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In 2020, media reports and an independent investigation revealed one of the largest sexual misconduct scandals in U.N. history, in which more than 50 women accused ebola aid workers — including World Health Organization staffers — of sexual exploitation and abuse during the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic of Congo.  

At last year’s World Health Assembly, WHO’s Dr. Gaya Gamhewage spoke at length about the organization's new policies for addressing sexual misconduct allegations. Gamhewage was appointed to lead a new unit investigating such claims in 2021.

In the final podcast episode from WHA77, Devex Associate Editor Rumbi Chakamba is joined by Dr. Gamhewage to discuss the progress her department is making, the challenges faced, and the lessons other agencies and NGOs can learn from WHO.

This week Devex’s editorial team was on the ground in Geneva, Switzerland, closely following the conversations taking place at the 77th World Health Assembly. As well as attending the summit itself, we also hosted Devex CheckUp @ WHA 77, our very own event happening on the sidelines of the main event.

From following the pandemic treaty negotiations to addressing global health issues, we provide an update from the conference that brings together health leaders from around the world.

We also discuss the World Health Organization’s announcement of a November fundraising event to usher in this finance. This is a new approach for the world’s leading public health agency as it hopes to raise $11.1 billion to fund its work over the next four years.

To look at the key stories from WHA 77, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Fatema Sumar, executive director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University, as well as Devex Senior Reporter Jenny Lei Ravelo for the latest episode of our This Week in Global Development podcast series.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health of populations across Africa were put at risk because of dysfunctional global health systems. For example, African nations were at the back of the queue for medical countermeasures, including vaccines. In the wake of the pandemic, leaders across the continent have worked to build stronger health systems — but there are still barriers at the international level standing in the way. 

At this week’s World Health Assembly in Geneva, health leaders from across the continent are calling for changes to global health systems. These include more equitable access to health innovations and financing that aligns with country priorities. “Those who can do more should agree to give in order for us to meet each other at a level where everyone will feel safe,” said Dr. Magda Robalo, President and co-founder of The Institute for Global Health and Development.

In this podcast episode, Devex global health reporter Sara Jerving speaks with Dr. Robalo and Dr. Githinji Gitahi, chief executive officer of Amref Health Africa, about changes needed at the international level.

A two-year negotiation process for a pandemic treaty concluded on Friday without reaching a consensus, as countries remained divided on numerous provisions, including technology transfer and equitable access to medical products. This week, health officials at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, will need to determine the next steps.

Before Friday’s decision, Devex Senior Reporter Jenny Lei Ravelo spoke with K.M. Gopakumar, legal adviser for the Third World Network, an independent international nonprofit network that advocates for the needs of people from the global south, about the contentious issues in the negotiations and how opposition to the pandemic treaty in some countries impacted the process.

For front-line and behind-the-scenes reporting on global health, sign up to the Devex CheckUp newsletter: https://www.devex.com/newsletters/devex-checkup

This week we report on Kenyan President William Ruto’s visit to Washington, D.C., the first by an African leader since 2008. We dig into what the occasion means for the relationship between Kenya and the wider African continent, including whether it will lead to closer economic ties between the United States and Africa as a whole. During the conversation, we also look back at our interview with Sen. Chris Coons about the visit, in which we discussed the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, and the U.S. Africa policy.

We are also keeping a close eye on the farm bill — a $1.5 trillion piece of legislation that shapes food assistance both within the United States and abroad. While the legislation largely focuses on domestic policy, it also governs the operations of Food for Peace, a flagship food assistance program that distributes American-grown commodities across the globe.

However, it has been proposed that at least 50% of funds should go toward U.S.-grown commodities and ocean freight. As the reauthorization negotiations continue, we explore the importance of these funds for communities in the global south and contemplate what the potential outcomes of the discussions could be.

On the topic of food systems, we also look at a story that explores how Vanuatu is stepping up its efforts to enhance food security by combining traditional practices with modern technology.

For the latest episode of the podcast series, Devex Managing Editor Anna Gawel sits down with David Barth from Save the Children and Devex Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger to discuss these stories and others.

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This week marked a significant development in the philanthropic world with Melinda French Gates resigning from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to focus on the "next chapter" of her philanthropy. As part of the separation agreement with her former husband Bill Gates, French Gates will receive an additional $12.5 billion for her work on behalf of women and families, an area which she has been pushing to get involved with.

On the topic of philanthropy, we also took a look at where MacKenzie Scott has been spending her money. Known for her unorthodox attitude to philanthropy, she has already given away $17.3 billion since 2020, mostly as unconditional grants. While many have praised her approach to philanthropic giving, it appears as though few have followed suit when it comes to allowing recipients to decide how they would like to spend the funds they receive.

We also reported on Unlock Aid’s plans to launch a platform dubbed the “Glassdoor for Primes'' in the coming months. The tool would allow local organizations to publicly review major international NGOs, contractors, and agencies on their accountability and treatment of subgrantees.

In order to discuss these stories, and others, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Sasha Fisher from Spark Microgrants and Devex Business Editor David Ainsworth for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series.

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