In this week’s podcast, Dan is joined by Todd Moss, Executive Director of the Energy for Growth Hub. On September 27^th, Todd launched the Energy for Growth Hub, a new global network connecting research and policymakers to build high-energy systems. Todd has spent most of his career at the Center for Global Development, where his work has focused on Africa, energy, and development finance. Todd also previously served as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs. To hear more from Todd about the future of Africa, listen to our podcast.
 

In this installment of “Building the Future with Dan Runde,” International Labor Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder discusses how technology is defining what work, careers, and industry will look like in the future. The ILO is at the forefront of ensuring that worker rights are preserved no matter how impactful the fourth industrial revolution is to current global labor markets. But the questions remain, how will those markets change, how will they impact welfare systems, and how do the needs of developing and developed countries differ when it comes to technology? Listen to our podcast and watch our public event to hear more about forging the future of work.

On this episode, Dan is joined by David Bohigian, Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the United States’ development finance institution. Mr. Bohigian has considerable experience in both the public and private sectors, working for Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund as well several key trade roles under President George W. Bush. In this episode, Dan and David discuss the changing role of OPIC and how the BUILD Act will modernize the institution. OPIC focuses on catalyzing private sector investment in some of the world’s most fragile and challenging environments. In 2017, OPIC invested $3.8 billion in new commitments, taking their global portfolio to 23.2 billion across 90 developing countries. Tune in to our podcast to hear more from Mr. Bohigian and to learn more about OPIC.
 

On this episode, Dan is joined by C.D. Glin, President of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF). Mr. Glin has substantial experience in Africa, beginning with the Peace Corps in Ghana and South Africa. Mr. Glin also worked for the IFC in Nigeria, for the Peace Corps under President Barack Obama, and most recently as Associate Director for Africa at the Rockefeller Foundation. USADF is the US government's African enterprise agency, providing seed capital and technical support to create African-led, demand driven solutions. Africa has long been viewed as a challenge more than an opportunity. In this episode, Dan and C.D. discuss the opportunities for the U.S. to engage further on the continent and the growing role of China. Tune in to hear more from Mr. Glin and what makes him optimistic for the future.

Dan is joined by Agnes Dasewicz, Fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation and former Director of the Office of Private Capital and Microenterprise at USAID. Her career has spanned over 20 years in development finance, working at SEAF, AIG, and IFC at different points. In this episode, Dan and Agnes discuss the beginning of career working in private capital in emerging markets in Eastern Europe. During her time at USAID, Agnes helped secure over $20 billion of investment commitments from U.S. and African financiers in support of Power Africa. Agnes is now working on a project called “Opportunity America” which focuses on opportunities to create and finance sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in the poorer parts of the United States. To hear more from Agnes, watch her recent exit interview at CSIS.

This week’s podcast features Patrick Awuah, Founder and President of Ashesi University in Accra, Ghana. After growing up in Ghana, Patrick went to Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. He then launched a very successful career at Microsoft during the internet bubble. Patrick eventually decided that he wanted to go to business school which is where he first had the idea of starting a new private university in Ghana. Only 5 percent of youth ages 18-25 years old in Ghana were going to college at that time in 1998. When Patrick first started Ashesi University, the first class had 30 students and classes took place in a small home; now, over a thousand students have graduated from Ashesi and gone on to have very successful careers in engineering and science. Now, over 50 percent of students at Ashesi receive some form of scholarship as well. To hear more from Patrick, check out the event CSIS hosted on Future Directions for Higher Education in Africa.  

 In this episode, Dan is joined by two guests: Bonnie McClafferty, Director of Food Value Chain at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Kimberly Flowers, Director of the Humanitarian Agenda and Global Food Security Project here at CSIS. 1 in 3 people are malnourished and over 30 percent of all food is wasted. In this podcast, Dan, Bonnie, and Kimberly discuss the role of technology and knowledge-sharing in reducing post-harvest loss in developing countries. Beyond the challenge of feeding the growing population, the conversation focuses on the importance of nutrition and improving diets in order to avoid negative health outcomes. Bonnie and Kimberly also make it clear that the private sector is key to eliminating hunger. Click here to learn more about the U.S.’s role in improving food security and nutrition

Dan is joined in this podcast by Michael Rawlings, the Mayor of Dallas and a member of our Task Force on Forced Migration. Before becoming Mayor, Mr. Rawlings worked in the private sector and was the CEO of Pizza Hut. One out of four residents in Dallas was born outside the United States. During his time in office, Mayor Rawlings was also confronted by the Ebola crisis when someone was diagnosed with Ebola in Dallas, the first reported case in the United States. Dallas has become home to people from not just Latin America but Southeast Asia and Africa. To hear more from Mayor Rawlings, check out our report launch.

In this podcast, Dan Runde is joined by Benn Steil, Senior Fellow and Director of International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. In February 2018, Dr. Steil published a new book, The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War, that places foreign aid to Western Europe in the context of the Cold War and U.S. national security interests. You can find CSIS’ review of the book here. Dan and Dr. Steil also discuss his earlier work, The Battle of Bretton Woods, which focuses on the Bretton Woods conference which established the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The role of Soviet espionage in the conference is rarely discussed and prepares you for his later work focused on the Marshall Plan. A Marshall Plan announced today would be worth closer to $103 billion and an enormous amount of effort from people like General Marshall and Arthur Vandenberg was required to ensure that it passed through Congress. For more, check out the book event hosted at CSIS.

Dan Runde is honored to be joined for this podcast by Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic Institute (NDI). In his 25 years as President, Ken Wollack has been a champion of democracy along with support from NDI chair, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. In this podcast, he discusses the challenges to democracy today and the lasting impact of events like the Arab Spring. Freedom House reports that there are still 49 countries that fall in the “Not Free” category. Ken shares what makes his optimistic for the future. To hear more from Ken, check out his exit interview at CSIS.