The CGD Podcast

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International development experts share their ideas on how wealthy countries can promote prosperity in developing countries.

Center for Global Development


    • May 8, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 26m AVG DURATION
    • 145 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The CGD Podcast

    Pandemic Proof: Preparing for What Comes Next

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 13:00


    As the second season of Pandemic Proof comes to a close, host Javier Guzman reflects on the progress made in pandemic preparedness since COVID-19, the challenges we still face, and the rapidly shifting global landscape that will shape what comes next.

    CGD Podcast: The Future of the African Development Bank with Three Presidential Candidates

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 40:26


    Ahead of the African Development Bank's presidential election in May, CGD's Karen Mathiasen and AfriCatalyst's Daouda Sembene interview three of the candidates – Amadou Hott, Samuel Munzele Maimbo, and Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala – on their priorities for the Bank and their views on how to help steer countries through a volatile and uncertain time and achieve their development goals.

    Pandemic Proof: Exploring Japan's Role in Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness Financing

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 33:49


    Takahiro Tsuda and Atsushi Mimura from the Japanese Ministry of Finance join Javier Guzman to examine current funding mechanisms for pandemic preparedness and response, explore Japan's role in driving global efforts (and insights gained), and discuss potential pathways to strengthen PPR financing.

    CGD Podcast: China-Africa Cooperation with Hannah Ryder and Yunnan Chen

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 40:20


    CGD's Gyude Moore speaks with Hannah Ryder of Development Reimagined and Yunnan Chen of ODI Global about the evolution of China's relationship with Africa, the opportunities presented by FOCAC 9, and where the money should go to do the most good. 

    CGD Podcast: Addressing Adolescent Girls' Realities with Ruth Graham-Goulder and Rani Deshpande

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 37:18


    CGD's Kehinde Ajayi speaks with UNICEF's Ruth Graham-Goulder and CGAP's Rani Deshpande about the importance of including adolescent girls' perspectives to inform policy, of working across sectors to provide multi-issue solutions, and of developing financial and economic interventions that reflect adolescent girls' realities.

    Pandemic Proof: Funding the WHO for Pandemic Preparedness

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 27:16


    Catharina Boehme, Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Governance at the WHO, joins guest-host Pete Baker to discuss the outcomes of the WHO Investment Round and the opportunities and risks it presents for strengthening global health and pandemic preparedness.

    CGD Podcast: Building Better Development Partnerships with Santiago Quiñones Cardenas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 28:08


    CGD's Rachael Calleja speaks with Santiago Quiñones Cardenas of APC Colombia, a member of the Re-thinking Development Cooperation Working Group, about the value of multidirectional learning, the importance of creating inclusive spaces for engagement, and Santiago's advice for successful triangular cooperation. 

    CGD Podcast: Local Data for International Impact with Rakesh Rajani and Halsey Rogers

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 52:34


    CGD's Eeshani Kandpal speaks with Twaweza founder Rakesh Rajani and the World Bank's Halsey Rogers about how Twaweza's learning assessments influenced the 2018 World Development Report on education. Together they shed light on how partnerships between international actors and local institutions can have outsize impact on policy worldwide.

    Lagos to Mombasa: What Have We Learned?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 11:40


    In the final episode of Lagos to Mombasa, Gyude reflects on some major topics and takeaways from the past three years and calls for better climate mitigation and adaptation measures for Africa. 

    CGD Podcast: UK Election Reflection with Stefan Dercon and Laura Chappell

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 43:26


    Following the UK general election, CGD's Ranil Dissanayake speaks with Stefan Dercon from the Blavatnik School of Government (and CGD) and Laura Chappell from the Institute for Public Policy Research about the unique challenges presented by today's development landscape, the key drivers of economic growth, and what the new UK government should prioritize. 

    Pandemic Proof: Negotiating a Global Pandemic Agreement

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 27:14


    Precious Matsoso, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for the new Pandemic Agreement, joins Javier to reflect on the negotiations process and what must change for this round of negotiations to be successful. 

    Lagos to Mombasa: What Can Climate-Resistant Infrastructure Do for Africa?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 28:22


    Gyude speaks with Antonio Pedro of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, about the links between the sustainable development goals, climate adaptive technology, and accelerating infrastructural development on the continent.

    CGD Podcast: Paraguay's Sustainable Growth Strategy with Carlos Fernández Valdovinos

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 36:35


    CGD's Liliana Rojas Suarez speaks with Paraguay's Minister of Finance Carlos Fernández Valdovinos about the keys to the country's growth, including the impact of recent reforms, aligning development policy with climate goals, and diversifying the economy.

    CGD Podcast: Development Leadership with Siti Nugraha Mauludiah and Bård Vegar Solhjell

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 33:56


    The co-hosts of the 2024 Development Leaders Conference—CGD's Mikaela Gavas, Siti Nugraha Mauludiah from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Indonesia, and Norad's Bård Vegar Solhjell—share their takeaways from the event, including the diverse experiences of traditional and emerging donors, the challenges of bridging gaps between sectors and priorities, and the importance of sharing solutions within the development community.  

    Lagos to Mombasa: How Does Climate Change Impact Migration?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 29:28


    Gyude speaks with Dr. Stephen Adaawen of the University of Groningen about the different types of human mobility and their complexities, the disproportionate impact of climate change on unplanned settlements, and the unique burdens of climate-related migration on African women and children. 

    Pandemic Proof: Boosting the US Role in Global Health Security

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 32:07


    Dr. Stephanie Psaki, US Global Health Security Coordinator, joins host Javier Guzman to discuss the changes made across the US government since the pandemic, her priorities as Coordinator, and US ambitions for the pandemic agreement negotiations in the run-up to the World Health Assembly later this month.

    CGD Podcast: Why the EU Elections Matter with Charles Goerens, Udo Bullmann, and Emily Wigens

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 38:46


    On this episode of the CGD Podcast, Anita Käppeli speaks with several guests with close ties to the European Parliament who can offer insight on what June's elections will bring for development policy.

    Pandemic Proof: Expanding Africa CDC's Role in Preparedness

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 29:53


    Host Javier Guzman launches Season 2 with reflections on global progress on preparedness since the pandemic, then speaks with H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya of Africa CDC about how Africa CDC is translating lessons from COVID-19 into stronger, more resilient systems.

    CGD Podcast: Unlocking Private Investment in Africa with Nick O'Donohoe and Frank Aswani

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 39:45


    CGD's Gyude Moore speaks with Nick O'Donohoe from British International Investment and Frank Aswani from the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance about balancing local and international focus, the impact of a "funding winter," and how the public and private sectors can fill the financing gap for budding entrepreneurs across Africa.

    Lagos to Mombasa: How Does Climate Impact Conflict?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 28:49


    Is there a relationship between climate change and conflict? Gyude speaks to Dr. Edward (Ted) Miguel of University of California Berkley about the impact of rising temperatures, extreme droughts, and floods on competition for resources, and how governments can respond to climate change's compounding impact in fragile regions.

    CGD Podcast: Supporting Women Economists in Latin America with Ana María Ibáñez

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 24:44


    CGD's Eeshani Kandpal speaks with the Interamerican Development Bank's Ana María Ibáñez about her recent report on women economists in Latin America, the reflection of cultural norms in education and the workplace, and the importance of role models and mentors in shaping expectations.

    CGD Podcast: Decarbonization, MDB Reform, and the Private Sector with Ahmed Saeed

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 33:12


    Ahmed Saeed of Allied Climate Partners and formerly the Asian Development Bank joins CGD's Karen Mathiasen and Clemence Landers for a conversation on his organization's new approach to blended finance, how to bridge the private and public sectors more effectively, and how to balance climate mitigation with traditional development goals. 

    Development Leaders Conference 2023 with Siti Nugraha Mauludiah and Bård Vegar Solhjell

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2023 25:39


    CGD's Masood Ahmed speaks with Development Leaders Conference cohosts Siti Nugraha Mauludiah from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Indonesia and Bård Vegar Solhjell of Norad about the differing experiences of traditional and emerging donors, the challenges of bridging gaps between sectors and priorities, and how the development community can share solutions more effectively.

    CGD Podcast: Elevating Women and People of Color to IFI Leadership with Amie Batson and Francisco Ferreira

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 47:15


    Only one woman born and raised in a low- or middle-income country has ever headed an international financial institution. CGD's Eeshani Kandpal speaks with Francisco Ferreira from the London School of Economics and Amie Batson from WomenLift Health about what effective mentorship and allyship can look like, the importance and impact of diversity in leadership, and the actions that organizations can take to better support the women and people of color who work there.

    Lagos to Mombasa: Are Energy Access and Climate Mitigation at Odds?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 26:53


    Olu Verheijen from the Nigerian government and Vijaya Ramachandran from the Breakthrough Institute join Gyude to discuss the scale and nature of the energy crisis in Africa, the role that renewable energy can (and can't) play in addressing it, and what steps African countries—and partners—can take to address both climate and energy challenges.

    CGD Podcast: Efficient Development with Bjørn Lomborg

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 22:18


    Bjørn Lomborg, author of Best Things First, joins CGD's Gyude Moore to discuss the 12 "most efficient" policy solutions for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, how they were assessed and identified, and the tradeoffs they may require.

    Lagos to Mombasa: How Can Smallholder Farmers Prepare for Climate Change?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2023 17:26


    Gillian Pais of McKinsey & Company returns to Lagos to Mombasa to discuss the importance of localizing climate solutions, strategies to promote the uptake of climate-smart agriculture, and the role of regional organizations in sharing best practices.    

    CGD Podcast: Accelerating MDB Reform with Stephanie von Friedeburg

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2023 36:55


    Stephanie von Friedeburg of Citi and formerly the International Finance Corporation joins CGD's Karen Mathiasen and Clemence Landers for a conversation on how to balance risk and impact in investment, why blended finance needs a rethink, and what mechanisms offer the most promising solutions to the development finance problem. 

    Lagos to Mombasa: How Can Critical Minerals in Africa Support Clean Energy and Uplift Communities?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 32:18


    Africa is home to 30 percent of the world's critical minerals reserves, which play a key role in clean energy. How can African communities benefit? Gyude speaks with Ayaan Adam (Africa Finance Corporation) and Juliet Akamboe (formerly Standard Bank Group) about how to strengthen processing and refining operations across the continent, build regional cooperation, address the detrimental impact of mines in local communities, and harness critical minerals to uplift mining regions. 

    Pandemic Proof: Beginning a New Era?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2023 38:47


    Over three years since it emerged, is the COVID-19 pandemic over? Amanda Glassman speaks with Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, about ending the emergency phase of the pandemic. Then Javier Guzman joins to reflect on the first season of Pandemic Proof.

    Pandemic Proof: Reflecting on Media Coverage of COVID-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2023 32:23


    Javier speaks with Natasha Loder from The Economist and John Burn-Murdoch from The Financial Times about keeping pace with the demand for information during the Covid-19 pandemic, confronting the flood of misinformation and disinformation, and lessons learned on reporting during health emergencies.

    Lagos to Mombasa: What Can Space Tech Do for Africa?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2023 38:13


    To kick off Season 2 of Lagos to Mombasa, Gyude reflects on the intricacies of climate change and development in Africa and explores how space-based technologies can help. Temidayo Oniosun of Space in Africa and Rose Croshier from CGD join Gyude to discuss the intersections of space technology with extreme weather events, agriculture and food security, and regional capacity and preparedness.

    Pandemic Proof: Making Sense of Medical Countermeasures

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2023 31:47


    How can we ensure that medical countermeasures—such as diagnostics and vaccines—are ready to go at local, national, and global levels when the next pandemic emerges? Amanda Glassman speaks with Dr. Amadou Alpha Sall of Institut Pasteur of Dakar and Dr. Rachel Glennerster of the University of Chicago about lessons learned during COVID-19 and opportunities for future preparedness.

    CGD Podcast: Preparing for Nigeria's Elections with Amaka Anku

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 28:26


    When Nigerian voters head to the polls on Saturday to elect the country's next president, all of Africa—and beyond—will be watching. CGD's Gyude Moore sits down with Amaka Anku, head of the Eurasia Group's Africa practice, to discuss the advantages and challenges of the leading candidates, the role of Nigeria's substantial youth population, and what this election might mean not just for Nigeria and for Africa but for democracy itself.

    Pandemic Proof: Learning from Sweden on Superbugs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2023 26:00


    Malin Grape, Sweden's Ambassador of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), joins Javier Guzman to discuss Sweden's track record on AMR, the outlook and priorities for its EU presidency, and initial reflections on Sweden's innovative program for purchasing antimicrobials.

    Pandemic Proof: Learning from COVID-19 in Taiwan

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 25:48


    Dr. Yi-Chun Lo of Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control and National Taiwan University Hospital joins Javier Guzman to discuss Taiwan's COVID-19 experience and broader pandemic preparedness and response efforts. Together, they discuss the lessons Taiwan learned from previous outbreaks like SARS, successes and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the Taiwan model could be applied in other settings to better prepare the world for the next health emergency.

    Lagos to Mombasa: What Did COP27 Mean for Africa?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 28:08


    In this bonus episode of Lagos to Mombasa, Gyude invites two experts who were on the ground in Sharm El Sheikh for COP27—the UN's annual conference on climate—to report back with their observations and takeaways: Faten Aggad of the African Climate Foundation and Ian Mitchell of CGD. Together they discuss the trajectory of climate finance across Africa, including loss and damage payments to most-affected countries; the complexities of accounting for emissions and consumption levels; and what the next steps might look like for African policymakers and activists.

    Pandemic Proof: Understanding Public Health Surveillance

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 33:39


    How does public heath surveillance work, and how can it be done better? Amanda Glassman tackles these questions with Dr. Oliver Morgan of the WHO and Dr. Theo Vos of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Together, they examine the successes and limitations of public health surveillance during COVID-19; the infrastructure, incentives, and investments needed to strengthen capacity; and ways to ensure higher quality and more representative tracking of existing and emerging disease threats.

    The Changing Development Paradigm with Rémy Rioux

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2022 32:25


    CGD's Masood Ahmed speaks with Rémy Rioux of Agence Française de Développement about the fifth annual Development Leaders Conference, the perfect storm of crises facing development agencies, and how new ways of thinking and financing can help them achieve their goals. 

    Pandemic Proof: Seeking Equity in the COVID-19 Response

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2022 25:32


    On this episode of Pandemic Proof, Dr. Ayoade Alakija, the World Health Organization's Special Envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) and co-chair of the African Union's African Vaccine Delivery Alliance, joins Javier Guzman to discuss global cooperation during health emergencies. Together they reflect on the role of ACT-A in facilitating the development of and equitable access to medical countermeasures during the COVID-19 pandemic; highlight advantages and disadvantages of regional initiatives; and call for a truly representative global health system.

    Pandemic Proof: Learning from COVID-19 in Latin America

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 34:32


    Countries in Latin America were hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. On this episode of Pandemic Proof, Amanda Glassman welcomes Dr. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr., candidate for Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), to the podcast to discuss impacts and lessons learned. Together they reflect on the politicization of the public health response, the importance of health system surveillance, and the role of regional entities like PAHO and national regulatory agencies in vaccine regulation and rollout.

    covid-19 director learning pandemic proof latin america countries jarbas barbosa pan american health organization paho
    Pandemic Proof: Evaluating the Monkeypox Response

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 28:56


    Dr. Boghuma Titanji, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine, joins Javier Guzman to reflect on the ongoing monkeypox outbreak and response. Together they discuss the parallels between monkeypox and previous infectious disease outbreaks such as COVID-19; inequities in access to vaccines and treatments; and the role national, regional, and international entities must play in preparedness and response to avoid making the same mistakes when the next—inevitable—pandemic hits. 

    Pandemic Proof: Making Preparedness a Priority

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2022 35:53


    On this first episode of new CGD podcast series Pandemic Proof, co-hosts Amanda Glassman and Javier Guzman take stock of where things stand on the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss global priorities to strengthen capacity for pandemic preparedness and response. Victor Dzau, President of the National Academy of Medicine, then joins Amanda to discuss securing adequate investment and coordinating multilateral action to end the current pandemic and better prepare for and respond to the next infectious disease threat.

    Coming Soon: Pandemic Proof

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2022 1:35


    Get ready for Pandemic Proof, a new podcast from the Center for Global Development. Hosted by CGD's Amanda Glassman and Javier Guzman and featuring guests from around the world, Pandemic Proof will confront weaknesses in the global architecture for pandemic preparedness and response, and explore policies and reforms that can better protect our world in the future. Tune in next week for episode 1! 

    A New Paradigm for Decision-making with Patience Marime-Ball and Ruth Shaber

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2022 34:36


    CGD's Megan O'Donnell speaks with coauthors Patience Marime-Ball (Women of the World Endowment) and Ruth Shaber (Tara Health Foundation) about the data backing the economic benefits of gender inclusivity, the work that went into creating their new book, and their recommendations for unlocking higher returns and lower risk.  

    Lagos to Mombasa: Recap and Reflections on Season 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 15:37


    Gyude shares his takeaways from the first season, underlines the importance of elevating underrepresented ideas, and makes an announcement about Season 2. 

    Health Insurance in India with Shankar Prinja

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2022 25:29


    CGD's Javier Guzman speaks with the Indian National Health Authority's Shankar Prinja about the structure and benefits of the PMJAY insurance scheme, the challenges of large-scale programs, and the need for researchers and policymakers to work together to produce and make use of evidence on what works.

    Lagos to Mombasa: Was the AU-EU Summit a Success?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 37:38


    Malado Kaba of Falémé Conseil and Inge Kaul of the Hertie School join Gyude to discuss the commitments made at the long-awaited AU-EU summit, the ways in which the participants were portrayed, and whether issues beyond aid, such as research, innovation, and trade, got the attention they deserved. 

    A History of USAID with John Norris and Wade Warren

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2021 26:31


    CGD's Sarah Rose speaks with John Norris of the Gates Foundation and Wade Warren of Deloitte Consulting about Norris's new book on USAID, including USAID's internal balancing act between development and geostrategic mandates, structural vs. sectoral initiatives, and the challenges USAID will face in its next decades.

    Lagos to Mombasa: What Does the Climate Crisis Mean for Africa?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 38:53


    Zainab Usman of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Olumide Abimbola of the Africa Policy Research Institute join Gyude to discuss the implications of the European Green Deal for Africa, the outcomes of COP26, and the impacts of the climate crisis on pandemic recovery.

    Inside the Development Leader's Conference with Carin Jämtin and Alexia Latortue

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2021 41:06


    CGD's Masood Ahmed speaks with Sida's Carin Jämtin and MCC's Alexia Latortue about their takeaways from the 2021 Development Leaders Conference, including the tensions between national and global challenges, how development agency leaders can address them, and what these decisions might mean for agency mandates going forward.

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