Shows
Rethink Social ChangeUnlock Societal Thinking: Speed, Scale, SustainHow do we move beyond projects to create infrastructure and ecosystems that enable long-term impact? What does it take to scale social change without losing depth, speed, or sustainability? In this episode of Rethink Social Change Podcast, I sat down with Sanjay Purohit , a systems thinker and the architect of Societal Thinking, a transformative approach to tackling big, urgent, and complex challenges at scale. As the Chief Curator of The Center for Exponential Change https://centreforexponentialchange.org/, Sanjay has worked with 500+ changemakers across 20 countries, pioneering new ways to rethink scale, speed, and sustainability in #socialimpact . 2025-03-0643 min
The Evaluation Couch29. Ratiba's Learnings From Navigating Uncertainty in International DevelopmentIn this episode, Ratiba Taouti Cherif joins Maria to share insights from her 20 years of experience in international development. Together, they explore Ratiba's learnings from navigating uncertainty in this space: Your industry is not your identity You will lose networks and build new ones Diverisying income isn't a backup plan. It's a power move The future of work is independent and global Sitting on both ends of the table changed everything Stability isn't a job. It's adaptability. Where to start Resources To learn more about Ratiba, follow her on LinkedIn. Her podcast is available on all m...2025-02-2740 minRethink Social ChangeAI and Social Change: A Reality Check with Yasmina KazitaniWhat happens when you sit down with an AI expert who doesn’t sugarcoat the hype? You get a conversation like this one.In this episode, I speak with Yasmina Kazitani who’s spent years at the cutting edge of AI, blockchain, and gaming. She’s not a social change practitioner, and that’s exactly why I wanted her perspective. We explore the big promises and hard truths of AI: Can it help marginalized communities gain power? Will it transform healthcare and education, or just reinforce existing inequalities? And, perhaps the biggest question of all: is...2025-02-1740 minRethink Social ChangeEvaluator Action Shaping a More Equitable and Just Future with Khalil BitarShould evaluators JUST measure progress, or should they actively shape it?Let’s start 2025 with a somewhat disruptive question 😮I sat down with Khalil Bitar, to explore how evaluation can drive real, lasting change. From decolonizing the field to amplifying youth-led innovations, Khalil shows us that evaluators can be activists for equity, justice, and systemic transformation.If you want to explore more of Khalil’s ideas, he wrote these two articles to push the field toward meaningful, context-driven action:💡SEAT (A So...2025-01-1052 minRethink Social ChangeReThink Social Change Cards in ActionSocial change. That process through which societal norms, values, structures, and practices evolve is anything but simple. It's messy, it’s dynamic and it’s unpredictable. For years, I’ve been toying with one question: how do we design initiatives that are not only effective but truly meaningful in a world that is neither linear nor static?In this ever-shifting landscape, the pressure on #NGOs and #CSOs to deliver is relentless. Less funding. Tighter deadlines. Fiercer competition. I know that rush all too well. The race to finalize reports after countless rounds of edits, the scramble to execut...2024-12-1615 minRethink Social Change(FR) Repenser l’évaluation dans un monde complexe avec Salah BouyousfiEnglish belowComment l'évaluation peut-elle évoluer pour aborder le monde complexe et rapide dans lequel nous vivons ?Je me suis entretenue avec l'évaluateur Marocain Salah Bouyousfi pour explorer cette question. Il a récemment co-écrit des articles intéressants avec Miche Ouedraogo : • Évaluation des interventions complexes : Lisez-le ici • L'IA et les Big Data dans l'évaluation : Découvrez leur revue iciDans sa réflexion et sa pratique, Salah repousse les limites avec des approches innovantes, systémiques et conscientes de la complexité pour améliorer l’évaluation des...2024-12-0551 minRethink Social ChangeNaming the Uncomfortable with Ruby Quantson DavisHow can we harness the energy of those driving social change? By staying grounded in our values, while navigating a world that's evolving faster than ever.Was really looking forward to kicking off Season 2 of the podcast with Ruby Quantson Davis. A change-making powerhouse with years of experience in navigating complex social transformations, Ruby is currently Senior Learning and Impact Advisor at Peace Direct , Associate Member of #WesleyHouse in #cambridge UK and a faculty member at the Deliberative Democracy Institute. This conversation is an opportunity to explore how to balance speed with thoughtful, d...2024-11-2043 minRethink Social ChangeClick Smart: Media Savvy Insights for Social Change with Janette BallardLearn to discern.That was the name of a component implemented by @irexdc and a part of the youth engagement @Ma3anTunisia program I worked on. Back then, my sons were still in elementary school and called me mom, so media literacy was of an intellectual interest to me back then.Fast forward four years, and now I'm "bruh." My kids navigate screens and sites like Formula One drivers, know a gazillion AI sites that can help do everything but clean their room…Learn to discern! An important mantra for teens and adults alike...2024-07-251h 06Rethink Social Change(FR) Localisation et Partenariats Durables avec Khadim DiengJe fais une petite parenthèse en ce jour d'anniversaire pour poster sur mon dernier podcast avec Khadim Dieng 🎙Nous nous sommes rencontré à #tambacounda au centre du #senegal 🇸🇳 il y a plus de 10 ans dans le cadre du projet de renforcement des capacités de l’USAID mis en oeuvre par FHI360 (à l'époque AED). J 'ai appuyé 3 organisations sénégalaises qui voulaient améliorer leur système de suivi & évaluation et c'était une véritable chance que de trouver Khadim à la tête du département suivi S&E de #GADEC, le Groupe d'Action pour le Dé...2024-07-0253 minRethink Social ChangeEvaluation Reality: purpose, context and technology with Ali KhatibWas so glad to have received Ali Al Khatib on the podcast!Ali is a dynamic Palestinian #evaluator and M&E specialist. He develops M&E systems, knowledge management frameworks and also refines existing performance monitoring strategies to ensure data quality. He's collaborated with major players like USAID, UK's FCDO, the EU, IBRD, and the UN across Palestine, Tunisia, and Libya. Ali is very skilled at transforming data into compelling visuals whether it's through dynamic dashboards or engaging infographics! When he's not immersed in M&E project work, Ali p...2024-06-1139 minRethink Social Change(FR) Précarité menstruelle et autonomisation des femmes avec Yaye Helene Ndiaye1 fille sur 10 ne va pas à l’école pendant son cycle menstruel Source @UNESCO ➡️ 20 % du temps scolaire perdu sur une année.Moins de 12 ans d’études = pertes de productivité et de revenu de 15 000 à 30 000 milliards USD à l’échelle mondiale, tout au long de la vie d’une fille. Source: @WorldBank Quid des ODD ? Cette problématique touche à 3 d’entre eux.🎯Éducation de qualité (ODD 4)🎯Égalité entre les sexes (ODD 5) 🎯Eau propre et l’assainissement (ODD 6)Malgré de nombreux efforts mis en oeuvre telles que WASH in Schools de @UNGEI , ou les campagnes choc de l’ @UNICEF dans des...2024-05-2849 minRethink Social Change(FR) Des chaines de valeurs adaptées et créatrices de richesse avec Imane ChafchaouniLe 10 mai est la journée internationale de l’arganier! Cet arbre, mentionné pour la première fois au moyen age par le médecin égyptien Ibn El Baytar, est au centre du développement économique et social de nombreuses cooperatives de femmes au Maroc.J’ai eu le plaisir de recevoir Dr Imane Chafchaouni sur podcast. Ancienne professeure en biochimie en école d’ingénieur, elle se tourne vers le développement social et économique en accompagnant les chaînes de valeur des produits du terroir, justement l’Association Ibn Al Bay...2024-05-1343 minRethink Social Change(FR) Vers une fonction publique efficace en Tunisie avec Nahla GratiDans de nombreux pays la réforme de la fonction publique est un chantier complexe, avec de nombreux défis et une sensibilité politique, sociale et économique certaine. La GIZ s’est attelée, à la demande de la présidence du Gouvernement Tunisien, à l’un de ces défis en accompagnant le processus de modernisation du système de formation et d’évaluation de la fonction publique en Tunisie.Un projet d’envergure et de longue haleine qui ne peut se faire sans réelle volonté et collaboration des différentes institutions impliquées.Mon invité @NahlaGrati, Exp...2024-05-1341 minRethink Social Change(FR) Vers une reconnaissance de l’expertise locale! avec Massimilliano Di TottaMon dernier invité du podcast ne m’a pas donné le choix. En me mettant au défis de faire un épisode en Français, il ne m’a pas seulement permis de penser « hors de la boite », car comme dit Deepak Chopra, il m’a débarrassé de la boite! Et j’en suis ravie parce que ça me permet d’élargir la portée du podcast en l’ouvrant aux voix francophones. Mon invité ? Massimilliano Di Totta ! Depuis 24 années, de l’Amérique Centrale à l’Afrique de l'Ouest en passant par le Maghreb, il met ses comptences...2024-05-1338 minRethink Social ChangeReimagining INGOs and a stronger civil society in the Global South with Charles Kojo VandyckInterested in discussions around the decolonization of aid?!You wouldn’t want to miss this galvanizing episode of the podcast with Charles Kojo Vandyck.Charles is a true visionary and catalyst for change who's been reimagining civil society for some years now. Through his ongoing work at the West Africa Civil Society Institute, where he heads the #capacitydevelopment unit, or the RINGO initiative, Charles is contributing to rewriting the rules for civil society: Developing strategies to strengthen the financial sustainability of civil society, tapping into local philanthropy, championing indigenous leadership, untying aid to northern CSOs or...2024-04-1242 minRethink Social ChangeLeveraging evaluation approaches for systemic change with Yulia Jessica Romo-RamosIn this episode of the podcast, I had the pleasure of sharing with Yulia Jessica Romo-Ramos, founder of Nexus Evaluation LTD. Known for her inclusive and participatory evaluation methodologies, Jessica blends systems thinking with diverse approaches and an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) lens to deliver impactful findings. She also shares her observations and thoughts in a blog that offers invaluable insights from a range of evaluations, covering topics like strengthening civil society, optimizing impact through knowledge management, and fostering collaboration within organizations. The cards drawn to guide our conversation were Capacity Strengthening, Institutional Change, Re...2024-03-2942 minRethink Social ChangeLearning brokers and how to negotiate progress towards change with Florencia GierzovichHey Changemaker,Get ready to dive into this insightful conversation with Florencia Gierzovich!With a background in political science and extensive experience in governance, programming, and monitoring and evaluation, Florencia has made significant contributions to transparency and accountability initiatives from the Argentinian Anti-Corruption Office to her work with the World Bank and the Open Society Foundation, she's definitely honed her systems convening skills. The cards drawn got us to discuss the Economic context surrounding Dialogue Facilitation, highlighting its value, the costs involved etc. and how we could harness Technology to support these processes. We...2024-03-1550 minRethink Social ChangeThink in terms of portfolio of interventions when it comes to evaluation! with Jérôme HealthHe's navigated the complex landscape of international development for close to two decades, designing and measuring the results of social change. Jérôme Health is a senior consultant at INOMER. Not just an evaluation expert, he's really a storyteller of impact in fields ranging from peacebuilding to governance, but also migration, poverty reduction, and more recently, science, technology, and innovation. With 50 evaluation and research studies under his belt, Jérôme skillfully uses both quantitative methods to unpack and understand projects implemented across Africa. The cards drawn to guide our conversation were an invitation to discuss:How...2024-02-1629 minRethink Social ChangeUnderstanding stakeholders & embracing organic processes with Tarek LamouchiIn this episode, the dynamic Tarek Lamouchi took me up on the challenge. He's a trainer, an advisor, and a writer. He started his career working in microfinance in Tunisia before extending his expertise to NGOs and the private sector in areas of conflict management, peacebuilding, economic justice, or social responsibility. The diversity of his professional experience gives him this holistic perspective on social change. When he’s not facilitating a social change process, he writes books. Not any books. Horror, Sci-fi, and fantasy books! But that’s not what we talked about… The cards drawn to...2024-02-0230 minRethink Social ChangeWe need a change of mindset! with Silva FirrettiSilva Firretti is a free thinker who uses every project, every evaluation as a way of getting closer to her vision of social change, of development work writ large. Her experience spans decades, continents and sectors which gives her this poised, lucid and pragmatic outlook on our sector. You can check out her work on https://silva.duckonthemove.com. The cards drawn to guide our conversation were an invitation to discuss change at Community level, how we measure and what we measure & the role of Consultants! And the bonus card was a reminder of the D...2024-01-1938 minRethink Social ChangeLessons from 30+ years on the ground! with Ian HopwoodIan Hopwood joined me from the Land of the Teranga, Senegal! If you’ve worked on M&E and in West Africa, I am sure you already know him. Ian is one of those living libraries you seldom meet in your life. He’s been UNICEF country representative a few times and its chief of evaluation at headquarters. So, atop 3 decades of experience on the ground, he's got that big picture view of the whole development life cycle that I really like to tap into and a zesty, no non-sense outlook on the whole development complex. The...2024-01-0534 minRethink Social ChangeEpisode 2: On Expectations, Participation and Policy Change with Jihed Haj SalemFrom the sunny shores of Tunisia, with choppy internet connection, barking dogs and all, I was joined by Jihed Haj Salem a social scientist and researcher extraordinaire. His focus areas are social inclusion, conflict mitigation and countering violent extremism in Tunisia and the larger MENA region. As an applied social researcher, he helps social change organizations assess the landscape in which they work and monitor the context to better tailor responses and genuinely improve the lives of people they serve. The cards drawn to guide us were an invitation to discuss Social Context, Aid Actors an...2023-12-1531 minRethink Social ChangeParticipatory video for evaluation with Soledad MuñizIn this first episode of the Rethink Social Change podcast I am joined by Soledad Muniz who is Director of Programs at InsightShare. A UK-based organisation, InsightShare empowers people by giving them and training them to use video cameras as tools for transformative change. With over two decades of experience, Soledad has spearheaded over 30 projects across the world addressing critical issues such as the environment, indigenous rights, gender equality, and youth advocacy. I worked with her on the UNICEF Education and Peacebuilding Project in West & Central Africa, where we used participatory video and most significant change to evaluate some...2023-12-0136 min