The CGD Podcast

Can Venezuela's Economy Recover? With Dany Bahar and Liliana Rojas-Suarez

Venezuela has experienced one of the deepest economic collapses in modern history, with incomes falling sharply, poverty soaring, and millions forced to leave the country. Following the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power, Venezuela now faces a moment of uncertainty and possibility. In this episode of the CGD Podcast, I'm joined by Dany Bahar, Director of CGD's Migration and Displacement Program, and Liliana Rojas-Suarez, Director of CGD's Latin America Initiative, to discuss what comes next. We examine how Venezuela reached this point, the conditions that need to be in place for a credible economic recovery, the role of oil and debt restructuring, and how the country can realistically chart a path out of poverty and back toward stability and growth.

Vaccines in a Changing Global Health Landscape with Seth Berkley

CGD's Rachel Glennerster speaks with Seth Berkley, former CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, about lessons from COVID-19 and how they should shape future vaccine development and delivery.

Inside the 2025 Commitment to Development Index with Ian Mitchell

In this episode, I speak with Ian Mitchell, the lead author of the 2025 Commitment to Development Index (CDI), about what this year's results reveal. We discuss why many countries have slipped in their overall contributions to global development, where progress is emerging, and how the CDI can guide smarter, more coherent policymaking across trade, migration, climate, technology, and development finance at a time of increasingly constrained budgets. Ian also reflects on the major trends shaping this year's index and urges policymakers and advocates to look beyond aid when thinking about how to drive real impact for the world's poorest countries.

Philanthropy's Evolving Role in Global Development with Katrina Sill

The landscape of global development is shifting—shrinking aid budgets, emerging funding models, and evolving priorities are forcing philanthropic capital to move faster, take greater risks, and fill critical gaps left by governments and multilateral institutions.   What should the role of philanthropy look like? In this time of disruption, philanthropic donors are also presented with an opportunity to rethink, identify and remove barriers, and consider what changes can be truly game-changing.  In this episode, I speak with Katrina Sill, Global Health and Development Lead at Founders Pledge, about their newly launched Catalytic Impact Fund. We discuss risk, impact, evidence, and how philanthropic entities can balance responding to immediate needs and foster resilient systems for the future.  

The CGD Podcast: Where AI Meets Development with Temina Madon and Han Sheng Chia

From chatbots supporting new mothers and nutrition coaches guiding families, to tutoring tools for children and apps advising farmers, artificial intelligence is beginning to find its place in development. But is it ready—and are we? In this episode of the CGD Podcast, I'm joined by Temina Madon, Executive Director of the Agency Fund, and Han Sheng Chia, CGD Fellow and Director of our new AI initiative. We discuss where AI shows promise—from health and education to livelihoods and agriculture—what risks it could amplify, and how the development community can ensure these technologies improve lives rather than deepen inequalities.