson from UN News speaks to frontline relief veteran Najat Rochdi, about restoring hope to people in crisis. 
It’s what Najat did, when she helped women facing gender-based violence in Lebanon, where she was the UN’s Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator. Daniel also finds out how the UN’s top aid officials in the Central African Republic, Jordan, South Sudan, and Somalia have taken steps to address the scourge of sexual violence and discrimination.
Audio: Daniel Johnson
Post-production: Srdan Slavkovic
Music: Ketsa, Night Whispers
Photo: UNFPA Kenya

Humanitarian Leadership Stories – Restoring hope

In episode four of Humanitarian Leadership Stories, a mini-series produced in collaboration with the UN Humanitarian Office, OCHA, we hear how tough discussions with warring sides are part and parcel of being a top UN relief coordinator.
This podcast also takes us to Nigeria, South Sudan, Jordan and Lebanon, where we’ll find out how the work of the UN’s relief chiefs is driven by putting vulnerable people first.
Audio: Daniel Johnson
Post-production: Srdan Slavkovic
Voice artist: Alex Williams
Music: Ketsa, Night Whispers
Photo: UNICEF/Ashley Gilbertson

Humanitarian Leadership Stories – Integrity

For veteran UN Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza, holding the line on impartiality is key in emergencies. And he should know, having served as the Organization’s top relief official in Damascus, Syria. 
Hear Imran’s story in episode five of Humanitarian Leadership Stories, a mini-series produced in collaboration with the UN Humanitarian Office, OCHA, which also includes fascinating insights from top UN top aid coordinators reflecting on their engagement in Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, South Sudan and Somalia.
Audio: Daniel Johnson
Post-production: Srdan Slavkovic
Voice artist: Alex Williams
Music: Ketsa, Night Whispers
Photo: UNICEF/Baker Kasem

Humanitarian Leadership Stories – Principles

In the final episode of Humanitarian Leadership Stories, a mini-series produced in collaboration with the UN Humanitarian Office, OCHA, we find out why there’s so much more to relief work than just delivering emergency assistance. 
Daniel Johnson hears from humanitarians in hotspots such as Gaza, Haiti, and Libya, on why it’s essential to help those in chronic conflict zones to become more resilient.
Audio: Daniel Johnson
Post-production: Srdan Slavkovic
Voice artist: Alex Williams
Music: Ketsa, Night Whispers
Photo: UNICEF/Georges Harry Rouzier

Humanitarian Leadership Stories – Development

The UN Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an inspiring group of young people from across the world, achieving great things in areas as diverse as gender equality, climate action, and health equity.

The current cohort were all in New York in April for the 2023 UN Youth Forum, an annual gathering where youthful changemakers can voice their opinions, contribute to policy discussions at the UN, and put forward innovative solutions to the challenges the world faces.

Conor Lennon caught up with three of the Leaders during the event: Sudanese women’s rights advocate Mayada Adil, Paul Ndhlovu, a voice for young people living with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, and Gibson Kawago, a social entrepreneur bringing clean energy to rural communities in Tanzania.
Audio Credit UN News/ Conor Lennon
Photo Credit UN News/ Conor Lennon
Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

Youth leaders fighting for a better world

On today’s episode of The Lid Is On, Conor Lennon speaks to three exceptional young changemakers who have been recognized by the UN for the contributions they are making to a more sustainable world.
Vee Kativhu is an award-winning education activist from Zimbabwe, American Paralympian Jamal Hill launched a foundation to cut the number of people who drown each year, and Karen Wang, from China, is the founder of a startup which provides carbon accounting software to help institutions meet their net zero goals. 
Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa
Audio: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Photo: UN News/ Alexandra Del Castello

A new generation of SDG champions picks up the baton

With the world currently recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and reeling from the economic fallout of the war in Ukraine, progress on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals remains slow.
So, can we pick up the pace in the seven years we have left in this decade, and get closer to realizing the Goals? And can Youth Leaders make a difference? 
During the 2023 UN Youth Forum, Conor Lennon from UN News spoke to three exceptional young people in April, to get their perspective: Indian educator and social entrepreneur Richa Gupta, South Sudanese refugee advocate Nhial Deng, and Brazilian youth leader Lana Weidgenant.
Audio: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Photo: UN News/ Alexandra Del Castello
Music: Within the Earth, Ketsa

Can young leaders help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?

Countries in Southeast Asia are coming together with the support of the UN to tackle what is being described as “one of the biggest drug-trafficking corridors in the world.” 
Traditionally, the highly addictive drugs, opium and heroin were trafficked out of the region, but now more dangerous synthetic drugs are being manufactured in remote jungle laboratories in ever larger quantities.
Closer collaboration across borders between law enforcement agencies is helping to slow down the illegal trafficking.
Daniel Dickinson travelled to the north of Thailand for this special edition of The Lid Is On.

Audio & photo credit: Daniel Dickinson
Production credit: Pauline Batista
Music credit: Ketsa ‘Within the Earth’

PODCAST: UN boosts fight against drug trafficking in the Golden Triangle

UN peacekeeping operations are facing more challenging political and security conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa and require the united and committed support from Member States. However, as the head of UN peacekeeping, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, tells the Lid is On podcast from UN News, a multiplication of crises, and divisions amongst Member States are complicating peacekeeping operations.

Audio Credit: Daniel Dickinson, UN News
Audio Duration: 13'8"
Photo Credit: MINUSCA/Francis Yoga-Yabendji

PODCAST: Crises and international division ‘challenging’ says UN peacekeeping chief

Thailand has been lauded for the progressive legislation it has passed into law which ensures that women and girls have the right to a range of sexual and reproductive health services, but many teenagers struggle to access the care they need. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has been working with organizations in the South East Asian country to make sure those young people receive the support they are entitled to.

Music Credit: Within the Earth by Ketsa
Audio Credit: Daniel Dickinson, UN News
Audio Duration: 24'55"
Photo Credit: UN News/Daniel Dickinson

PODCAST: Breaking barriers around teen pregnancy in Thailand

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'Lid Is On' Podcast

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