I Think You're On Mute

Humanitarian Advisory Group

I Think You're On Mute is showcasing the people and stories of Humanitarian Horizons, an initiative of the Humanitarian Advisory Group.

  1. Season 5 Episode 1 - A the Heart of the Response: Vanuatu and the Path to Localisation

    12/15/2025

    Season 5 Episode 1 - A the Heart of the Response: Vanuatu and the Path to Localisation

    Podcast: I Think You’re On Mute At the heart of the response: Vanuatu and the path to localisation What’s changed in Vanuatu’s localisation journey since 2019? How did last year’s earthquake test local leadership and coordination? And where is progress strongest across the seven domains of localisation? In a new episode of I Think You’re On Mute, produced in partnership with PIANGO, we unpack fresh research carried out with VANGO on how localisation has evolved in Vanuatu since our 2019 baseline. One year on from the earthquake, co-hosts Beth Eggleston and Pamela Combinido-Elfa sit down with local research consultant Linda Kenni and Shirley Abraham from VANGO to share insights from those at the heart of the response, looking at what’s shifted, what’s stalled, and what still needs to change to make localisation a reality. Podcast co-hosts and guests: Co-Host: Beth Eggleston Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group Co-Host: Pamela Combinido-Elfa Leader, Humanitarian Advisory Group Guests: Linda Kenni Independent Research Consultant – Vanuatu Shirley Abraham Secretary General of Vanuatu Non-Government Organisations (VANGO) Podcast research and links: Humanitarian Advisory Group | Localisation in Vanuatu: Demonstrating change https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/localisation-in-vanuatu-demonstrating-change/ Humanitarian Advisory Group | All localisation research reports https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight-category/localisation/

    39 min
  2. Season 3: Episode 5 - Beyond the horizon

    10/31/2024

    Season 3: Episode 5 - Beyond the horizon

    In this special episode of I Think You’re on Mute, host Beth Eggleston reflects on the journey of the Humanitarian Horizons research programme, which has driven insights and influence across the humanitarian sector over the past seven years. Beth explores the diverse research areas that have shaped humanitarian practice, from examining mental health support for and recruitment practices of local staff, to reducing the environmental impact of humanitarian operations and shifting the power to local actors. We look back on our achievements, our challenges, and the lessons learned, asking ourselves what worked well and what could have worked better if… Join us as we dive into the research and ideas that are shaping a better humanitarian future. Podcast host and guests: Host: Beth Eggleston Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group Guests: Pamela Cajilig Independent Consultant Eranda Wijewickrama Executive at Humanitarian Advisory Group (HAG) Podcast research and links: Humanitarian Advisory Group | Humanitarian Horizons research programme: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/humanitarian-horizons/ Humanitarian Advisory Group | Greening the System research: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/humanitarian-horizons/greening-the-system/ Humanitarian Advisory Group | Framework for Greening Humanitarian Action in the Pacific: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/framework-for-greening-humanitarian-action-in-the-pacific/ Humanitarian Advisory Group | A Pathway to Localisation Impact: Laying the Foundations: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/a-pathway-to-localisation-impact-laying-the-foundations/ Humanitarian Advisory Group | Power, People and Local Leadership research: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/humanitarian-horizons/people-power-and-local-leadership/

    16 min
  3. Season 3: Episode 4 - Measuring what matters

    10/24/2024

    Season 3: Episode 4 - Measuring what matters

    The humanitarian sector has made significant strides to support more localised action with various frameworks and tools, but there’s still a gap in understanding how these approaches impact affected communities. Over the past three years, the Humanitarian Advisory Group has been exploring ways to measure the impact of localisation at the community level. A Pathway to Localisation Impact: Laying the Foundations, introduced a model to support humanitarian actors to better define and understand the impact of their localisation practices on crisis-affected populations. This model was tested with organisations in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. In this episode of I Think You’re On Mute, host Beth Eggleston talks to Aaftab Ullah and Zaki Ullah, members of the partnering research team that tested the model in Pakistan. Podcast host and guests: Host: Beth Eggleston Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group Guests: Aaftab Ullah Manager M&E, GLOW Consultants Zaki Ullah CEO, GLOW Consultants This episode features the following audio: Locally-led humanitarian aid: Peter Walker at TEDxLakeGeneva https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=vCGjRIVdOpc Podcast research and links: Humanitarian Advisory Group | A Pathway to Localisation Impact: Laying the Foundations https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/a-pathway-to-localisation-impact-laying-the-foundations/ Humanitarian Advisory Group | The Beginning of the Road: A practical approach to defining and measuring localisation impact for communities https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/the-beginning-of-the-road-a-practical-approach-to-defining-and-measuring-localisation-impact-for-communities/ Humanitarian Advisory Group | Crossing The Bridge: A Practical Guide to Support Good Intermediary Practice https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/crossing-the-bridge-a-practical-guide-to-support-good-intermediary-practice/ Humanitarian Advisory Group | Bridging the Intention to Action Gap: The Future Role of Intermediaries in Supporting Locally Led Humanitarian Action https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/bridging-the-intention-to-action-gap/

    15 min
  4. Season 3: Episode - 1 Protection through early action

    10/17/2024

    Season 3: Episode - 1 Protection through early action

    By institutionalising anticipatory action within social protection systems, preparedness becomes a regular part of disaster risk management rather than an ad hoc or reactive measure. In this episode of I Think You’re On Mute, your host Beth Eggleston looks at how anticipatory action can tap into existing social protection systems to respond to potential crises swiftly and efficiently, while protecting the most vulnerable groups, exploring a pilot by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the Philippines with guests Rhodora G. Alday and Ruth Georget. Full podcast transcript: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/podcast-i-think-youre-on-mute-protection-through-early-action/ Podcast host and guests: Host: Beth Eggleston Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group Guests: Director Rhodora G. Alday Department of Social Welfare and Development Speaks to anticipatory action and existing social protection systems in the Philippines. Ruth Georget Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Speaks anticipatory action interventions in the Philippines. This episode features the following audio: Anticipation Hub | Anticipatory action: five key policy asks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O1zb_Bg-7Y FAO: Building on Social Protection for Anticipatory Action and Response in Emergencies and Disasters (B-SPARED) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O1zb_Bg-7Y Podcast research and links: Humanitarian Advisory Group | On the Front Foot: Envisioning a model for anticipatory action in the Pacific - https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/on-the-front-foot-envisioning-a-model-for-anticipatory-action-in-the-pacific/ FAO | Adopting anticipatory action and shock responsive social protection to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience: Learning from the ASEAN region - https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/2035e8bc-0751-46f3-8e88-0c62990c951d

    18 min
  5. Season 3: Episode 2 - Anticipatory technology

    10/17/2024

    Season 3: Episode 2 - Anticipatory technology

    Anticipatory technology You've likely heard the buzz around artificial intelligence, or AI, and machine learning, but how exactly are these technologies shaping the future of disaster preparedness and response? In this episode of I Think You’re On Mute, your host Beth Eggleston explores the innovative technology being tested and employed to enable efficient and effective anticipatory action with guests Sandra Uwantege Hart and Vlad Cozma. Podcast host and guests: Host: Beth Eggleston Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group Guests: Vlad Cozma CashCap Regional Expert for Asia & Pacific at NORCAP – a part of the Norwegian Refugee Council Sandra Uwantege Hart Specialist in community inclusion and adoption of blockchain and DeFi applications in emerging markets. This episode features the following audio: WFP| Innovation Bites: Understanding Blockchain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taxjH2wxO1Y Podcast research and links: Anticipatory action and cash transfers for rapid-onset hazards: Practitioners’ note for field testing - https://reliefweb.int/report/world/anticipatory-action-and-cash-transfers-rapid-onset-hazards-practitioners-note-field-testing On the Front Foot: Envisioning a Model for Anticipatory Action in the Pacific - https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/on-the-front-foot-envisioning-a-model-for-anticipatory-action-in-the-pacific/ Full transcript: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/podcast-i-think-youre-on-mute-anticipatory-technology/

    26 min

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I Think You're On Mute is showcasing the people and stories of Humanitarian Horizons, an initiative of the Humanitarian Advisory Group.