ATHA Podcast

Each year on August 19th, the international community observes World Humanitarian Day, marking the occasion of the bombing of the UN headquarters in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq in 2003 in which 22 staff members and visitors were killed. As we commemorate the lives lost in the pursuit of humanitarian action around the globe, and the continued risks to aid workers in the field, what have we learned since 2003? In this episode, ATHA speaks with Claude Bruderlein, Strategic Advisor to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross and a former member of the Independent Panel appointed by the UN Secretary-General to investigate the Baghdad bombing.

In this episode, ATHA's Anaïde Nahikian speaks with Melissa Fleming, Chief of Communications and Spokesperson for the High Commissioner, at UNHCR, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. They discuss the priorities for UNHCR in addressing the key drivers of vulnerability for displaced populations, and the generational consequences of protracted refugee crises -- looking particularly at the conflict in Syria and the Mediterranean migration crisis.

In this episode, ATHA's Anaïde Nahikian speaks with Louise Bloom, Research Officer at the Humanitarian Innovation Project at the University of Oxford, and Professor Alexander Betts, Director of the Refugee Studies Centre, also at the University of Oxford. They discuss the processes of refugee innovation and the opportunities and impediments in developing “bottom up innovations”. They also explore lessons that can be drawn from specific refugee contexts, and how the current humanitarian system be re-imagined to enable and support innovation.

In light of the annual World Humanitarian Day on August 19th, the Harvard University Advanced Training Program on Humanitarian Action (ATHA) is launching a month-long Innovation Series. This is a series of short podcast discussions with professionals and experts on areas of innovative thinking and development in the humanitarian sector. In part one of the series: Raquel Vazquez Llorente, Researcher at the European Interagency Security Forum (EISF)

How does the law currently protect humanitarian professionals in insecure settings, and what gaps exist with regard to these legal protections? And what are the consequences of protection disparities between humanitarian professionals, particularly national or local staff? The answers to these questions and more in this Humanitarian Assistance Podcast. Expert commentators: Benjamin Charlier, Operations Advisor, Health Care in Danger Project, International Committee of the Red Cross; Pauline Chetcuti, Humanitarian Advocacy Manager, Action Contre la Faim; Michael Neuman, Director of Studies, MSF-Crash; Marco Sassoli, Director of the Department of Public International Law and International Organization, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Humanitarian actors can find themselves caught between the need to respect humanitarian principles, and the necessity of striking deals in order to fulfill organizational mandates or operational imperatives. This podcasts examines why. Expert commentators: Claude Bruderlein, Strategic Advisor to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross; Rasmus Egendal, Country Director, World Food Program, Jordan; Alain Lempereur, Director of the Graduate Program in Coexistence and Conflict at The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University; Lucio Melandri, Humanitarian Affairs Adviser, UNICEF Jordan

A global panel of experts expores the impact of the ongoing peace process on key humanitarian issues, including conflict-induced displacement and child protection. Expert commentators: Victor de Currea-Lugo, consultant in peace and conflict and Journalist, El Espectador; Rafael A. Prieto-Sanjuán, Professor, Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá) and Visiting Scholar, University of Oxford; Gerard Gomez, Head of Office of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Colombia; Christian Visnes, Country Director, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Colombia; Frederick Spielberg, Specialist in Child Protection and Humanitarian Action, UNICEF Colombia.

Our expert panel discusses how agencies are responding to urgent needs in Nepal, the challenges and strategies of coordination, and priorities to consider in medium- to long-term recovery. Expert Commentators: Dr. Michael VanRooyen, Director, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI); Dr. Stephanie Kayden, Director, Humanitarian Studies Initiative, HHI; Dr. Gregg Greenough, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Harvard School of Public Health; Dr. Vincenzo Bolletino, Director, Resilient Communities Program/Research Associate, HHI; Dr. Phuong Pham, Director, Program on Evaluation and Implementation Science, HHI.

An exploration of the role that MRF missions play in civilian protection. Expert Commentators: Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; Dan Fahey, Visiting Scholar, University of California, Berkeley and Former Coordinator, UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Theo Boutruche, Legal Adviser to the MENA Programme of the International Commission of Jurists and Former IHL and Human Rights Expert of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia; Cynthia Petrigh, Expert on human rights, peace and security and Founder, Beyond Peace

An exploration of the policy and operational challenges associated with civil-military engagement. Expert Commentators: Brigadier Ishtiaq Ahmed, Member Operations, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Pakistan; Mohammad Fayyazi, Humanitarian Policy Advisor, UNICEF; Chris Hardaway, independent consultant, rule of law and development; George Khoury, Head of Office, OCHA Pakistan; Michael Marx, Senior Civil-Military Coordination Advisor, OCHA; Al Shimkus, Associate Professor of National Security, US Naval War College

Through conversations with experts and practitioners, this podcast will explore the role of the private sector in humanitarian response, and how collaboration with the private sector can enhance humanitarian protection. Expert Commentators: Jim Drummond, Independent consultant, Humanitarian Futures Programme, King’s College London; David Stanton, Director General, TradeMark East Africa, Kenya; Allan Waititu, Director, Special Projects, Equity Bank Ltd., Kenya; Steven Zyck, Research Fellow, Humanitarian Policy Group, Overseas Development Institute (ODI)

In this episode, ATHA's Anaide Nahikian talks with Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International. They discuss the design and implemention of gender-responsive climate change policies, strategies, and programs, as well as the relationship between humanitarian actors and the private sector.

Through conversations with experts and practitioners, this podcast will explore the gendered nature of conflict and the implications for humanitarian protection and response. Expert Commentators: Walter Kaelin, Envoy of the Chairmanship of the Nansen Initiative; Roger Zetter, Professor Emeritus in Refugee Studies at the University of Oxford; José Riera, Special Adviser to the Director, Division of International Protection at UNHCR; and Vincent Martin, Head of the FAO Subregional Hub for Resilience, Emergency and Rehabilitation in West Africa and the Sahel

Through conversations with experts and practitioners, this podcast will explore the gendered nature of conflict and the implications for humanitarian protection and response. Expert Commentators: Jocelyn Kelly, Director, Women in War Program, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative; Dyan Mazurana, Research Director for Gender, Youth, and Community, Feinstein International Center, and Associate Research Professor, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University; Gary Barker, International Director, Promundo, and Co-Chair, MenEngage Alliance; Blerta Aliko, Humanitarian and Gender Advisor, UN Women; Danielle Spencer, Senior Humanitarian Advisor for Gender and Protection, CARE International; Luisa Cremonese, Regional Coordinator for Southern Colombia, UNDP.

In this episode, we examine the main security challenges and threats facing humanitarian workers, and we ask a panel of experts how these threats affect the delivery of humanitarian aid. Expert Commentators: Phil Candy, Security Manager, RedR UK; Adele Harmer, Partner, Humanitarian Outcomes; Sean Healy, Humanitarian Adviser, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), UK; Pascal Porchet, Deputy Head of the ICRC Delegation, Iraq; Lisa Reilly, Executive Coordinator, European Interagency Security Forum (EISF)