The Magic Wand Episode: Rethinking Humanitarianism Episode 10

Let’s put some blue-sky thinking to the test.

In every episode of the Rethinking Humanitarianism podcast, we ask our guests what they would do if they had millions of dollars—or perhaps a magic wand—to transform the way the world responds to people in need.

We’ve heard a panoply of pitches: from politicians sleeping in refugee camps to a global fund for social protection, from networked humanitarianism to the merger of UN agencies.

Now, as a wrap-up to our first season (don’t fret, we’ll be back), host Heba Aly puts these ideas to three people in positions to enact change:  

• Valerie Nkamgang Bemo, Deputy Director, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, UN Refugee Agency
• Per Olsson Fridh, Minister for International Development Cooperation, Sweden

Listen in to hear which ideas pass muster and which get a hard “no.”

Transcript available

Season 2 of the Rethinking Humanitarianism podcast will launch in Spring 2021. Make sure you never miss an episode: Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, Google, Stitcher, or YouTube, or search “The New Humanitarian” in your preferred podcast app.

Got a question or feedback? Ideas for Season 2? Email rhpodcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or have your say on Twitter using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.