Global perspective Human stories

The Lid is On

UN News/ Alexandra del Castello

PODCAST: Can young leaders help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?

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?

Audio
18'11"
UN News/ Alexandra del Castello

PODCAST: A new generation of SDG champions picks up the baton

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.

Audio
15'48"
© UNICEF/Georges Harry Rouzier

PODCAST: Humanitarian Leadership Stories – Development

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.

  • Post-production: Srdan Slavkovic
  • Voice artist: Alex Williams
  • Music: Ketsa, Night Whispers
Audio
20'52"
© UNICEF/Baker Kasem

PODCAST: Humanitarian Leadership Stories – Principles

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
20'53"
© UNICEF/Ashley Gilbertson

PODCAST: Humanitarian Leadership Stories – Integrity

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.

  • Post-production: Srdan Slavkovic
  • Voice artist: Alex Williams
  • Music: Ketsa, Night Whispers
Audio
16'27"
© UNHCR/Sahat Zia Hero

PODCAST: Humanitarian Leadership Stories – Standing up for people in crisis

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 – guides 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.

  • Post-production: Srdan Slavkovic
  • Music: Ketsa, Night Whispers
Audio
16'17"
© UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi

PODCAST: Humanitarian Leadership Stories - Eritrea

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
19'48"
UNDP Chad/Jean Damascene Hakuzim

PODCAST: The future of water

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.

Audio
15'22"