Chasing Impact - The MzN International Podcast - ‘Beyond Aid: Exploring Different Dimensions of Development for New Paths to Impact’- With Ian Mitchell, Center for Global Development.

‘Beyond Aid: Exploring Different Dimensions of Development for New Paths to Impact’- With Ian Mitchell, Center for Global Development.

11/06/23 • 29 min

Chasing Impact - The MzN International Podcast

When we think of development, we often conjure images of aid budgets and financial assistance to lower-income nations. While aid is undoubtedly a vital part of the development landscape, it's just the tip of the iceberg. In this episode, Ian Mitchell, Co-Director, Europe and Senior Policy Fellow at Center for Global Development (CDI) sits down with Christian Meyer zu Natrup, Managing Director of MzN. Together, they unravel the recently published CDI's Commitment to Development Index, revealing a comprehensive assessment of what governments are doing for development beyond aid.

This podcast episode explores the Commitment to Development Index, which looks at a spectrum of policies that influence the pace of growth for developing countries such as investment, migration, trade, environment, technology, health, and security. By expanding the dialogue to include these factors, we can shape more comprehensive strategies that lead to sustainable development. Using quantitative measures, this index compiles a ranking of the countries in their commitment to development across various dimensions.

During this podcast, we'll explore real-world examples from countries such as Sweden, the UK, the United States and explore the deliberate policy choices that have contributed to their consistent successes or shortcomings.

The conversation won't stop there. We'll transition into the realm of climate and development overlap, highlighting the urgent need to integrate climate considerations into development strategies. Climate finance, a substantial component of global aid, is poised to undergo the rigorous evaluation that development finance has experienced. This knowledge gap is of critical concern as it could affect the argument for climate action within development efforts.

As we wrap up, we'll touch on the essence of trust in global efforts to reduce emissions and tackle climate change. Trust among countries is integral to forging collective commitments to emission reduction. Without it, nations might opt for cheaper, less sustainable technologies, creating economic advantages without sufficient accountability. We'll also discuss the pivotal role of carbon taxes in addressing climate change, offering a realistic alternative to subsidies and bans.

Join us in this podcast as we journey through the multifaceted world of development, exploring how the Commitment to Development Index and climate considerations are shaping the future of global growth. This episode promises fresh insights and perspectives that will encourage you to reevaluate what development truly means.

Explore the CDI

Explore the CDI

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Businesses are humanitarian responders. Here's how to work with them.

Scaling Private Sector Involvement within UN Humanitarian and Development Systems- with Kareem Elbayar programme director of CBI

In this week's episode, we sit down with Kareem Elbayer, the Programme Director of the Connecting Business Initiative (CBI). We look into how the relationship between private sector entities and the UN humanitarian and development systems is evolving, exploring ways to facilitate businesses of all sizes in participating effectively in aid and development initiatives.

Kareem explains the role of the Connecting Business Initiative (CBI) in bridging the gap between these sectors. CBI's mission is to simplify the process for companies, particularly those operating in disaster-prone regions, to seamlessly integrate with humanitarian efforts. It's all about fostering communication, building vital bridges between businesses, governments, and international organizations, and making engagements for the benefit of societies and for the people who live in those societies.

Throughout this conversation, we unravel essential topics, including the challenges of coordination, the need for streamlined processes, and the imperative to scale up private sector involvement in disaster management. Kareem also emphasizes the importance of private sector engagement beyond financial contributions, aiming to leverage their expertise, agility, and extensive networks to support long-term development goals.

Join us in this discussion that offers fresh insights into reshaping the future of humanitarian and development efforts through mutually beneficial cooperation with the private sector.

Website Connecting Business Initiative

Next Episode

Localization and Trust-Based Giving: A Local Actor's Perspective with Wendo Aszed, Founder of Dandelion Africa.

In this conversation, Hande Akpinar, a Senior Consultant at MzN International, discusses the dynamics of localization and trust-based giving with Wendo, the Founder and Executive Director of Dandelion Africa. While the podcast provides the full experience, here's a sneak peek at what you can expect:

Founding Dandelion Africa: A Path Filled with Unique Challenges and Successes

Wendo reflects on the inception of Dandelion Africa, highlighting the numerous challenges she faced as a founder, a woman, and a villager. Her journey led her to a leadership role she hadn't initially anticipated - The challenges of gaining trust in a grassroots organization, coupled with imposter syndrome and cultural biases against women in leadership, posed formidable obstacles. Nevertheless, the defining moments and the unwavering belief of an exceptional team in the organization's vision have been pivotal to Dandelion Africa's success.

Exploring the Essence of Localization

Wendo explains what localization means to her, and how to empower local communities to take ownership of their development. It's not just about freedom, but the freedom to be authentically creative and innovative without the fear of failure. She explains how transparency and open dialogue between donors and the NGO is crucial for effectively structuring localization. This core principle shapes the quality of partnerships, work, and innovation within the organization. She explains the steps that will allow for this to happen.

Trust-Based Philanthropy: A Game Changer for Local NGOs

Trust-based philanthropy has been instrumental in enabling Dandelion Africa to put localization into action. With unrestricted funding, this approach allows them to think outside the box, make mistakes, and communicate openly without fear of losing funding. In doing so, the organization can better serve the communities it is dedicated to.

Bridging the North-South Divide: Trust and Capacity Building

Wendo reflects on the global division between the North and South when it comes to funding and operations. In a world where some international partners might doubt the capacity of local organizations in the South to handle funding, project monitoring, or policy development, the need for trust and capacity-building becomes increasingly vital. Wendo emphasizes the importance of trust and capacity building, both among local organizations themselves and in partnerships with international NGOs.

A Call to Action: Walk the Talk on Localization

Wendo concludes with a passionate call to action. She insists that organizations should not just talk about localization; they need to put it into practice, and she explains how. By truly understanding the needs and capacities of local actors and trusting them to lead their development efforts, a profound transformation can occur.

Find out more about Dandelion Africa’s mission to improve health and livelihoods for women in rural Kenya now