ATHA Podcast

How can humanitarian actors enhance the adaptability and impact of the existing humanitarian protection strategies for migrants? Our panel of experts weight in. We also look specifically at the host country of Lebanon, and the specific rehabilitation needs and challenges of its humanitarian response. Expert commentators: Claude Bruderlein, Strategic Advisor to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross; Niamh Murnaghan, Country Director, Norwegian Refugee Council, Lebanon; Dr. Melissa Phillips, Project Manager, Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat, Ethiopia; Kathrine Starup, Global Protection and Policy Advisor, Danish Refugee Council

In this episode, a group of experts examines the challenges of humanitarian protection in urban environments. We also take a closer look at the specific case of urban violence in Brazil. Expert coommentators: Elena Lucchi, International Consultant on humanitarian affairs and advocacy; Robert Muggah, Research Director and Program Coordinator for Citizen Security, Igarapé Institute; David Sanderson, Director of the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP), Oxford Brookes University; Jim Shyne, Co-Team Leader, Nigeria Conflict Assessment, Democracy International and USAID

ATHA’s Anaide Nahikian recently sat down with Dr. Ronak Patel, founder and director of the Urbanization and Crises Program at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. Their discussion centers on Dr. Patel’s research into the challenges for humanitarian intervention presented by rapid urbanization, and the protection of vulnerable populations in urban settings.

Originally broadcast on 24 July, 2014, this webcast facilitates a re-examination of the current humanitarian response structure and discusses what opportunities exist to redefine the relationship between international and national organizations.Expert commentators: François Audet, Directeur, Observatoire canadien sur les crises et l'action humanitaire; Christina Schmalenbach, Humanitarian Capacity Development Coordinator Humanitarian Department Oxfam, Great Britain; Jeffrey Klenk, Organizational and Leadership Development Consultant Humanitarian Agencies; Mike Penrose, Directeur Général/Chief Executive Officer, Action Contre La Faim. For more podcasts, as well as videos, resources, and e-learning activities, visit the atha.se

Originally broadcast on 19 June, 2014, this webcast explores the role of faith-based humanitarian organizations and the operational challenges faced by both faith-based and secular humanitarian organizations in their work. Expert commentators: Alastair Ager, Director, Doctorate of Public Health in Leadership in Global Health and Humanitarian Systems, Columbia University; Atef Dalgamouni, Chief of Mission in Jordan, Qatar Red Crescent; Jason Knapp, Humanitarian and Protection Advisor, Church World Service. For more podcasts, as well as videos, resources, and e-learning activities, visit the atha.se

In this episode, ATHA's own Anaide Nahikian interviews Francois Audet, a Professor at the School of Management, ESG-UQAM and Director of the Canadian Research Institute of Humanitarian and Aid. The topic: Mr. Audet's research into "humanitarian bureaucracies," and the ramifications for humanitarian organizations around the world. For more podcasts, as well as videos, resources, and e-learning activities, visit the http://atha.se

Originally broadcast on May 15, 2014, this webcast explores some of the most pressing questions related to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the ever-growing population of Syrian refugees. Expert commentators include: Mr. Tarak Bach Baouab, Humanitarian Affairs Adviser, MSF; Dr. Sarah Tobin, Carnegie Visiting Scholar and Assistant Director, Boston Consortium for Arab Region Studies; Ms. Alexandra Chen, child trauma specialist working with humanitarian organizations in Jordan; Ms. Michelle Sanson, UN World Food Programme Regional Protection Team. For more podcasts, as well as videos, resources, and e-learning activities, visit the http://atha.se

In this episode, we’re taking you to Swissnex Boston for a special panel discussion on challenges to health delivery in armed conflict. The discussion features a fantastic panel of experts, including: Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC; Professor Michael VanRooyen, Director of HHI; and Susannah Sirkin, Deputy Director of Physicians for Human Rights. The discussion is moderated by Professor Jennifer Leaning, Director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at HSPH. For more podcasts, as well as videos, resources, and e-learning activities, visit the http://atha.se

This webcast, produced in partnership with the International Review of the Red Cross and originally broadcast on April 24, 2014, explores contemporary technological developments and the resulting challenges that emerge for humanitarian protection. Commentators include : Mr. Claude Bruderlein, Ms. Bonnie Docherty, Professor Brian Rappert, Professor Noel Sharkey, Professor Michael Lewis, and Dr. Peter Singer. For more podcasts, as well as videos, resources, and e-learning activities, visit the http://atha.se

In this episode, our own Rob Grace interviews Dr. Peter Singer, Director of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence and a Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Program at the Brookings Institution. The topic: New Warfare Technologies and New Protection Challenges. Dr. Singer describes some of the new technologies that might be transforming the battlefields of tomorrow, and explores the potential impact these technologies might have on humanitarian action. This episode was produced by Anaide Nahikian and Andrew Locke. For more podcasts, as well as videos, resources, and e-learning activities, visit the atha.se

In this webcast, originally broadcast on April 25, 2013, our expert panel delves into several questions that must be dealt with as humanitarian actors move forward with interventions in violent cities. Panelists include: Dr. Gustavo Fernandez, Medecins Sans Frontiers; Dr. Ronak Patel, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative; and Vicente Raimundo, European Community Humanitarian Office.

In this webcast, originally broadcast on March 27, 2013, our expert panel asks the tough questions, including: Do humanitarian organizations have a role to play in influencing how a crisis plays out? What options do humanitarian actors have when they are being instrumentalised for policies of abuse? Expert panelists include: Sir John Holmes, Director, The Ditchley Foundation; Louise Aubin, Deputy Director, UNHCR Division of International Protection; and Roger Nash, Independent Consultant.

In this webcast, originally broadcast on February 14, 2013, our panel of experts explores how international groups working in disaster risk reduction can engage with local communities and build resilience -- despite weak civil societies or governments reluctant to invest in DRR. Panelists Included: Emmanuel Luna, University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD); Ali Ardalan, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI); Alejandro López Carresi, Center for Disaster and Emergency Management (CEDEM)

In this webcast, originally broadcast on January 31, 2013, our panel of experts takes a close look at how the needs of a given population during a time of crises are calculated, how this information might be standardized, and how the gathered information might be better shared. Panelists Included: Lars Peter Nissen, Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS); Richard Garfield, Columbia University; and Johan Von Schreeb, Karolinska Institutet.

In this webcast, originally broadcast on November 15, 2012, our panel of experts examined the capacity of the current funding system to meet humanitarian needs, the potential of new donor groups to address the challenges to the current funding system, and the potential difficulties with encouraging funding from outside the OECD DAC groups. Panelists included: Tasneem Mowjee (Policy2Practice), Robert Smith (CAP OCHA), and Andrea Binder (Global Public Policy Institute).