
Every third week of September, the biggest names in foreign affairs, humanitarian aid and global development converge in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, Clinton Global Initiative, Social Good Summit and a host of other gatherings — and Devex was, as usual, in the middle of things.
In his column, Devex Editor Rolf Rosenkranz, who oversaw the coverage from New York, observed how there was much talk about “redesigning” development assistance — when it comes to striking up new partnerships, creating innovative products for the poor, improving aid delivery, or crafting a set of post-2015 development goals.
One buzz-worthy moment came when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on donors to “broaden and increase our network of partnerships” beyond international NGOs. How did iNGO leaders take this challenge? Check out our interviews with Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children, Ritu Sharma, co-founder and president of Women Thrive Worldwide, Jonathan Quick, president and CEO of Management Sciences for Health, and others.
We also spoke with U.N. Development Program Administrator Helen Clark about the upcoming Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review and the challenges facing the aid community today, in a story entitled ”UN looks to the future of its development policy.”
Check out our complete coverage from U.N. week in New York below.
Clinton Global Initiative
Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children, discusses how the aid community needs to adapt to new realities and proven mistakes to make an impact.
Antonio Guterres, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, speaks about the agency’s strategic partnerships and provides updates on ongoing crises from Syria to Myanmar.
George Rupp, president of the International Rescue Committee, talks about the danger of emergencies turning into protracted, long-term refugee crises, using the Horn of Africa, South Sudan, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as examples.
Cherie Blair, founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, discusses how her organization works with local communities to strengthen the capacity of women entrepreneurs, and forming partnerships with governments and businesses.
Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, argues that housing is key to achieving other development goals and outlines major obstacles for poor families to have access to decent housing.
Ritu Sharma, co-founder and president of Women Thrive Worldwide, shares her thoughts on the newly launched U.N. Education First initiative, and what it really takes to encourage children to learn.
Margery Kraus, founder and president of global consulting firm APCO Worldwide, gives advice on what should be considered when crafting post-2015 development goals.
Jacob Korenblum, president of SoukTel, discusses how the aid and technology sectors can strengthen their cooperation.
Designing for impact: What can aid groups learn from tech companies?
Logistics in Syrian refugee response: Technology makes it easier
Gail Romero, CEO of MBA Women International, explains what women in development can learn from business leaders, and how aid groups may benefit from an upcoming leadership academy for women.
Shai Reshef, president of the University of the People, explains the university’s business model and makes a case for higher education as a focus of the post-Millennium Development Goals process.
Sheryl Greentree, co-founder of Water for Africa, speaks about how aid groups can ensure projects become self-sustaining and why water should be central to all development projects after 2015.
Paul Foster, chief marketing officer at Western Union, shares details of his company’s new initiative to help aid groups address the so-called “last mile” challenge.
Social Good Summit
How can new technologies help advance development? We asked the experts attending the Social Good Summit, presented by Mashable, the U.N. Foundation and others:
Teddy Ruge, Project Diaspora co-founder, and Kris Balderston, U.S. State Department’s global partnerships special representative: Can mobile technology help mobilize the diaspora community?
David Kobia, co-founder of global crowdsourcing and mapping nonprofit Ushahidi: Open-source development
Asi Burak, Games for Change co-president: Tapping ‘the power of the many’
Many companies and humanitarian agencies are looking at ways to maximize the potential of technology — including social media — in their sustainability efforts, campaigns and relief response. Some of our interviewees addressed this issue:
Elaine Weidman-Grunewald, Ericsson’s vice president of sustainability and corporate responsibility: Ericsson’s nonphilanthropic approach to corporate responsibility
Gerrit Beger, UNICEF’s social and civic media section chief: Raising support – and funds – via hashtags
Wendy Harman, American Red Cross’ director of social strategy: ‘We are still evolving’
U.N. General Assembly
James Michael Jackson, a water and sanitation expert working at the Yida refugee camp in South Sudan, appealed to world leaders meeting in New York: Take a tough stance toward Sudan and give refugees confidence in the peace process. Read the Devex exclusive, ”An aid worker’s take: How the UN can prevent human catastrophe in South Sudan.”
See more of our news coverage of the U.N. General Assembly:
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