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I Was There: voices of humanitarian leadership

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by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

5.0(22 reviews)

21 episodes

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Podcast Overview

“I Was There” is a podcast series featuring former senior humanitarian officials. They will take you back to various moments over the last 40 years that left a mark in the evolution of the humanitarian system. Each speaker reflects on her or his personal experience, and shares successes and challenges in their career journey. Listen to personal reflections of how our former senior humanitarian officials navigated the challenging work of the UN in complex situations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iraq, Myanmar, Rwanda, Sudan and more. Production: OCHA, UNTV, Hausberg Productions and Sucher Films.

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Publishing Since

9/11/2024

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Recent Episodes

October 1, 2024

Episode #1 - Jan Eliasson

Jan Eliasson was the first Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator in the UN in the early 1990s. In 2012, Eliasson was appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN by the then Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He also served as a diplomat for the Swedish Government, including as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the UN. In this episode, Jan Eliasson talks about his role in the establishment of the UN General Assembly resolution 46/182, the creation of the then UN Department for Humanitarian Affairs, his experience as UN’s first top aid official ever and the nitty-gritties of politics in the humanitarian world. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of individual speakers and do not imply approval, expression of any views or responsibility on the part of UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

September 30, 2024

Episode #2 - David Bassiouni

David Bassiouni was the first person to perform the role of a Humanitarian Coordinator for the UN in the early 1990s. He also held several senior positions with the UN, including as Deputy Director for UNICEF’s Office for Emergency Programmes. Prior to his career in the UN, Bassiouni served in senior government positions, including Regional Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Sudan. In this episode, David Bassiouni takes us back to the early 1990s, when he was asked to take a front seat to lead the humanitarian operation in Somalia during its civil war. Bassiouni reflects on the challenges and successes of bringing humanitarian agencies back together after many had earlier left the country due to ongoing insecurity. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of individual speakers and do not imply approval, expression of any views or responsibility on the part of UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

September 29, 2024

Episode #3 - Jan Egeland

Jan Egeland was the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator from 2003 to 2006. He has also served in various high-level positions in the UN, including as a Special Advisor to Colombia and other advisory and leadership roles on the Syria crisis. Egeland's career also includes service to the Government of Norway as State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 2013, Egeland has been the Secretary-General of Norwegian Refugee Council. In this episode, Jan Egeland recounts the backstory of his efforts to change the way international humanitarian system delivers aid in what is known today as the “Humanitarian Reform” of 2005. He reflects on the lessons and reasons that led him to believe the system needed a reform, as he identified major shortcomings in the way humanitarians responded to major emergencies at the time. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of individual speakers and do not imply approval, expression of any views or responsibility on the part of UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

21 total episodes available

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What is I Was There: voices of humanitarian leadership?: “I Was There” is a podcast series featuring former senior humanitarian officials. They will take you back to various moments over the last 40 years that left a mark in the evolution of the humanitarian system. Each speaker reflects on her or his personal experience, and shares successes and challenges in their career journey.

Listen to personal reflections of how our former senior humanitarian officials navigated the challenging work of the UN in complex situations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iraq, Myanmar, Rwanda, Sudan and more.

Production: OCHA, UNTV, Hausberg Productions and Sucher Films.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates weekly.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Information about guest appearances is not available.

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