Welcome to the Global Development Review Podcast. This is the first episode of our new series, "New Knowledge for Development Alternatives." We are developing this new series in collaboration with New Women Connectors.

New Women Connectors (NWC) is a social change movement that advocates for feminist ideals, and is led by migrant and refugee women who share common experiences and strengths. NWC work on transformative policy making in migration by breaking down the walls to exclusive policy spaces on all levels. NWC inform, convene and train policy makers and community leaders to create meaningful participation mechanisms that are inclusive, engaging and intersectional. NWC offers a global platform for bringing systematic change for a just society. Please check more details on NWC at https://www.newwomenconnectors.com

The aim of the 'New Knowledge for Development Alternatives' podcast series is to share knowledge and perspectives on issues related to women's rights, environmental concerns, and the rights and concerns of migrants and refugees.

Today, in this episode, we will discuss the topic of European Union elections and their impact on refugees and the migrant community in Europe and around the world.

In this episode, we have prominent experts who have been closely observing the outcomes of recent European Union elections and have been working on the issue of refugees and migration for many years.

Our first guest is Dr. Thomas Huddleston. Dr. Thomas is an international expert on migration, integration, and citizenship. He currently lectures at the University of Liege while also advising refugee students and volunteers working on refugee resettlement. He is widely recognized for his original indicator and data collection as well as his work on innovation in policy and practice. His 60+ publications and hundreds of speaking engagements have helped improve migration policies across Europe and beyond.

Our second guest is Reshad Jalali. Based in Belgium, Reshad works as a Senior Policy Officer at the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE). He is a member of the Expert Group on the Views of Migrants at the European Commission and serves on the advisory board of various civil society groups.

Along with Thomas and Reshad, I am joined by Anila Noor. Anila Noor is the Managing Director of New Women Connectors. She advises the European Union, World Trade Organization, United Nations, and many other advocacy and civil society groups across the world.

In this podcast, we discussed the following topics and questions:

1. How do you interpret the outcome of recent election results in the EU? Which political parties gained significant ground in the recent EU elections, and what are their stances on migration and refugee policies?
2. What are the main policy proposals from the newly elected representatives concerning migration and refugee issues?
3. How do the recent election results influence the EU's approach to border management and Frontex's (European Border and Coast Guard Agency) role?
4. What changes are expected in the funding and resources allocated to migration and refugee programs under the new EU leadership?
5. How have recent election results affected or will affect the EU's cooperation with non-EU countries on migration and refugee issues?
6. What are the expectations and demands of civil society and the refugee community, and what policy framework is required to bring about change?
7. How can migrants participate in a meaningful way in political processes, and what challenges do they face in such elections? Why is it important to advocate for political participation?
8. What is the way forward?

We hope you enjoy our discussion. Please do follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn

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In this episode, our guest Ramanie Kunanayagam, Chairperson of The World Bank Inspection Panel, had discussion with Jaffer Latief Najar, sharing her insights on on the issues of accountability of the World Bank funded development projects, the role of Inspection Panel and its 30 years of learning, and critical reflections to the way forward.

Ramanie Kunanayagam, a Sri Lankan-born Australian citizen, is current Chairperson of The World Bank Inspection Panel. She brings to the Panel three decades of experience across diverse geopolitical and multicultural environments in the private and public sectors. She has held leadership positions in sustainability in both the private sector (working for two FTSE 10 companies) and the nonprofit sector.Before joining the Panel, she was the Global Head for Social Performance and Human Rights for BG Group. She has been a member of the boards of two international non-profit development organizations—RESOLVE and the Institute of Human Rights and Business. Her appointment as a secondee to the World Bank very early in her career also gives her insight into and knowledge of the organization’s operations that complement the expertise she has developed working alongside civil society, multilaterals, bilaterals and communities affected by World Bank projects.

In this episode, Jaffer Latief Najar asks the following questions to Ramanie Kunanayagam:

1.What is the World Bank Inspection Panel. What is the purpose and goal of its establishment, and how and when it was established. Can you please share with us about the historical background of The World Bank Inspection Panel and the context behind its birth.

2.How the inspection panel engages with the cases of World Bank funded projects that seems to have damaging or negative impact on local communities and environment at the project sites. What is the procedure for selection of cases for inspection and accountability?

3.What is the methodology of Inspection Panel to check, inspect, examine, and enquire about the consequences of the World Bank Projects. Who are the people involved in the inspection process

4.Are the reports and recommendations of Inspection panel taken seriously by World Bank or is it just a tokenistic response for the sake of accountability. Can you please share how the findings, recommendations, and advice of Inspection penal shape and influence the overall funding and accountability policy of world bank and its global development projects?

5.I am wondering if it’s possible for you to please share one of the experiences of inspection panel about a case (in any country) where its recommendations have influenced the World Bank Policy

6.One important role of the Inspection Panel is sharing lessons learned from past investigation cases in order to inform future operations of the World Bank. Can you tell us about your most recent publication on lessons learned which, as I understand, focuses on the protection of livelihoods among project-affected people?

7.Scholars have concerned and underlined that climate change, gender injustices, displacement of local communities, loss of livelihood, forced migration, and dispossessions of Indigenous communities appeared to have been one of the negative outcomes of any development projects. Based on your experience as a chair, can you please share how Inspection Panel and World Bank policies deal with these concerns while funding a development project in any country.

8.This year, under your leadership as a chair, the Inspection Panel has completed 30 years of its existence and contributions. If I ask you about the critical reflections and learning of Inspection Panel from its past experiences and contributions, what would be those reflections and learnings.

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In this episode, our guest Dr Marco V. Sánchez had discussion with Jaffer Latief Najar, sharing his insights on Global Food Insecurity and Malnutrition.

Dr Marco V. Sánchez is Deputy-Director of Agrifood Economics at Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, where he directs flagship reports The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World and The State of Food and Agriculture.

Previously he was Senior Economist at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2006 –2017) and Economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (2004-2006). He has been consultant to UNDP, IFPRI and IADB (2000-2004) and has supported lecturing and research at the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University in the Netherlands (2000-2004), National University of Costa Rica (1995-1999), and Tilburg University in The Netherlands (1995-1996). He has published extensively and was lead editor of books for Bloomsbury (Financing Human Development in Africa, Asia and the Middle East) and Pelgrave/Macmillan (Public Policies for Human Development: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Latin America). His recent articles feature in World Development, Journal of Environment and Development and Food Policy.

Dr Marco talks about the current situation of global food security and malnutrition, key drivers of food security and malnutrition, and which regions, nations, and communities are exposed to it or potentially vulnerable to it, across the world. He also share his insights on role of women in tackling food security and malnutrition, and suggests the way forward to take measures for now, and what should be a long-term policy to eradicate this threatening rise of global hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

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Hope you enjoy this conversation!

Cheers!

Global Development Review Podcast

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