Episodes
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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).
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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).
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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).
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Baroness Valerie Amos served as the UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC) from 2010 to 2015. She held various senior level positions with the British Government, including as High Commissioner to Australia and Secretary of State for International Development. In 2021, Baroness Amos was appointed as Master of University College, Oxford.
In this episode, Baroness Amos takes us back to her time as the ERC. She reflects on the shortcomings of international relief operations and her key role in reforming humanitarian coordination through the “Transformative Agenda”. She also talks about her experience navigating the challenges and complexities of delivering aid during the Syrian crisis.
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).
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John Holmes served as the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC) from 2007 to 2011. Prior to joining the UN, Holmes had a long career as a British diplomat in several missions, having also held a number of high-level posts with the British Government.
In this episode, John Holmes explains how he navigated the delicate world of politics during his time as the ERC. He reflects how he applied his diplomatic skills to deliver on the humanitarian mandate of the UN in world’s most complex and challenging crises at the time, including Sudan and Sri Lanka.
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).
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Margareta Wahlström is a Swedish diplomat who has held various leadership positions in the Red Cross, including as the Under Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the President of the Swedish Red Cross. She also has held leadership posts with the UN, including as the first Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Head of UN’s office for DRR as well as Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator.
In this episode, Margareta Wahlström reflects on her career with the Red Cross and the UN, and her experience in shifting from humanitarian response to disaster risk reduction. Wahlström shares her experience on how she brought organizations, communities and governments together to agree on a global agreement known today as the Sendai Framework for DRR.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Antonio Donini is a veteran humanitarian worker, having served in leadership positions in the United Nations, including as the head of UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) and as Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan. He has also served as the Chief of the Lessons Learned Unit at OCHA, where he managed a programme of independent studies on the effectiveness of relief efforts in complex emergencies.
In this episode, Antonio Donini takes us back to late 1980s and early 1990s on his time in Afghanistan and through examples of how he had to navigate the challenging operation at the time. He shares insights into the humanitarian context in Afghanistan from over 30 years and reflects on the interlinkages between the humanitarian world and the world of politics.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Mark Bowden has over 40 years of experience, leading UN’s humanitarian response in some of the world’s most complex and protracted crises, such as Afghanistan and Somalia. He also held various leadership positions in the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) and Save the Children, both in headquarters and country offices. Bowden has also had a career with the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
In this episode, Mark Bowden discusses the nitty gritty of UN’s “integration” concept, where UN’s development, political, human rights, humanitarian and sometimes peacekeeping arms come together. He reflects on his time in Afghanistan and Somalia, both countries integrated missions and how he navigated the different roles while delivering on the humanitarian mandate.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Martin Barber has worked in some of the world’s most challenging humanitarian crises, leading emergency operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Honduras, Laos, Thailand and many more. He also served as Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and held various positions with the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA).
In this episode, Martin Barber takes us back to the early 1990s and reflects on when the UN General Assembly resolution 46/182 was established, UN’s cornerstone humanitarian mandate. He shares insights on the creation of OCHA in the late 90s and discusses the coordination challenges between the UN agencies to respond to the humanitarian needs of refugees (fleeing outside the country) and those of the internally displaced people at the time.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Ross Mountain is a humanitarian veteran having worked with the UN across multiple countries and leading some of world’s most complex emergencies over the years. He has held leadership positions in the UN, both in headquarters and country operations, including in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Liberia, Haiti, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and many more.
In this episode, Ross Mountain takes us back to the early 2000s and the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad’s Canal Hotel, when 22 aid workers were killed, including the head of the mission Sergio Vieira de Mello. He shares his personal insights on the importance of safety and security in the world of humanitarianism.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Ameerah Haq is a former UN Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Field Support, having also served as the Vice-Chair of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations for the UN. Ameerah Haq also served as the last Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste and held various leadership level positions in Afghanistan, Malaysia, Laosand Sudan.
In this episode, Ameerah Haq takes us to Sudan in the late 2000s. There, she explains how she navigated the challenges to deliver on UN’s humanitarian mandate and her role following the expulsion of many international non-Governmental organizations providing humanitarian assistance.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Elisabeth Rasmusson is a former Secretary-General of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). She also held various leadership positions with the UN, including as the first ever female Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) in the system. Rasmusson’s career also took her to various other operations, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Uganda and more. She also had a key role in establishing the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of NRC.
In this episode, Rasmusson walks us through her experience as the first female HC when she was deployed to Uganda and the challenges she faced on the job from day one. She also looks back at her time in the NRC, and how an incident with her assistant changed her management style.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Matthew Kahane is a senior humanitarian and development professional. He has held various leadership positions with the UN, including as the Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal and Tajikistan, having also led UN’s development operations in Belarus, Poland and Samoa.
In this episode, Matthew Kahane goes through the intricacies of his time in Nepal, after the massacre of the royal family by the former crown prince. He reflects on how he navigated his role and engagement with the government to deliver on UN’s humanitarian mandate in what was a complex situation.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Charles Petrie has held various leadership level positions in the United Nations in headquarters and country operations, including in Burundi, Myanmar, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and many more. Petrie was also designated by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to lead an internal review of the UN’s actions in Sri Lanka during the last phase of the conflict, which subsequently led to the Secretary-General’s “Human Rights-up-Front” initiative.
In this episode, Charles Petrie walks us through his time in Myanmar in mid-2000s. He discusses the challenges he navigated to lead UN’s operation and his decision to speak out. He dives into the intricacies of humanitarian diplomacy, with examples of his interactions with various interlocutors in Myanmar and in other contexts.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Kevin Kennedy is a seasoned humanitarian veteran who led UN’s operations in some of world’s most complex crises, including in the Balkans, East Timor, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan and many more. He also held positions with UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) both in headquarters and in various country operations. He was also the first deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Somalia in the early 1990s.
In this episode, Kevin Kennedy takes us back to the inner challenges of the UN to set up a coordination system in the early years of UN’s former Department of Humanitarian Affair (now OCHA). Kennedy also reflects on his time in Iraq and his role following the 2003 Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad, which killed 22 aid workers.
In his stories, Kennedy also mentions Jan Egeland, who was UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator from 2003 to 2005 and who features himself in the Episode #3.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Marta Ruedas has served as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), having also worked for almost 30 years coordinating UN’s development and humanitarian work in conflict and post-conflict countries. Ruedas started her career in the early 1990s with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In this episode, Marta Ruedas walks us through her experience as a female worker in UN’s development and humanitarian worlds. She also reflects on the changes in her role as UN’s Resident Coordinator, following the introduction of UN’s Development System Reform of 2018.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Jamie McGoldrick is a season humanitarian veteran, having served in various UN humanitarian leadership positions across multiple countries, including Georgia, Nepal, the occupied Palestinian territory, Yemen and many more. McGoldrick also has an extensive career with UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), holding various positions in both headquarters and country operations. He also held various leadership posts with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
In this episode, Jamie McGoldrick shares insights into the UN’s past efforts to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian affairs, following which the “cluster system” was set up in 2005, in addition to Central Emergency Response Fund. He reflects on the challenges in applying this new system for the first time following the massive earthquake in Pakistan in 2005.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individualspeaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Randolph Kent started his humanitarian career as the Chief of Emergency Prevention and Preparedness in Ethiopia in the late 1980s. He led the UN’s humanitarian response in Rwanda during the genocide in 1994. He also held multiple UN leadership positions, including in Kosovo, Somalia and Sudan.
In this episode, Randolph Kent takes us back to early 1990s and UN’s humanitarian response in Rwanda following the genocide as his role as the Humanitarian Coordinator there. Kent also debates the blurred lines between humanitarianism and military operations and coordination between the two, through his experience in Kosovo and the post-cold war era.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Jemilah Mahmood is the founder of Mercy Malaysia, a southern medical humanitarian NGO currently working across the world. She is the former Under-Secretary-General for Partnerships at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Mahmood was also the Chief of the World Humanitarian Summit, held in 2016. Her previous appointments also include Special Advisor to the former Prime Minister of Malaysia on Public Health during the height of the COVID pandemic.
In this episode, Jemilah Mahmood talks about her role on the humanitarian response to Pakistan’s earthquake in 2005 and how she applied innovative ways to coordinate humanitarian response. She also reflects on her time leading the preparations of UN’s largest humanitarian summit in 2006.
During this episode, Jemilah mentions Valerie Amos, who was UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator from 2010 to 2015, and who features herself in the Episode #4.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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Max Gaylard was an Australian diplomat who served as the High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands and as Director of International Relations of the Commonwealth Secretariat. Gaylard started working with the UN as a Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq, during the Oil for Food Programme. He has also served in UN leadership positions in the occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, Sudan and more. Gaylard has also served as the Director of Mine Action with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the UN.
In this episode, Max Gaylard reflects on his time as a government diplomat and compares this role to that of UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. He shares his insights on navigating the challenging work of UN leadership and the importance of diplomacy, through various personal examples.
Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.
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