Between the Lines

About Between the Lines

This podcast series (https://www.ids.ac.uk/event-series/between-the-lines-podcast-series/) explores ground-breaking ideas in development for positive social and environmental change. Each month we feature an interview with an expert in international development who will talk about their latest research and ideas. The discussions give an insight on the themes covered, exploring the challenges and discoveries, and why the issues matter for progressive and sustainable development globally. Send your comments and suggestions to betweenthelines@ids.ac.uk (mailto:betweenthelines@ids.ac.uk) Follow IDS on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/ids.ac.uk). #IDSbetweenthelines Follow IDS on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/school/39073/admin/dashboard/). This podcast is brought to you by the Institute of Development Studies (https://www.ids.ac.uk/event-series/between-the-lines-podcast-series/), produced and edited by Gary Edwards, Senior Marketing Officer. Music credit: Around/Shutterstock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Institute of Development Studies

Category

education · science · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Oct 2018

Latest episode

9 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

82 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Sept 2026

   The human cost of USAID cuts in Uganda

   The sudden collapse of USAID in 2025 sent shockwaves through Uganda’s HIV response and the people hardest hit are those the system was already failing. When Elon Musk bragged on social media that USAID had been put through the woodchipper,” the consequences for millions of people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa were immediate - and potentially irreversible. That is the warning from researchers and community advocates speaking on the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Between the Lines podcast. With an estimated loss in funding of over US$300 million. While a new US$2.3 billion five-year health cooperation agreement was signed in December 2025 (https://www.kdrtv.co.ke/world/uganda-secures-2-3-billion-health-deal-with-us-following-kenyas-footsteps/), the abrupt reductions have severely impacted health services. In the new podcast episode released today, Chris Stevenson, International Editor at the Independent, Megan Schmidt-Sane, Research Fellow at IDS, and Kyomya Macklean, Executive Director of the Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC) in Uganda examine what the Impacts have been on community-based HIV services and vulnerable communities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   17 Aug 2026

   Climate resilience and poverty reduction in Africa

   IDS Senior Research Fellow Vidya Diwakar interviews agricultural policy experts on building climate resilience to reduce poverty in Africa.

3. 

   9 Jul 2026

   Who powers innovation systems in Africa?

   Jo Carpenter interviews Emmeline Skinner, Brando Okolo, and Barbara Glover about how fragmented national systems slow African innovation and hinder sustainable development.

Who has been a guest on Between the Lines

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Vidya Diwakar
• Brian Mulenga
• Anderson Gondwe
• Judith Kahamba
• Emmeline Skinner

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

788,152

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

38

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

89

Contact Between the Lines

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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