Devex Pro Weekender: Davos, the Clooneys, and a big job opening

The first big event of the year is here in the form of Davos, which officially starts today. If you’re there in the Swiss Alps, or wondering whether it’s worth the wild expense of going in the future, check out our global development insider’s guide for Pro members (and find out how ICRC sent a five-member delegation for just $1,200). We’ll have a small team on the ground so reply to this email if there are topics you’d like to see covered. And if you’re there too, join our event on assistive technology and the Sustainable Development Goals. Coming up: What are the trends that will define development finance this year? Join our next Pro Live event on Jan. 24 to find out. Also in today’s edition: The Clooney Foundation’s new leadership team, CGD’s executive search, Oxfam’s recovery, and a lot of big job moves. Jessica Abrahams Editor, Devex Pro Bits and pieces Leadership announcement. The one we’ve all been waiting for: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has finally named a new CEO: Sania Nishtar, a Pakistani lawmaker and doctor who became the country’s first female cardiologist and has a wealth of experience in health governance. It comes nearly a year after Muhammad Ali Pate of Nigeria was approved for the role, but he later pulled out to return home and serve as a government minister. Read more about Gavi’s new CEO. Charisma essential. There’s a big job up for grabs over at the Center for Global Development, which is looking for a new president. Masood Ahmed has decided to step down after seven years at the helm but will continue to serve until a successor is appointed. The job description calls for a “charismatic and encouraging leader” with a “demonstrated commitment to diplomacy, cultural sensitivity, and diversity” — and, because I know you’re wondering, it does not list a salary. Here’s why CGD senior fellow Charles Kenny thinks you should apply (unless you’re an asshole). Oxfam’s recovery. Oxfam GB’s income has tumbled over the past few years, hit by the Haiti abuse scandal, Brexit, and then the closure of its shops during the COVID-19 pandemic. But its latest accounts show its income finally recovered in the year ending March 2023, surpassing £400 million for the first time since 2019, when it reached a peak of £434 million. Income rose from various sources, including donations and legacies, Oxfam shops, and restricted income for emergencies in Turkey, Syria, and Ukraine. + From the archives: Back in 2021, we took a look at Oxfam’s recovery process exclusively for Devex Pro members. Your honors. A little late to the party on this one, but last week’s newsletter was too jampacked to mention the development and humanitarian names included on King Charles’ New Year’s Honors list. So congratulations are owed to: Susanna Moorehead, former chair of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee; Nimo Hassan, director of the NGO Consortium; and Zehra Zaidi, a development expert currently working for Dark Matter Labs. Clooney’s new chiefs. The Clooney Foundation for Justice, established by human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and her husband George, has named a new pair of co-CEOs: Emma Lindsay, formerly a partner at Withers law firm, will oversee the foundation’s justice programs; while David Sagal, former general counsel at Warner Bros., will focus on operations. The foundation currently works in 40 countries around the world, including gathering evidence of war crimes in Ukraine and helping survivors of international crimes in Sudan and Darfur access justice. Rebrand. EVPA, aka the European Venture Philanthropy Association, has changed its name to Impact Europe. In a statement, the organization said the change “better reflects the diversity of our membership and the scope of our work.” And, let’s be honest, it’s a much better name. ✉️ Do you have insights into any of this week’s bits and pieces? Let me know by replying to this email. In memoriam César Alierta Izuel, former president of Fundación Telefónica and Fundación ProFuturo — which work on inclusive digital development and digital education — died last week at the age of 78. The business leader took over Spanish multinational Telefónica’s philanthropic work in the final part of his career. “His mission was to make the world a better, fairer, more caring and inclusive place through digitalisation and education,” Telefónica said in a statement. “His work … has taken both institutions to the highest levels of excellence and has contributed to transforming people’s lives.” Up next Davos. The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting is the main event this week. The theme is “driving trust,” including discussions around transparency, consistency, and accountability but we’re also expecting a focus on artificial intelligence, reform of the global financial architecture, and the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. Some sessions will be available to watch on WEF’s YouTube channel. Whether or not you’re there in person, I’d recommend making sure you’re signed up to our daily Newswire to keep up with the latest insights from our team on the ground. Jan. 15-19. Bretton Woods. Speaking of the global financial architecture, the Atlantic Council has this session on new ideas to reform the Bretton Woods institutions, with a focus on (deep breath): governance reform at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, subsidy reform at the World Trade Organization, developing an agenda for the governance of central bank digital currencies, and navigating climate action in an era of geoeconomic fragmentation. Brave it if you dare. Jan. 16. WHO appeal. WHO is set to publish its health emergency appeal for 2024 to fund assistance to the most vulnerable people in 41 emergencies globally. Last year, WHO's appeal was for $2.5 billion, of which it received about half, or $1.3 billion. Jan. 15. Mark your calendar: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank announced that its annual meeting this year will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 25-26. Moving on Google.org, the billion-dollar grant-making arm of the tech giant, has announced that Maggie Johnson, a longtime Google vice president, will take over as its global head next month. Professor Yasmine Belkaid has started as general director of the Institut Pasteur, the French nonprofit medical research institute. She was previously director of the Human Immunology Center of the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. Chris Stark, formerly CEO of the U.K.’s climate change committee, has been named CEO of the Carbon Trust. Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, the former head of Oxfam GB, has started his new role as CEO of the New Economics Foundation. Another deep breath here: Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda of Zimbabwe has been appointed deputy executive director for normative support, U.N. system coordination and program results at UN Women. Rajiv Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, has been appointed to the board of directors at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Nataša Goronja is the new managing director of the Center for Financial Inclusion, an independent think tank housed at global nonprofit Accion. Goronja joins from the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship. Elana Robertson is now vice president of the Washington Global Health Alliance and executive director of its global health innovation XHANGE. Did we miss one? Is there a change on the horizon? Let us know at devexpro@devex.com.