Interviews

As artificial intelligence reshapes global agriculture, questions remain about who truly benefits from this technological shift.In this interview with Anshu Sharma from UN News, Brenda Gunde, Global Lead for ICT4D (Information Communication Technology for Development) at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), explains how emerging digital tools can support smallholder farmers, improve decision-making, and reduce inequality – as long as issues of access, affordability, and scalability are addressed.Speaking on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Ms. Gunde highlights why inclusive innovation, local access to information, and practical delivery systems are essential to ensuring AI strengthens rural livelihoods rather than widening existing gaps.

According to the World Bank, the real AI revolution in developing countries isn't coming from flashy mega‑models, but from small, low‑cost tools that solve local problems.Mahesh Uttamchandani, the organisation's Regional Practice Director for Digital and AI inEast Asia and Pacific and South Asia, sat down with Anshu Sharma from UN News during the India AI Impact Summit, and explained that these systems are cheaper to run, easier to adapt, and already delivering outsized impact.

As the India AI Impact Summit, the first of its kind in the Global South, enters its final days, UN News has been talking to some of the senior UN officials who have made the trip to New Delhi.One of them is Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who has been meeting with world leaders and the heads of technology companies.When he sat down with our colleague Anshu Sharma, Mr. Türk explained why human rights must be at the core of a powerful technology that many believe is about to transform the world.

In Sudan, the conflict between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the country into widespread bloodshed and humanitarian catastrophe. The devastating civil war began in April 2023 and is expanding beyond the western Darfur region into central Kordofan, taking its toll on civilians and particularly the most vulnerable, including children.Eva Hinds, Spokesperson for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Sudan, describes how the agency is supporting boys and girls amid the brutal conflict and ongoing cuts to aid budgets.She spoke to UN News's Nathalie Minard in Geneva.

India's AI Impact Summit – the first of its kind in the Global South – is underway in New Delhi, and the United Nations has a significant presence at the event, with over 30 side events planned over the week.The main message from the UN is that access to, and development of, AI tools ne eds to be democratised beyond the handful of major economies that are currently driving the technology.Amandeep Gill, the UN Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, is attending the Summit, where he will discuss the UN's central role in AI governance. He told Anshu Sharma from UN News that managing the risks and harnessing the opportunities needs to involve everyone, not just a small elite. 

Since the declaration of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on 10 October 2025, the United Nations' main concern has been — and remains — the urgent scaling up of humanitarian aid.And while the long-awaited reopening of the Rafah crossing at the start of this month raised hopes, it has also been marked by delays and reports of mistreatment of Palestinians, according to aid organizations, with no significant improvement in the overall humanitarian situation.For more details, UN News's Nancy Sarkis spoke to Gaza aid veteran Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.

Politics used to be a battle over competing ideas, but now it's become a very real fight “between identities”: that's according to Valentina Grippo, an Italian Member of Parliament and delegate to the UN-affiliated Inter-Parliamentary Union, or IPU, which met at UN Headquarters this week in New York.  A majority of MPs worldwide are facing threats and abuse from voters, according to a new IPU report which found that 71 per cent of surveyed lawmakers experienced violence from the public – whether offline, online or both. Speaking to Edouard de Bray of UN News Ms. Grippo stressed that rising polarisation and online disinformation are fuelling violence against politicians and undermining democratic debate worldwide.

As wars drag on across continents and conflicts grow more complex, children continue to bear the heaviest and most heartbreaking cost.Marking 30 years since the United Nations first established its mandate to protect children caught in war, Vanessa Frazier, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, is sounding the alarm, and calling for renewed global commitment to prevention, protection, and accountability.Ms. Frazier warned that grave violations against children are rising sharply, with more than 7,400 cases of child recruitment verified in 2024 alone.Charlotte Frantz began by asking where child recruitment is happening the most – and what is driving it.

As Holocaust remembrance increasingly moves into digital spaces shaped by artificial intelligence, virtual worlds and interactive media, experts are calling for stronger global coordination to ensure ethical, sustainable and responsible memory work.Speaking at UN Headquarters around International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Professor Victoria Grace Richardson-Walden stressed that no single institution or sector can address these challenges alone. Policymakers, technology companies, museums, educators, researchers and digital creators must work together, she said, to avoid fragmented efforts that waste resources and risk losing vital historical material as technologies rapidly evolve.UN News's Ana Carmo started by asking her why global collaboration is key for shaping the future of Holocaust memory in digital spaces. 

The head of the police component of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Mamouma Ouédraogo – appointed late last year – was at UN Headquarters in the past few days, taking part in the Police Week.The gathering reunites senior police officers from peacekeeping operations and staffers from the UN's special political missions. In an interview with UN News's Jérôme Bernard, she outlined the support provided by MONUSCO's police component to the Congolese national police and explained the measures being taken to address human rights violations, particularly sexual violence.

Ukraine is facing one of its most severe winters since the war began, with attacks on critical infrastructure leaving hundreds of thousands of families without heating or electricity as temperatures fall below minus 20 degrees Celsius.Speaking to UN News, UNICEF's Chief of Field Operations in Ukraine, Kenan Madi, warned that children continue to bear the brunt of the crisis, particularly in major urban centres such as Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa, where central heating systems have been heavily damaged.UNICEF has responded by scaling up emergency winter assistance, including cash support to vulnerable families, expanding child protection services, and helping schools and utilities maintain essential heating and water services.UN News's Evgeniya Kleshcheva began by asking Mr. Madi to detail the situation facing families and humanitarian workers on the ground.

Catherine Mootian was just twelve years old when she underwent female genital mutilation (FGM), a moment that changed her life forever.Growing up in Kenya's Maasai community, she was told the cut marked her transition into womanhood. But years later, that painful experience became the driving force behind her mission to protect other girls from the same fate.Today, Ms. Mootian is the founder and executive director of AfyAfrika – leading the fight to end FGM and to help survivors heal.UN News' Assumpta Massoi began by asking Ms. Mootian about her childhood ordeal, and how it has shaped her over the years

The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO, says it is ready to support a ceasefire between the Congolese authorities and the M23 armed group, following an announcement by Qatar that it will deploy a first monitoring team under the Doha peace initiative.M23, also known as the March 23 Movement, is an armed group operating in eastern DRC that has seized key towns, including Goma in January and Bukavu in February, fuelling renewed violence and displacement.MONUSCO says the initial deployment will be limited to Uvira, in South Kivu, and will not mark a permanent return to the province, which the Mission left last year. UN News's Cristina Silveiro asked the mission's spokesperson Ndeye Khady Lo whether the development should be seen as a positive signal for peace.

As the UN system continues to grapple with financial constraints, international police officers serving at peacekeeping missions are responding to the challenge.The UN Police Division is making plans to deploy smaller specialised teams in some field settings, where necessary, who will still “achieve more” despite their reduced numbers. That's according to UN Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar, who with UN Police Week now underway in New York, outlined other steps including training national authorities to ensure self-sufficiency.Mr. Shahkar spoke to UN News's Dianne Penn about the challenges they face, with safety and security topping the list.  

Kenya's national action plan to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030 offers renewed hope for girls and women in rural communities, where access to prevention and care has often been limited. Aligned with World Health Organization (WHO)'s targets, the plan focuses on free vaccines to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection – which can lead to various cancers including cervical cancer – providing early screening and timely treatment.Joseph Mogga with WHO's office in Nairobi, spoke to UN News's Assumpta Massoi and explained how by bringing services closer to where women live, Kenya is signalling a strong, positive commitment to ensure that no girl or woman is left behind – especially when it comes to cervical cancer prevention.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that improving the nutritional quality of food served in schools can help children develop healthier eating habits for life.Last week, the UN health agency released its first-ever global, evidence-based guidelines outlining policies and practical interventions to help schools provide healthier food and drink options.Katrin Engelhardt, a scientist at WHO who led the development of the new guidelines, spoke to UN News's Ileana Exaras about what they recommend – and why creating healthier school food environments is an urgent priority today.

With young people under 30 making up more than half the global population - and over 272 million children and youth still out of school – their participation in education reform is becoming increasingly vital. Yet stark inequalities remain – in the poorest countries, 36 per cent of children and youth are out of school compared to just 3 per cent in the richest.Ahead of the UN International Day for Education, UN News's Charlotte Frantz spoke to UNESCO's Marco Pasqualini about how this year's theme focused on the power of youth in co-creating education, translates into real-world action.

The Acting Head of the UN peacekeeping force in the disputed territory of Abyei (UNISFA), Major General Robert Yaw Affram, has underscored the fragile security situation in the disputed Abyei region bordering Sudan and South Sudan, describing it as “volatile” and lacking State institutions, while stressing the stabilising role played by UN peacekeepers.Speaking to UN News's Khaled Mohamed, Major General Affram – who's also been serving as Force Commander – recalled the 13 December drone strike that killed six peacekeepers in the Sudanese city of Kadugli, highlighting the huge dangers faced by UN ‘blue helmets'.Despite these challenges, UNISFA continues to increase ground patrols and air surveillance, while engaging regularly with locals to help prevent intercommunal violence.

A new UN report on global climate finance highlights a stark mismatch: trillions of dollars support activities that harm nature, while only a small share goes to initiatives that protect and restore it. The study argues that investing in nature makes strong economic sense, given the mounting risks of a rapidly warming planet.In Brazil, one promising example is the rise of UN Environment Programme-backed “agrihoods” – neighbourhoods designed to work with natural ecosystems rather than against them.Marcia Maika leads the initiative, and she's been telling Conor Lennon from UN News that business attitudes are changing.

During his three-and-a-half-year tenure leading the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Force Commander Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian has overseen efforts that have helped save an estimated 162,000 lives.The mission tackles a wide range of issues – from armed insurgency and the impacts of climate change, to economic insecurity and other pressing humanitarian concerns.While challenges remain and reforms are needed, M. Subramanian emphasises that without UNMISS, the situation in South Sudan would be far bleaker. In an exit interview with UN News, Sachin Gaur began by asking him how the UN mission contributed to the lives of local communities in the world's youngest country.

On Holocaust Remembrance Day, the UN in New York marked a historic first, with the presentation of testimony from a Ukrainian Roma researcher and advocate during the annual commemoration.Nataliia Tomenko is a youth advocate and expert on Romani history, and Deputy Director of Ukraine's Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture.She presented a video account by her grandmother, Halyna Tomenko, a Holocaust survivor whose story reflects the persecution endured by Roma families across Eastern Europe. Too frail to travel from Ukraine, her testimony was shared on her behalf.Speaking to UN News's Evgeniya Kleshcheva, Ms. Tomenko reflects on her grandmother's extraordinary story and on how young people can turn remembrance into action.

Predictions that artificial intelligence will largely replace teachers in classrooms are proving to be overstated, according to the UN education agency, UNESCO.In fact, UNESCO estimates that an additional 44 million teachers will be needed worldwide by 2030.That does not mean the agency dismisses the potential of AI. On the contrary, it says the advanced technology could help transform education systems, freeing up time for students to develop critical thinking and other skills that cannot be automated.Evgeniya Kleshcheva from UN News spoke to Shafika Isaacs, Chief of UNESCO's Section for Technology and AI in Education, who says one of the biggest misconceptions is that education systems are so broken that only algorithms can fix them.

After more than a decade of war, Syria is witnessing significant refugee and internal displacement returns – even as renewed hostilities in parts of the country force others to flee once again.Nearly 1.4 million refugees have returned from neighbouring countries since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Almost two million internally displaced Syrians have also headed home to their places of origin.But fresh fighting in Aleppo and the northeast in recent weeks has triggered new displacement, while harsh winter conditions are compounding humanitarian needs.To explain what's driving these movements and how UN agencies are responding on the ground, UN News's Nancy Sarkis has been speaking to Céline Schmitt, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency in Syria:

The severity of online child abuse has prompted the UN and partners from the private sector, civil society and government, to commit to working together to ensure AI-tools benefit children, rather than endangering them.A joint statement was released earlier this week by the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU), children's agency, UNICEF, and offices across the UN system involved in safeguarding children.It is hoped the new shared commitment will lead to a clear roadmap for protecting youngsters worldwide.Cosmas Zavazava, the Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau, told UN News's Conor Lennon about the many threats children face, and how UN is working with the tech companies to boost protection.

After more than 1,000 days of conflict, Sudan's education system is in crisis, with an estimated eight million children currently out of school, the UN child rights agency, UNICEF, warned ahead of the International Day of Education marked on 24 January.According to its Sudan spokesperson, Eva Hinds, one in three schools has been damaged or destroyed, nearly 6,400 are closed nationwide, and around half of all school buildings are no longer functioning as classrooms, many having been repurposed as shelters for the displaced. Prolonged absence from school exposes children to heightened risks of child labour, exploitation and early marriage, particularly for girls. Ms. Hinds told UN News's Abdelmonem Makki from N'Djamena, Chad – after wrapping up a 10-day visit to Darfur – that denying education to so many threatens an entire generation and could undermine Sudan's recovery for decades to come. 

The war that erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed thousands of civilians and caused devastation, mass displacement and famine.The conflict is a major preoccupation of UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who is just back from visiting the country. There, he met victims of terrible sexual violence, including escapees from the besieged city of El Fasher. With more details about the situation in Sudan and voicing concerns that what happened in El Fasher risks being repeated in South Kordofan's Kadugli and Dilling, the High Commissioner's spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, joins UN News's Daniel Johnson.

More than two years into the conflict, Sudan is facing one of the world's most serious and complex health emergencies, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The fighting, which began in April 2023, has forced millions of people from their homes, deepened hunger and left much of the country's health system barely functioning, said Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan, in an interview with UN News.  Disease outbreaks are spreading as access to health care continues to shrink. Cholera, dengue and malaria are widespread, while measles and polio are re-emerging as routine immunisation coverage falls to record lows.Speaking to UN News's Abdelmonem Makki, Dr Sahbani stressed the urgent need for sustained funding, safe humanitarian access and protection for health workers and facilities, as attacks on health care continue. Above all, he appealed to the international community not to forget Sudan. 

Created in 1966 to boost development within newly independent countries from the Global South, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has stayed true to its founding mission, in a world that has been transformed over the past six decades.At UNIDO's Global Industry Summit, held in Riyadh this November, the agency's Member States reaffirmed their commitment to help developing countries grow their economies sustainably, minimising harm to the environment and improving the lives of their citizens.Conor Lennon was in Riyadh for UN News and spoke to Fatou Haidara, UNIDO's ? Managing Director of Global Partnerships and External Relations, about the ways that the agency has adapted to the changing priorities of its Member States, and why it continues to be a central pillar of sustainable industrialisation.

Europe's influenza season has arrived earlier than expected this year, raising concerns about pressure on health systems as respiratory illnesses circulate during the winter months.  While the surge has prompted questions about vaccine effectiveness and vulnerable groups, health experts say the situation remains manageable – if people take the right precautions.Speaking with UN News's Vibhu Mishra, Marc-Alain Widdowson, who leads pandemic threat and communicable disease work at the World Health Organization's European Regional Office, explains what's driving this year's flu season, who is most at risk, and why it's still not too late to get vaccinated. 

For the second time since its launch in 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Summit on Traditional Medicine took place in India, bringing attention to the role of natural and cultural remedies around the world, as well as the science behind them. On the sidelines of the summit in New Delhi, UN News's Anshu Sharma spoke with Sung Chol Kim of WHO's Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine unit, about advances in the field.Mr. Kim outlined what traditional medicine is, the WHO's role in advancing evidence-based traditional medicine, and the progress made so far.He also explained how traditional medicine differs from biomedicine. Its focus on prevention is just one of those ways.  

As the world debates how technology is shaping societies, actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been sharing why people and purpose must remain at the heart of the digital future.UN News' Vibhu Mishra spoke with him on the sidelines of a high-level UN meeting marking 20 years of global cooperation on the internet and digital technologies.Mr. Gordon-Levitt reflected on creativity, inclusion and the responsibility that comes with powerful digital tools, especially as technology becomes more embedded in everyday life.He said he was inspired by people working not just for profit, but to make the world better – even when the challenge feels like a “David and Goliath” battle.

Mass atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region show alarming indicators associated with the risk of genocide, according to the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Chaloka Beyani, who has completed a mission to Kenya.Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), alongside other armed groups, has plunged large parts of Sudan into a deepening humanitarian and protection crisis since April 2023.More than 11 million people are now internally displaced, while up to four million have fled to neighbouring countries and beyond.Mr. Beyani has completed a mission to Kenya and spoke to UN News's Stella Vuzo in Nairobi, where he met several Sudanese refugees. She began by asking about his main message to the Sudanese people. 

An independent journalist is warning against the unchecked rise of artificial intelligence (AI), comparing the public to “guinea pigs” in a global experiment.Atif Rashid, Editor in Chief of Analyst News – a non-profit international news website – was a panelist in the thematic session held during the UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 14-15 December.Speaking to UN News's Reem Abaza, he urged governments and tech companies to slow down, protect children, and treat AI with the same caution as they would untested medications.

Africa doesn't have a million problems. It has one: a mindset problem, according to the UN Special Adviser on Africa Cristina Duarte.Research suggests that nearly two-thirds of Africans believe their countries are currently heading in the wrong direction.Speaking after the UN Academic Conference on Africa held earlier this month, Ms. Duarte emphasised that by transforming this mindset and recognising the value of African knowledge, the continent's future could be completely reshaped.UN News's Ben Malor sat down with Ms. Duarte and began by asking for her top three takeaways from the thought-provoking gathering.

After more than 22 years at the heart of Iraq's political transition and post-war recovery, the UN will close its political mission in the country at the end of 2025.Established in 2003, the mission (UNAMI) has played a central role in supporting inclusive political dialogue, national reconciliation, credible elections and the protection of human rights.UN News's Reem Abaza spoke to the mission chief and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Mohamed Al Hassan, about what's been achieved – and the challenges ahead. 

Financing and climate solutions have become an increasingly important focus for the UN's work worldwide. Taking place this year in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, the UN Environment Assembly is advancing sustainable solutions for all.Richard Munang, Africa climate change coordinator for UN Environment Programme, UNEP, spoke to UN News's Stella Vuzo in Nairobi about financing in Africa and the significance of the 10th anniversary on Friday of the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change.With the continent warming twice as fast as the rest of the world, finding solutions to reduce carbon emissions is an urgent task, he told us.

Living heritage gives people a sense of meaning and belonging, connecting individuals and communities across generations.On Thursday, the UN culture agency, UNESCO's committee which safeguards living cultural traditions worldwide, added 67 new living heritage elements to UNESCO's extensive lists.UN News's Anshu Sharma in the Indian capital, New Delhi, spoke to Tim Curtis, Director of the UNESCO office there and the agency's Representative to India, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, about the significance of recognising and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

Latest available figures published on Tuesday show more than 272 million children around the world were out of school through 2023, underscoring a deepening global education crisis.That's according to UN education and cultural organization, UNESCO, which says that despite lack of access, significant progress has been made in advancing gender parity and integrating emerging technologies in classrooms worldwide, including artificial intelligence.In an interview with UN News's Cristina Silveiro, UNESCO policy and lifelong learning director, Borhene Chakroun, outlined the key findings from the agency's new global report, on the eve of Human Rights Day.

Despite widespread suffering driven by escalating conflict, displacement and disasters, Myanmar's humanitarian emergency has become all but “invisible” to the world, the top UN official in the country has warned.Gwyn Lewis, the UN's interim Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Myanmar, issued the alert during a visit to UN Headquarters, where she has been urging Member States and diplomats to refocus attention on the crisis.She noted that 3.6 million people have been displaced, nearly 12 million face severe food insecurity, and one million of them are already living in emergency conditions.Speaking to UN News' Vibhu Mishra, she called on the international community to increase support and funding to alleviate Myanmar's humanitarian crisis.

For many survivors of human trafficking, support often ends too soon. With limited resources and systems that fail to provide long-term care, many are thrown out of the system — left without proper trauma support or recognition beyond their stories. Mother, activist, and human trafficking survivor Malaika Oringo is determined to change that. As the founder of Footprint to Freedom, a survivor-led non-profit dedicated to empowering and reintegrating trafficking survivors, she advocates for survivor voices to be at the heart of policymaking and government action.In a conversation with UN News, Ms. Oringo reflects on her personal journey — how she overcame trauma, reclaimed her voice, and continues to inspire change through her tireless advocacy. Charlotte Frantz began by asking her what drives the trafficking of people. 

More than two years of conflict in Sudan have brought mass displacement, widespread hunger, the destruction of entire cities, and an end to the rule-of-law.Despite limited access – especially to the killing fields of Darfur – UN human rights office, OHCHR, continues to document violations, support humanitarian response efforts, and amplify the voices of victims, women, youth, and those displaced.Ahead of Human Rights Day on 10 December, UN News's Abdelmonem Makki spoke to the top OHCHR official in Sudan, Li Fung, who described a country enduring one of the world's gravest humanitarian and human rights emergencies.

Syria is working hard to turn the page on its dismal human rights record under the former Assad regime – allowing the UN rights office (OHCHR) access to the country following years of freezing officials out.Though the country remains fragile, the resilience of its people – and the political will to change shown by transitional authorities – is helping society move on from decades of repression and 13 years of devastating conflict.The return of OHCHR to Damascus is “essential” to supporting a rights-based vision for a “new Syria”, said Mohammad Al Nsour, Chief of the Office's Middle East and North Africa Section, speaking to UN News's Ezzat El-Ferri.