The New Humanitarian

Epizode

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  Somalia's plan to break free from aid dependence | Rethinking Humanitarianism 20.08.2026 48min

  For Abdihakim Ainte, a senior Somali government official, the international humanitarian system's sudden contraction has been both a "cataclysmic" shock – with devastating immediate consequences – and a reckoning that could ultimately accelerate Somalia's path towards greater self-reliance. Last week's episode explored how shifting power, money, and politics in traditional donor countries is reshaping the humanitarian landscape from the top down. In this follow-up episode, Ainte shares his perspective from the point of view of a country that traditionally receives aid. Guest Abdihakim Ainte, senior adviser for food security and climate change in the office of Somalia's prime minister Key moments [05:28] – Who really controls aid in Somalia? [10:47] – How UN agencies sideline the state in crises [18:24] – "It's very grim": What happened on the ground when donors walked away? [20:28] – Plan B: Private sector, diaspora, and domestic revenues [29:45] – Aid diversion and mutual accountability [37:58] – "The aid cut could be a blessing in disguise" [45:00] – The Türkiye model of donor relations Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.  This episode was made in collaboration with Start Network as part of a series that explores what really drives change in the humanitarian system, and what it tells us about future efforts to transform the system for the better.
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  Will big donors "smell the coffee" or get left behind? | Rethinking Humanitarianism 13.08.2026 49min

  Less than a year ago, Colum Wilson left his position at the helm of the humanitarian department in one of the world's largest donor governments. After more than two decades with the UK government, Wilson concludes that "the world's become a colder and crueller place where realpolitik tends to trump humanitarianism". In this second collaborative episode between Rethinking Humanitarianism and Start Network, Wilson joins hosts Tammam Aloudat and Christina Bennett to unpack how humanitarianism is being reshaped from the top down. They discuss the rise of populism and transactional humanitarian policy, the quiet "insurgency" of local responders getting on with change outside the formal system, the potentially disruptive power of middle-tier donors, alternative financing models, and new centres of humanitarian power. Guest Colum Wilson, former Head of the Humanitarian Department for the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); senior humanitarian policy advisor Key moments [11:35] – National interest versus humanitarianism [14:29] – "The world's become a colder and crueller place" [17:13] – An insurgency from below [20:24] – Interest in maintaining the status quo [24:24] – "The moral argument isn't cutting through" [33:36] – A battle for the heart of humanitarianism [38:44] – "If I controlled UK humanitarian policy…" Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism. This episode was made in collaboration with Start Network as part of a series that explores what really drives change in the humanitarian system, and what it tells us about future efforts to transform the system for the better. 
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  Error and trial: What really makes the humanitarian system change? | Rethinking Humanitarianism 06.08.2026 1h 8min

  Humanitarianism evolves, whether the system is ready or not. This six-episode series explores how. Ben Ramalingam has spent 20 years thinking and writing about the complexity of the humanitarian system and what makes it shift. His conclusion? It changes the wrong way around. "We've tended to evolve not through trial and error, but through error and trial. So we respond to what goes wrong, we absorb the shock through processes which are often very painful, and then we return to something that's not too far removed from what we had before." In this first collaborative episode between Rethinking Humanitarianism and Start Network, hosts Tammam Aloudat and Christina Bennett set the stage for a series that explores how the humanitarian system can change for the better as it faces a crisis of legitimacy and funding. Guests Ben Ramalingam, author of Aid on the Edge of Chaos Nadine Saba, president of the Akkar Network for Development Key moments 07:11 – "Error and trial" and doing the right thing too late 11:18 – Was the Grand Bargain ever really "grand"?  21:13 – Reforming policies vs changing mindsets  23:30 – Cash as a disruptive force  36:06 – How systemic change actually happens (in three steps) 43:23 – "People don't care about our jargon"  50:18 – Fear, funding, and the myth of neutrality  53:13 – If the system is so misaligned, why keep it?  59:31 – Tammam and Christina discuss why this podcast collaboration came to be Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism. This episode was made in collaboration with Start Network as part of a series that explores what really drives change in the humanitarian system, and what it tells us about future efforts to transform the system for the better. 
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  Lessons on media ethics from the Middle East | Decolonise How? 07.07.2026 1h 19min

  What are we getting right, what are we getting wrong, and how could we do better? A recent live webinar hosted by Patrick Gathara, with historian Assal Rad and media critic Sana Saeed, digs into the framing of the genocide and wars in the Middle East with the goal of drawing lessons that could be applicable to a wide range of crises. Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.
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  How to change reporting | Decolonise How? 23.06.2026 39min

  We've diagnosed the problem. What comes next? On the podcast: what it takes to change how crises are spoken about in newsrooms and aid organisations. Researcher Jess Crombie and journalist Chika Oduah encourage "uncomfortable conversations" to confront colonial legacies.  "Really, what we're talking about is about acknowledging power and making efforts to undermine existing power structures," Crombie says.  Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.  
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  Event | Who owns the narrative? 19.06.2026 1h 5min

  Across newsrooms, stages, screens, and funding tables, there's a growing movement to reshape how migration and displacement are understood. So what does it look like when the people at the heart of these crises tell their own stories, and could it influence the systems that shape their lives? The New Humanitarian hosted a night of film and conversation with journalists, artists, and cultural funders to explore these very questions. This event was moderated by Eric Reidy, Migration and Special Coverage Editor at The New Humanitarian, and featured: Bridgit Antoinette Evans | Artist, culture change strategist, and CEO of the Pop Culture Collaborative Arian Moayed | Actor, writer, director, and co-Founder of Waterwell Mazin Sidahmed | Co-Founder and Executive Director, Documented Annie Slemrod | Journalist, storyteller, and Middle East Editor at The New Humanitarian _____ This event was presented in partnership with the New York Office of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. 
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  Crisis comms: donations vs. dignity | Decolonise How? 09.06.2026 44min

  NGO ads don't have to be a balance between dignity and donations. A look at the ethics and power dynamics of crisis communications, and how humanitarian agencies can do better for the communities they serve, with Levis Nderitu, a Kenyan DEI specialist, and Marie-Rose Romain Murphy, a Haitian-American community development expert.  "At the core of your communication should be people, should be dignity, should be: how would I want to be portrayed myself?" Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.  
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  Event | Humanitarianism in the West Bank 04.06.2026 1h 40min

  Humanitarianism in the West Bank: Structures, Power, and the Limits of Aid ___   What does it mean to "do no harm" in a context where aid can both alleviate suffering and entrench the very systems that produce it?   In this critical conversation on the state of humanitarianism in the West Bank today, we examine what it means for humanitarian actors to operate within a broader landscape of occupation, violence, and structural injustice.   This event was moderated by Layth Hanbali, Researcher at Institute for Palestine Studies and PhD candidate, who was joined by: Tammam Aloudat | CEO, The New Humanitarian  Matiangai Sirleaf | Nathan Patz Professor of Law, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Bushra Khalidi | Global Humanitarian Policy Lead, Oxfam Lubnah Shomali | Palestinian human rights defender and activist, BADIL  ____   Want to find out about future live events?? Subscribe to our newsletter at www.thenewhumanitarian.org/subscribe   This event was convened by The New Humanitarian in collaboration with BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, The Third World Approaches to International Law Review, Birzeit University Muwatin Institute for Democracy and Human Rights and Birzeit University Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies.
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  Decolonising the newsroom | Decolonise How? 26.05.2026 38min

  The first African to lead the BBC's African service, Joseph Warungu, and The New Humanitarian's Head of Editorial, Andrew Gully, have over half a century's worth of experience working in and leading newsrooms. Why do both use the word "battle" to describe their efforts to produce decolonised journalism with local perspectives? Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.  
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  Diaspora aid: the lifeline we don't talk about enough | Rethinking Humanitarianism 21.05.2026 48min

  Every year, people in the diaspora send hundreds of billions of dollars home. It is one of the single most important streams of assistance, far outweighing all official foreign aid. So why does it get less attention when it outpaces aid flows? And can it – or should it – better complement international humanitarian response? Host Tammam Aloudat discusses the wide-reaching role of diaspora aid in Gaza, South Sudan, and beyond, its strengths and potential in crisis response, and its limitations.   Guests: Hala Sabbah, co-founder of The Sameer Project Daniel Mayang Mayen, researcher at the Sudd Institute   Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.
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  Who gets to tell the story? | Decolonise How? 12.05.2026 39min

  Does it really matter whether a journalist is a local or a foreigner? The distinction between "local" or "international" journalists raises questions about trust, credibility, and control in global news.  In this episode of Decolonise How? Patrick Gathara sits down with The New Humanitarian's Ali Latifi and Ahmer Khan to discuss power dynamics in crisis reporting, and why it matters. Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.  
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  What it means for humanitarians to be political | Rethinking Humanitarianism 07.05.2026 28min

  Saving lives is a choice, and that makes it hard for humanitarianism to be completely apolitical despite long-running debates about neutrality and impartiality. But what does being political look like? On this episode: Flotillas and White Helmets, the difference between speaking out as individual humanitarian actors or as a unified collective, moving beyond simply being in "solidarity with communities", and finding a diversity of voices to build a future version of humanitarianism. Guests:  Shatha Elnakib, faculty and deputy director of the Center for Humanitarian Health at Johns Hopkins University, and lead author of The Lancet's article, The humanitarian system: politics can not be avoided. Jonathan Whittall, executive director and founder of the KEYS Initiative Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.  
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  Ethical principles vs institutional realities | Decolonise How? 28.04.2026 37min

  In the latest Decolonise How? podcast, we ask whether ethical journalism is possible when individual ideals collide with institutional realities. "In school, we are taught: Don't be too close to the story, because then how do you maintain objectivity?" says Kenyan journalist Njoki Chege. "But on the ground, things are very different."  Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.  
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  Surviving war while delivering aid | Rethinking Humanitarianism 16.04.2026 22min

  Like many local aid workers living through war, Hind Obeid is surviving a crisis while responding to it. Obeid works for an NGO that supports refugees in Lebanon, but since 2024 Israeli attacks have forced her to fulfill her obligations while experiencing multiple displacements, the fear of airstrikes, and the constant sound of drones.  Obeid, who wrote about her experiences for The New Humanitarian, joins the podcast to reflect on the mental anguish of delivering aid under Israeli bombardment, how the humanitarian system can better support local staff, and why showing up in a crisis feels like resistance.  Guest: Hind Obeid, safeguarding officer and PSEAH focal point at Basmeh & Zeitooneh Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.    
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  Should there be foreign correspondents? | Decolonise How? 14.04.2026 39min

  In this episode of Decolonise How?, host Patrick Gathara sits down with journalist Jane Ferguson to debate what role foreign correspondents should have in telling stories from crises, and why she now describes herself as a "recovering war reporter".  "I had grown up with this sense of what a foreign correspondent was… but what I learned early on was that my impression was very self-absorbed," Ferguson says. Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.  
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  An exit talk with UNRWA's Philippe Lazzarini | Rethinking Humanitarianism 02.04.2026 45min

  Philippe Lazzarini has ended his term as head of UNRWA, the UN agency that provides essential services to Palestinians. In an exit interview, Lazzarini describes "the most brutal experience" of his career, his anger when atrocities are met with silence, and the "slippery slope" waiting for humanitarians in Gaza. Guest: Philippe Lazzarini, departing commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.  
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  What is humanitarian journalism? | Decolonise How? 31.03.2026 36min

  There's more than one way to cover crises, says Professor Martin Scott. In the second episode of Decolonise How?, host Patrick Gathara sits down with Scott, who studies media and global development, to discuss the ethics, practice, and impact of media coverage of crises. Scott popularised the term "humanitarian journalism". He explains what makes it different from mainstream journalism, and why the labels matter.  Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.  
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  Who owns the story? | Decolonise How? 17.03.2026 40min

  "The first place that people are dehumanised is in stories." - Sophie Otiende The way we tell stories about humanitarian crises can distort the realities of the people living through them. From news coverage and research to aid donation appeals, there is a tendency to simplify, decontextualise, and even dehumanise – to portray locals as suffering and helpless, and the outsiders riding to their rescue as heroic and selfless.  In Decolonise How? host Patrick Gathara brings together journalists, humanitarians, researchers, and affected communities, to understand why this happens, and how to change it. For his first podcast, Gathara is joined by Kenyan teacher, activist and advocate for survivors of human trafficking, Sophie Otiende, and Kelsie Kilawna Marchand, a Syilx journalist from Canada. They discuss community, consent, what to do differently – and just what is a "coyote" move?  Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises.
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  Tragedy? When humanitarian language becomes oppressive | Rethinking Humanitarianism 12.03.2026 29min

   Is it problematic to call human suffering a "tragedy"? Even well-intentioned humanitarian language can harm, says Heidi Mogstad, senior researcher at the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway. She argues that the language humanitarians use can perpetuate systems of violence that cause crises. In this episode, Mogstad gives examples of counter-productive language, and discusses ways to improve.   Guests:    Heidi Mogstad, senior researcher at the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway.   Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or post on social media using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.   Show Notes:   Oppressive Language and Humanitarian Complicity: Reflections on Gaza and European Border Violence
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  Introducing a new podcast on crisis storytelling | Decolonise How? 10.03.2026 2min

  Decolonise How? is a new podcast by The New Humanitarian that examines the stories we tell about humanitarian crises. Join host Patrick Gathara as he gathers journalists, humanitarians, researchers, and affected communities into the same conversation. They debate the crisis in crisis reporting – and talk about how things could be done differently.