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In this episode of the This Week in Global Development podcast, Business Editor David Ainsworth is joined by Managing Editor Anna Gowel and Deputy Managing Editor Fiona Zublin to discuss the launch of Devex’s Power 50 list. The conversation highlights how the development landscape is shifting away from traditional power structures toward influential "movers and shakers" behind the scenes, including tech entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and leaders from the global south.
Key figures mentioned include Anna Makanju of OpenAI, representing the impact of artificial intelligence on development, and Benjamin Black of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, illustrating the growing importance of private sector investment in global aid.
Our discussion then moves to resource sovereignty, particularly concerning critical minerals on the African continent. The editors explore how countries such as Botswana, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are implementing export bans and seeking more control over their natural resources to ensure local processing and economic benefits.
To hear more, listen to this conversation on This Week in Global Development.
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About the author
Thomas Cserep
Thomas Cserép is an Associate Editor who manages and oversees Devex's social media presence, coordinates Devex’s audience outreach, and produces the This Week in Global Development podcast. Prior to Devex, he worked as a freelance journalist, with his writings appearing in a variety of publications, including Get Spanish Football News and the magazine of the Hungarian Geographic Society.
