DevelopmentAid Dialogues

Hisham Allam
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Each episode features insightful conversations with experts and practitioners, offering valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping our world. DevelopmentAid is a platform where we share knowledge and fostering collaboration within the development community. We believe that by sparking meaningful conversations, we can contribute to finding innovative solutions for a more just and sustainable future. 

  1. Beyond the Flames and the Heatwaves: Robin Degron on Europe and the Mediterranean Basin’s Climate Crisis

    JUL 30

    Beyond the Flames and the Heatwaves: Robin Degron on Europe and the Mediterranean Basin’s Climate Crisis

    Devastating wildfires and intense heatwaves are sweeping across continents—from Indonesia’s burning rainforests and Canada’s parched woodlands to Latin America and, of course, Europe’s Mediterranean coasts. The scale and frequency of these disasters are reminders that climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a global emergency demanding action at every level.  In this episode of DevelopmentAid Dialogues podcast, host Hisham Allam speaks with Robin Degron, Director of Plan Bleu (UN Environment), about the changing climate landscape in the Mediterranean—and what its communities, economies, and ecology can teach the world about adaptation and resilience.  Drawing on over thirty years of experience in environmental governance and sustainable development, Degron describes a “multi-seasonal climate crisis.” “Every spring and summer now bring higher risks of drought and wildfire,” he explains, “while autumn and winter see increasingly fierce floods and storms.” It’s a year-round test for governments and people—and the stakes are growing.  Tourism, a pillar of many Mediterranean economies, faces new vulnerabilities. “The classic summer beach experience is shifting,” Degron notes. As extreme heat and fire risks grow, countries must extend tourist seasons, move activities inland, and highlight local heritage to buffer economic shocks and preserve jobs.  But it is not just business at risk. Health systems are under pressure from rising heat-related illness, and communities are coping with evacuations, trauma, and altered daily life. Nature is also showing strain: Mediterranean forests face declining iconic tree species, and vital marine plants suffer in warming waters. Yet, with the right management—such as planting hardier trees and reimagining urban green spaces—there are signs of adaptation.  Plan Bleu’s work goes further than research, focusing on building regional policy frameworks, piloting wildfire prevention barriers, and fostering cooperation across borders. According to Degron, local initiatives and innovative land management can lower risks, but only with more investment and shared commitment.  Voluntary firefighting teams, he emphasizes, are crucial on the front lines—but must be strengthened with professional training and resources to match the evolving threat.  As the episode closes, Degron offers a measured optimism: “Building climate resilience and transforming our relationship with the land is a century-long mission. But through smart policies, science, and collaboration, there’s hope for recovery and renewal.”  Listen to the full episode with Robin Degron on DevelopmentAid Dialogues.  Note: Episode 15 closes the second season of DevelopmentAid Dialogues – your gateway to insightful conversations on key humanitarian and aid topics with distinguished minds from around the world.  Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred platform, and don't miss season three, launching in September 2025.  The podcast is sponsored by DevelopmentAid. Procurement notices, funding and grants to opportunities, lists of potential partners, insights into market trends, databases of development professionals, webinars, latest news, and much more. Stay informed and connected. Subscribe and Stay Connected

    36 min
  2. Can One Crisis Solve Another? Debt-for-Nature Swaps with Sawsan Bou Fakhreddine

    JUL 23

    Can One Crisis Solve Another? Debt-for-Nature Swaps with Sawsan Bou Fakhreddine

    As mounting debt strangles public services and climate disasters escalate, a provocative idea is gaining ground: what if countries could trade their debt burdens for environmental action? In this episode of DevelopmentAid Dialogues podcast, host Hisham Allam speaks with Sawsan Bou Fakhreddine, Director General of the Association for Forests, Development and Conservation (AFDC), about debt-for-nature swaps—a mechanism that promises relief for both treasuries and threatened ecosystems. From Lebanon’s crumbling forests to the global search for sustainable finance, Bou Fakhreddine brings rare on-the-ground insight into a tool many see as underused, poorly understood, and urgently needed.  At their core, these swaps let heavily indebted countries reduce or restructure their debt in exchange for serious environmental commitments. The potential is huge—but so are the blind spots. “The level or the degree of degradation of land and ecosystems and natural resources is way faster than recovery,” Bou Fakhreddine warned. “What we lose in one day, for instance in wildfire, would need like a decade or more to be restored—if we are able to restore it.”  Bou Fakhreddine, who also serves as a senior advisor to Lebanon’s Minister of Agriculture, has worked on disaster risk and ecosystem governance for over two decades. She says the concept is promising—but few understand it. “There’s misunderstanding about it at all levels,” she said. “At the government level, they don't see it as an opportunity.”  Why? “Decision-makers... they don't see it in figures,” she explained. “If we manage to valorize the ecosystems—put a dollar value on land degradation... then they would start trying to understand this kind of concept.”  But knowledge gaps aren’t the only barrier. “Poor governance is the first threat,” she said. “We have a lot of laws... but we don’t have the tools, the good governance, to be able to implement those strategies.” Even successful restoration plans often fall apart, she added, “because we are in a crisis mode for the last 10 years.”  Still, Bou Fakhreddine insists real-world models can work—if built from the ground up. “Never bring to the community a ready-made project,” she said. “Consult, consult and consult. Because they are the owner of the land... they live there, they benefit from the service of the ecosystem.”  AFDC has implemented wildfire risk reduction plans that put communities in charge of their own protection. “Where we are able to succeed is where we build trust with the local community,” she explained. “We never bring anything by force.”  And when trust is lacking? “We didn’t succeed,” she said plainly. “It’s very easy to sabotage a natural ecosystem.”  Listen to the full episode with Sawsan Bou Fakhreddine on DevelopmentAid Dialogues. Stay informed. Stay engaged.  The podcast is sponsored by DevelopmentAid. Procurement notices, funding and grants to opportunities, lists of potential partners, insights into market trends, databases of development professionals, webinars, latest news, and much more. Stay informed and connected. Subscribe and Stay Connected

    32 min
  3. The Aid Localization Mirage: Dr. Duncan Green on Why Shifting Power Means Rethinking Aid

    JUL 9

    The Aid Localization Mirage: Dr. Duncan Green on Why Shifting Power Means Rethinking Aid

    “Localization” has become one of the most repeated terms in international development—but is it a genuine shift, or just a new label for old practices? In this episode of DevelopmentAid Dialogues podcast, host Hisham Allam speaks with Dr. Duncan Green, Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics and longtime Oxfam strategist, about why shifting power in aid is harder—and more essential—than most are willing to admit. “Localization means different things to different people,” Green began. “Some define it as simply channeling more funds to local organizations. But that alone won’t fix the system unless we also rethink how decisions are made, how impact is measured, and who gets to define what success looks like.” Speaking from years of close collaboration with Global South actors and reform initiatives, Green warned that while localization is often framed as empowering, it can easily become a tick-box exercise. “True power isn’t about shifting tasks, it’s about shifting the authority to decide—and that’s rarely on the table,” he said. He pointed to the deep institutional barriers that have stalled progress. “Aid agencies are still judged by how much money they move. Their internal incentives don’t reward giving power away,” he explained. “And donors still demand rigid plans and fast results, even when long-term change—like shifting harmful social norms—requires patience, trust, and deep context.” Green also urged the sector to stop romanticizing the word “community.” “Power exists inside communities too,” he cautioned. “Just because an organization is local doesn’t mean it’s accountable, inclusive, or equitable.” Amid growing aid cuts and political fragmentation, Green believes the landscape is shifting by necessity. “We may be witnessing a tsunami—not a tide—that washes away old assumptions,” he noted. “What rises from the wreckage might be more authentic, messier, and less funded—but also less colonial.” He sees promise in alternatives, from pooled funds managed by local actors to locally driven philanthropy and religious giving like zakat, which mobilizes trillions globally. But he’s clear-eyed: “No money is free of strings. The key is understanding which strings we can live with—and who gets to tie them.” Green’s message for international NGOs is equally blunt: “Stop pretending to build local capacity while preserving your own dominance. Ask instead: what would it take to get out of the way?” Looking ahead, he doesn’t believe localization will emerge cleanly. “It won’t be one big shift,” he said. “It’ll be a thousand messy experiments. Some will fail. Some will stick. But the era of pretending power can be shared without being surrendered—that’s over.” Listen to the full episode with Duncan Green on DevelopmentAid Dialogues. Stay informed. Stay engaged. The podcast is sponsored by DevelopmentAid. Procurement notices, funding and grants to opportunities, lists of potential partners, insights into market trends, databases of development professionals, webinars, latest news, and much more. Stay informed and connected. Subscribe and Stay Connected

    39 min
  4. Abandonment at the Breaking Point: Confronting Aid Cuts with Stephen Cornish

    JUN 25

    Abandonment at the Breaking Point: Confronting Aid Cuts with Stephen Cornish

    Abandonment at the Breaking Point: Confronting the Aid Cuts with Stephen Cornish   By: DevelopmentAid Dialogues  In this episode of DevelopmentAid Dialogues podcast, host Hisham Allam speaks with Stephen Cornish, General Director of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Switzerland, about the mounting global humanitarian crises—from famine zones in Sudan to the collapse of water systems in Chad—and the devastating impact of frozen aid funding.  Cornish, who has spent decades leading humanitarian operations in some of the world’s most volatile regions, did not mince words. “In Sudan we have the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis,” he said. “And it’s also probably one of the most underreported.”  Cornish detailed the grim situation across the region. “One-third of the population has been displaced—many, several times. According to WHO, 70% of health facilities in conflict areas are non-functional or destroyed,” he noted. “In Chad, over 700,000 people fled Darfur. Many were executed or faced sexual violence. They’re now just one epidemic away from a malnutrition and sanitation disaster.”  The consequences are measurable and deadly. MSF screening in North Darfur revealed that “35.5% of children were acutely malnourished,” Cornish confirmed. “These are not just emergency stats. They signal total system failure.”  But as needs skyrocket, donor funding is plummeting. Major cuts from USAID and European governments have left frontline organizations scrambling. “We are living through a moment of record need, and yet the humanitarian system is under shock,” Cornish warned. “One organisation had half its programming for Darfur cut from one day to the next.”  This funding retreat forces impossible choices. “We have to make global triage decisions,” Cornish explained. “Sometimes we won’t build a hospital to redirect funds to life-saving work elsewhere. That means some people will go without assistance so others can survive.”  Cornish also addressed the politicization of aid, particularly in conflict zones. “We are not neutral in the face of suffering,” he stressed. “If parties to a conflict are violating international humanitarian law—attacking civilians, blocking aid—we will speak out.”  He recalled the 2013 chemical attack in Ghouta, Syria, when MSF-supported clinics treated over 6,000 patients within hours. “One of our volunteers died giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. We had to speak out. The world needed to know.”  Asked whether neutrality can survive the era of weaponized narratives and social media, Cornish was reflective. “To be seen to take sides is very dangerous for access,” he said. “But we will not be silent in the face of atrocities. That would make a mockery of humanitarianism.”  Still, hope persists. “Recently in South Sudan, Ethiopian refugees cared for Sudanese displaced by war,” Cornish shared. “That’s the essence of humanity. People forced to flee one war are now showing up for others.”  Listen to the full episode on DevelopmentAid Dialogues.  The podcast is sponsored by DevelopmentAid. Procurement notices, funding and grants to opportunities, lists of potential partners, insights into market trends, databases of development professionals, webinars, latest news, and much more. Stay informed and connected. Subscribe and Stay Connected

    34 min
  5. Aid cuts: Gamble on development or risky retreat? Insights from Professor Stefan Dercon

    JUN 11

    Aid cuts: Gamble on development or risky retreat? Insights from Professor Stefan Dercon

    In this 26th episode of DevelopmentAid Dialogues podcast, host Hisham Allam interviews Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford and author of Gambling on Development, about the global consequences of recent aid cuts by major donor countries, particularly the United States. As foreign aid budgets shrink and populist politics gain traction, the discussion delved into the complex motivations driving these cuts and their far-reaching consequences for vulnerable communities.  Professor Dercon, who has advised multiple governments and development agencies, stressed that the changes underway go far beyond short-term budget adjustments. “This is not just about saving money,” he said. “It’s a sign of weakness. A sign that countries are no longer confident about their place in the world.”  According to Dercon, the decision to scale back aid budgets reflects a shift in political narratives across Western nations. With rising domestic pressures, leaders are choosing retreat over engagement. “Cutting foreign aid may win headlines,” he warned, “but it damages credibility, influence, and ultimately, security.”  Although certain opponents, like Elon Musk, have asserted that foreign aid is corrupt or ineffectual, Dercon argued that this viewpoint misses the subtleties. He cited life-saving interventions in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh to support his claim that "there is plenty of aid that works." However, he admitted that aid has frequently failed to create sustainable systems in fragile nations like the DRC or South Sudan. "It's insufficient to save lives," he continued. "Aid must assist nations in becoming self-sufficient."  Dercon called for more selective engagement, arguing that aid should be directed where local leadership shows real commitment to progress. “You can’t fix countries from the outside,” he said. “You need local forces of change. Without them, aid becomes a crutch rather than a catalyst.”  The episode also tackled the immediate fallout. Programs like PEPFAR, which supplies antiretroviral medication across Africa, now face disruption. “We’ll see it in the data—life expectancy will drop. Children will go unvaccinated. Services are collapsing in real time,” Dercon said.  Beyond the humanitarian crisis, there are geopolitical consequences. As Western aid recedes, other powers are stepping in. “China didn’t always make wise choices with its Belt and Road initiative,” Dercon noted, “but at least they showed up. The West risks abandoning the field altogether.”  Asked what comes next, Dercon struck a cautiously optimistic tone. “Aid, as we knew it, is gone,” he said. “But that gives us a chance to build something better—leaner, smarter, and more resilient. The goal must be to make ourselves dispensable, not indispensable.”  Listen to the full episode on DevelopmentAid Dialogues. Stay informed. Stay engaged.  The podcast is sponsored by DevelopmentAid. Procurement notices, funding and grants to opportunities, lists of potential partners, insights into market trends, databases of development professionals, webinars, latest news, and much more. Stay informed and connected. Subscribe and Stay Connected

    40 min
  6. The War on Global Health | Diagnosing the Impact of Aid Cuts with Lisa Hilmi

    MAY 28

    The War on Global Health | Diagnosing the Impact of Aid Cuts with Lisa Hilmi

    As foreign aid cuts ripple across donor nations, global health systems are beginning to fracture. In the 25th episode of the DevelopmentAid Dialogues podcast, host Hisham Allam sat down with Lisa M. Hilmi, Executive Director of CORE Group, to discuss the very real and immediate consequences of this funding vacuum. Hilmi, a seasoned public health leader, has spent decades working across Africa, South Asia, and beyond, shaping frontline programs in partnership with governments and grassroots networks.  Hilmi swiftly refuted the notion that recent aid reductions have had no human cost. “Children have tragically died from malnutrition due to the closure of feeding centers,” she said, adding that community health workers, many of whom are women and primary caregivers, are facing desperate circumstances: “Some are unable to afford school fees for their children or access life-saving medications for themselves. Several have even lost their lives to suicide after losing their jobs.”  She said that the cuts were not just one-time budget decisions, but a planned breakdown of important infrastructure. "We're not getting the leadership or money we need from donor governments."  The cuts came quickly and without warning; this was a planned attack on global health and humanitarian aid. “I think right now we're seeing a targeted war upon global health in the way that these cuts were implemented.”, added Hilmi.  The ripple effects, she warned, are already apparent. “Polio eradication efforts have been suspended in some areas due to halted surveillance and vaccination campaigns,” Hilmi said. On malaria, she noted, “We’ve had reports from health workers and governments about shortages of diagnostic kits, insecticide-treated nets, and reduced educational outreach.”  Hilmi pointed out that while the United States led the wave of withdrawals, others followed closely. “It’s not just the U.S.—the UK, France, and Germany have also reduced their commitments,” she said. While countries like Canada and Saudi Arabia have stepped up, she emphasized that these efforts are not yet sufficient to compensate for the scale of the cuts.  On zoonotic diseases, the consequences are deeply concerning. “In the Horn of Africa alone, we anticipate a 20% to 25%-rise in anthrax cases among animals and humans, with up to 400 human deaths annually. Rabies infections could rise by as much as 40%, potentially causing around 2,000 additional deaths,” she said.  When asked whether institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO) could provide support in the face of donor retrenchment, Hilmi was direct: “The WHO itself is struggling. They're laying off staff and scaling back programs. The very institutions that countries might rely on in a crisis are being gutted.”  Despite the bleak assessment, Hilmi concluded with cautious optimism. “There are committed individuals and resilient communities ready to act. I believe we will find new ways forward—through solidarity, innovation, and accountability.”  For the full conversation with Lisa M. Hilmi, listen to the latest episode of DevelopmentAid Dialogues podcast. Follow us for more grounded, urgent conversations on the future of development cooperation. The podcast is sponsored by DevelopmentAid. Procurement notices, funding and grants to opportunities, lists of potential partners, insights into market trends, databases of development professionals, webinars, latest news, and much more. Stay informed and connected. Subscribe and Stay Connected

    34 min
  7. Unveiling the aid cuts: Between chaos and power shifts | Rethinking the aid model with Katri Bertram

    MAY 14

    Unveiling the aid cuts: Between chaos and power shifts | Rethinking the aid model with Katri Bertram

    As foreign aid budgets shrink across Western nations, the global development sector is confronting a moment of reckoning. In this episode of DevelopmentAid Dialogues, host Hisham Allam speaks with Katri Bertram—a global health and development expert with two decades of experience spanning international organizations, NGOs, and government institutions. She is currently the International Director of Impact and Advocacy at Light for the World, focusing on disability inclusion and eye health. Her experience at the World Bank, Save the Children, and the German Federal Ministry of Health, informs the critical analysis she shares in this interview, examining how these historic aid cuts are reshaping global development—and what that means for accountability, power, and the future of international cooperation.  Drawing on her experience, Bertram makes one thing clear: this is not just a funding crisis—it’s a systemic shift. “We’re not talking about minor adjustments,” she said. “These are real cuts — billions of dollars. Entire aid programs are being shut down. This is a cliff, not a dip.”  The warning signs, Bertram noted, have been building for years, especially since 2015 when anti-migration politics began dominating the discourse in many European countries. “What started as rhetoric about refugees being a threat has seeped into how politicians view aid recipients,” she said. “The sector didn’t pay enough attention. Now the political narratives have overtaken the development agenda.”  These shifts aren’t just ideological—they’re having tangible consequences. In health, where Bertram has focused much of her career, the data is devastating. “Recent figures show people die every day from HIV/AIDS due to U.S. aid cuts. Humanitarian services are reporting deaths as well. This isn’t theoretical. This is happening now.”  Beyond the loss of life, she sees the chaos exposing a deeper dependency problem. “One donor pulling out should not collapse an entire health system. But it does. That tells you something’s fundamentally broken.”  Bertram argues this moment could be a turning point—but only if the aid model is reimagined with intention. “This isn’t the power shift we wanted,” she said. “We’ve talked for years about localization, about shifting leadership and resources to local communities. But what we’re seeing now isn’t a transfer of power. It’s abandonment.”  She believes the development community must confront this crisis honestly. “We can’t just keep trying to patch up the old system. It’s over. Budgets aren’t coming back. We need to build something more resilient—and rooted in local ownership from the start.”  That means asking difficult questions about the sector’s own structures. “We’ve become too focused on growth. But what if our impact was measured not by how big we get, but by how well local systems can function without us?” The podcast is sponsored by DevelopmentAid. Procurement notices, funding and grants to opportunities, lists of potential partners, insights into market trends, databases of development professionals, webinars, latest news, and much more. Stay informed and connected. Subscribe and Stay Connected

    31 min
  8. Water shortage isn't the problem - we are. Navigating the water crisis with David Shackleton.

    MAY 1

    Water shortage isn't the problem - we are. Navigating the water crisis with David Shackleton.

    In this episode of DevelopmentAid Dialogues, host Hisham Allam speaks with David Shackleton, CEO of SIS.BIO, about a problem that rarely makes headlines but affects millions every day: water that’s too polluted to use. Shackleton makes a clear distinction—this isn’t a crisis of not having enough water but of failing to protect what we already have. Through SIS.BIO, he’s leading efforts to bring damaged ecosystems in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs back to life so they become renewable and can once again sustain communities and local economies.  "This isn't about running out of water," Shackleton said. "It's about the water we have being too contaminated to use."  He remembered how toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie caused the city of Toledo, Ohio, to shut down its drinking water supply in 2014. "The lake was full of water, and it used to be great, but it became inappropriate for use. The problem wasn't with the amount of water.”  That core idea drives the work being done at SIS.BIO. Rather than simply removing contaminants, the company is focused on helping nature do what it used to do—keep water clean through its own cycles. Using biotechnology, their approach aims to repair the underlying ecosystems that have broken down in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. “We’re trying to fix the system, not just treat the symptoms,” Shackleton said, underscoring the need for long-term solutions over short-term fixes.  Also listen: From Rainwater Tanks to Dignity: The Ripple Effect of Water Access Projects | A dialogue with Dr. Kerstin Danert SIS.BIO believes that the best way to work with nature is not overpowering it at all. Their work, based on natural enzymes, boosts oxygen levels and then brings back aquatic ecosystems, helping restore the self-cleaning ability of water bodies. "Instead of dumping chemicals or building gigantic treatment facilities," Shackleton said, "we help nature do what it used to do on its own."  This method has worked in a range of environments—from polluted lagoons in Zambia to deep lakes and rivers in North America. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a flexible model that uses biological principles to adapt to local conditions. Shackleton compared it to the way Africa skipped landline IT infrastructure and jumped straight to mobile networks: “We can leapfrog outdated water treatment infrastructure and build smarter systems tailored to today’s needs."  Still, he expressed concern about the lack of engagement from major aid agencies. "We often fall into a gap—too small for billion-dollar programs and too comprehensive for piecemeal NGO projects." The result, he warned, is a fragmented approach that fails to address the bigger picture.  He believes this has real-world consequences. "When water systems collapse, fishing stops, agriculture falters, and people get sick. Eventually, they abandon their home environment and migrate elsewhere. Then we spend ten times as much money dealing with increasing migration in donor countries." The podcast is sponsored by DevelopmentAid. Procurement notices, funding and grants to opportunities, lists of potential partners, insights into market trends, databases of development professionals, webinars, latest news, and much more. Stay informed and connected. Subscribe and Stay Connected

    41 min
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About

Each episode features insightful conversations with experts and practitioners, offering valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping our world. DevelopmentAid is a platform where we share knowledge and fostering collaboration within the development community. We believe that by sparking meaningful conversations, we can contribute to finding innovative solutions for a more just and sustainable future. 

Information

  • Creator
    Hisham Allam
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 DevelopmentAid Dialogues
  • Show Website
    DevelopmentAid Dialogues

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