F-World: The Fragility Podcast

About F-World: The Fragility Podcast

F-World exists to spark a global conversation about fragility and resilience. Join us to explore the forces shaping our lives, why and how fragility emerges in places near and far, and how we can navigate towards a more resilient future. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the co-hosts in their personal capacity and do not represent the views of their employers or any other institution they may be associated with.

Publisher

Mihaela Carstei, Paul M. Bisca, Johan Bjurman Bergman

Category

science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Aug 2021

Latest episode

10 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

21 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Jul 2026

   #21 – Qahir Dhanani: Multilateralism in an Age of Coalitions

   Qahir Dhanani is a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, where he leads engagements with multilateral and international financial institutions, as well as with donor and philanthropic agencies. Prior to joining BCG, Qahir held senior positions at the World Bank, including Advisor to the CEO, and began his career at the Aga Khan Development Network. Born in Kenya and raised in Canada, Qahir brings a deeply international perspective to his work on development finance, institutional reform, and global governance. He joined us for this conversation in a personal capacity. We open by exploring Qahir's personal journey into the world of multilateralism, shaped by his family's move from Kenya to Canada at the dawn of the first Gulf War. From there, we ask Qahir to define multilateralism beyond the summits and headlines, and he makes the case that international cooperation quietly underpins the mundane parts of everyday life - from telecommunications to air travel. We trace the evolution of multilateral institutions across decades of geopolitical change & discuss why today's talk of institutional gridlock echoes tensions the system has weathered before, from the Cold War to the end of globalization's heyday. The conversation turns to the concept of "variable geometry" and the growing role of coalitions of small & middle powers in tackling shared challenges, from digital governance to AI regulation. We explore Qahir’s co-authored article in Devex on the priorities facing the incoming UN Secretary-General, discussing the difference between acting as a custodian versus an architect of the institution, and what it will take to rebuild trust with citizens, politicians, and UN staff alike. Qahir also shares a memorable analogy about institutional "salamander rules" to explain how bureaucratic processes calcify over time and how AI could help institutions become faster & leaner without abandoning the safeguards that matter. We close by discussing how the private sector's relationship with multilateral institutions is shifting from transactional to collaborative, and why the next wave of innovation and investment opportunity lies in Africa. ***** Qahir Dhanani BCG: https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/qahir-dhanani (https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/qahir-dhanani) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qahir (https://www.linkedin.com/in/qahir) ***** Mihaela Carstei, Paul M. Bisca, & Johan Bjurman Bergman co-host F-World: The Fragility Podcast. X: https://x.com/fworldpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fworldpodcast/ Website: https://f-world.org Music:"Tornado" by Wintergatan. This track can be downloaded for free at www.wintergatan.net. Video editing by: Alex Mitran - Facebook (facebook.com/alexmmitran), X (x.com/alexmmitran),or LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/alexmmitran) EPISODE RESOURCES: Qahir Dhanani, Jim Larson, “Thenext UN chief must architect a new era of multilateralism,” DEVEX, March 11, 2026 https://www.devex.com/news/the-next-un-chief-must-architect-a-new-era-of-multilateralism-112027 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:20 Qahir's background 00:03:45 What is multilateralism & what has it brought us? 00:08:07 Responding to the critique that multilateral institutions are stuck in the past 00:12:42 Is globalization the driving force of multilateralism: Variable geometry and coalitions 00:14:54 The cost of systemic fragmentation 00:17:45 Sovereignty vs. shared benefit – the case for mini-lateral cooperation 00:21:09 Digital sovereignty & the case for global AI governance 00:25:22 Custodian vs. architect: what the next UN Secretary General must be 00:29:30 Reform, modernization, & representation – the challenges ahead 00:34:58 Rebuilding trust & cutting through institutional bureaucracy 00:40:21 Using AI to streamline institutions without cutting corners 00:43:07 What does the private sector want from multilateral reform? 00:48:14 Public-private partnership in practice 00:51:01 Innovation & investment opportunities beyond Europe and the US 00:55:05 Advice for the next UN Secretary-General

2. 

   16 Oct 2024

   #20 – Dina Saleh: Agriculture, Fragility, and Food Systems

   Dina Saleh is the Regional Director of the Near East, North Africa, and Europe Division at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – the only specialized global development institution exclusively focused on rural transformation. With more than 20 years of international experience, Dina has spearheaded agriculture and rural development initiatives across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia. She has also worked with both the private sector and international organizations like the UN, gaining a unique perspective on development across fragile and conflict-affected regions. We begin our conversation by exploring Dina’s journey, starting with her early life in Yemen and Kenya, where agriculture was intrinsic to her formative years through her family’s business in agricultural trade and her schooling. This sparked her passion for rural development and gave her firsthand insights into how food systems work, ultimately leading to her current role at IFAD. We then move on to the multifaceted challenges of working in fragile states like Somalia & Sudan, where conflict, climate change, and the lack of infrastructure severely hinder agricultural productivity. Dina discusses the delicate balance of working with both pastoralists and settled farmers, addressing conflicts over land and resources through innovative infrastructure solutions, as well as community-driven governance. Our discussion also delves into gender dynamics in rural development. Dina shares a striking example from Sudan, where women were initially barred from engaging in agricultural development initiatives. Working with local leaders, IFAD was able to empower women to participate in economic activities like food processing and home-based production. These success stories underscore the importance of patience and sustained effort in achieving long-term development goals. Tune in to hear more about the role of agriculture in poverty reduction and how organizations like IFAD are adapting their strategies to meet the complex and dynamic needs of fragile states! ***** Dina Saleh IFAD: https://www.ifad.org/en/w/people/dina-saleh ***** Mihaela Carstei, Paul M. Bisca, and Johan Bjurman Bergman co-host F-World: The Fragility Podcast. X: https://x.com/fworldpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fworldpodcast/ Website: https://f-world.org Music: "Tornado" by Wintergatan. This track can be downloaded for free at www.wintergatan.net. Video editing by: Alex Mitran - find Alex on Facebook (facebook.com/alexmmitran), X (x.com/alexmmitran), or LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/alexmmitran) EPISODE RESOURCES: Updated approach to IFAD engagement in fragile situations https://www.ifad.org/en/w/publications/updated-approach-to-ifad-engagement-in-fragile-situations TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:08 Dina’s story 00:03:19 Subsistence farming & the shift to commercialization 00:06:11 The roots of fragility in Yemen 00:08:35 Agriculture as a path to poverty reduction 00:12:19 Defining food systems 00:13:49 IFAD’s approach to nutrition in rural communities 00:16:18 What makes food systems fragile or resilient 00:18:12 Key trends in agriculture 00:20:00 What is IFAD? 00:23:26 IFAD in Somalia 00:28:44 Investment tools 00:31:18 IFAD’s financial instruments 00:33:15 How IFAD’s financing helps vulnerable populations 00:35:30 Role of technology in helping farmers 00:39:20 IFAD’s engagement in fragile contexts 00:45:20 Balancing crisis response & prevention 00:49:29 Measuring impact & results in fragile states 00:52:58 Working in conflict zones 00:56:15 Real-life challenges in fragile communities 00:59:45 Gender-specific challenges in rural development 01:03:30 Development misconceptions 01:08:19 Food self-sufficiency vs. trade 01:12:02 Fair trade & value for farmers 01:14:36 Water - food - energy nexus 01:18:05 Obstacles to coordination 01:20:15 Role of fertilizer 01:22:28 Hope for the future 01:25:27 Wrap-up

3. 

   23 May 2024

   #19 - Philippe Vogeleer: Digital Development in Fragile States

   Philippe Vogeleer is a chartered director specialized in partnerships between companies, governments, and international organizations. Until March 2024 he was the Global Head of Corporate Business Development for Vodafone. Prior to joining Vodafone, Philippe held senior positions for Ooredoo, Orange, and Deloitte. He has lived in 10 countries and worked in more than 100. He holds a master’s degree in law, a master’s degree in media and communications, and an Executive MBA. Philippe now advises a small number of companies as Non-Executive Director and supports the work of international charities, including Global Citizen. He is also a Visiting Lecturer at INSEAD. We start our conversation by learning about Philippe’s international background, his early interest in human development, and how he discovered the importance of mobile phones and satellite technology. We then take a stroll through the decades with Philippe highlighting the big business opportunities for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in each time period - from radio waves in the 1980s and 90s, to networks and services in the 2000s and 2010s. He also reminds us that most people don’t have a laptop, accessing digital tools only on mobile phones, and that today’s opportunity lies in bringing access to the devices. We then shift to discussing how we can define the ICT sector and what we mean by digitalization. Also, we ask Philippe to help us understand what fragility looks like on the ground, from an ICT perspective, and how the ICT industry and digitalization can help counter fragility. This leads us to talk about what is needed to build a business case in fragile states or even in conflict areas, how you can engage external partners, and how to convince internal decision makers to take on the risk of investing under more difficult conditions. We also discuss the benefits of digitalization for governments, the main obstacles to closing the digital divide, and the role of AI in digitalization. We wrap up our conversation by considering the finite nature of money, how it can best catalyze digitalization, and the potential future for the ICT industry. Watch or listen to the episode for so many more insights from Philippe Vogeleer! ***** Philippe Vogeleer philippe.vogeleer@globalpartners4digitaldevelopment.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-partners-for-digital-development ***** Mihaela Carstei, Paul M. Bisca, and Johan Bjurman Bergman co-host F-World: The Fragility Podcast. X: https://x.com/fworldpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fworldpodcast/ Website: https://f-world.org Music: "Tornado" by Wintergatan. Many thanks to Wintergartan for allowing us to use their wonderful music! This track can be downloaded for free at www.wintergatan.net. Video editing by: Alex Mitran - find Alex on Facebook (facebook.com/alexmmitran), X (x.com/alexmmitran), or LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/alexmmitran) TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:11 Philippe’s background – people, places, ideas that charted his path 00:08:16 ICT’s big business opportunities through the decades 00:14:02 What is digitalization? What is the ICT sector? 00:18:13 What is fragility? What does it look like from an ICT perspective? 00:26:15 How can ICT and digitalization help counter fragility? 00:34:30 The business case for digitalization in fragile states and low-income countries 00:45:31 Digitalization benefits for governments 00:54:30 Obstacles to closing the digital divide 01:00:28 The role of AI in digitalization: risks or benefits 01:08:56 The finite nature of money & how to best catalyze digitalization 01:14:01 Potential future for the ICT industry 01:21:03 Wrap-up

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

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