Beyond the Brink Interview Series

Episode 1: Dr. Yong Sebastian Nyam, South Africa – Economist and DRR Specialist at the World Bank who shared insights from his extensive work on climate resilience, early warning systems, and adaptive strategies for vulnerable communities across Africa. In this episode, we discussed innovations in DRR, including AI and remote sensing,and their impact on building sustainable, disaster-resilient communities.

Episode 2: Dr. John Bosco Isunju, Uganda – Public Health Expert and Academic at Makerere University.

Dr. Isunju brought his wealth of knowledge on the intersection of climate change, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and public health. In this episode, we explored how climate change is reshaping public health systems, key principles of DRR, and the challenges of integrating climate adaptation into health policies.

Dr. Isunju also shared powerful examples of community-driven interventions in Uganda, highlighting their role in building resilience and offering lessons for global strategies.

Episode 3: Dr. Mshelia, Nigeria – Environmental Management Expert and Research Fellow at DiMTEC

In this episode, Dr. Mshelia discusses Nigeria’s most pressing natural hazards and innovative strategies for disaster risk management, including the use of AI and satellite imagery. He also explores how to strengthen food value chains to ensure resilience and food security amidst climate challenges.

Episode 4: Zaheer Khan, Pakistan – Disaster Risk Management Expert at SDMA

In this episode, Zaheer Khan dives into Pakistan’s most pressing climate-induced disasters, including floods and droughts, and the challenges of implementing effective disaster risk reduction strategies. He also highlights the role of local communities and indigenous knowledge in building resilience and discusses sustainable solutions for bridging financial gaps in disaster management.

Episode 5: Kevin Blanchard , an experenced policy maker, trainer and advocate for the inclusion of marginalized groups in DRR.

In this episode, Kevin discusses how climate change drives gender-based violence, explores inclusive solutions to address these issues, and emphasizes the importance of empowering local communities for climate action and fostering international collaboration.