Podcasts
The N4D podcast delivers a series of conversations with country and global decision makers who share their learning on what works, the challenges they face and the support they need to drive political change to end malnutrition.

The N4D podcast discussions are constructively challenging to get beyond rose tinted portrayals of our guests own agency or initiative achievements to an analysis of, and proposals for, how multi-stakeholder processes at country, regional and global levels could work better to end malnutrition.
Latest Episode
Episode 4:
Shawn K. Baker
Malnutrition is a political choice
In this episode, the N4D team discuss with Shawn Baker. Shawn is the Chief Program Officer with Helen Keller Intl and was formerly head of nutrition for USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He has also occupied senior leadership roles in international multistakeholder initiatives including the Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) Movement and the Global Nutrition Report. Shawn talks about his life journey from rural northwest Pennsylvania and studying marine biology to a lifelong career in public health nutrition. He highlights success stories from countries that have reduced malnutrition, the ingredients of success as well as challenges that are hindering progress around the world. He highlights the qualities needed by nutrition leaders at national and international levels. For background information on issues discussed, please see the episode notes below. Please share your comments, ideas and experiences.
Please join the debate!
Reading list:
- For multiple micronutrient supplements: Home – Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies (hmhbconsortium.org)
- For small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements: Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (ucdavis.edu) and Nutrition leaders urge scale-up of new intervention to prevent child malnutrition and mortality – Helen Keller Intl
- For updated guidelines on wasting: Guideline WHO guideline on the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema (acute malnutrition) in infants and children under 5 years (magicapp.org)
Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co
Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz
© N4D Group 2023
Our Guest
Shawn K. Baker
Chief Program Officer, Helen Keller Intl. Shawn leads Helen Keller’s efforts to support our world’s most vulnerable communities through strengthening food and health systems using scientifically proven solutions that are feasible, scalable, and equitable
Episode 3:
Karima Al-Hada´a:
Sustainable solutions to malnutrition in Yemen
In this episode, Carmel, Chris and Jeremy discuss the politics of adopting more sustainable solutions to malnutrition in Yemen with Karima Al-Hada´a. Karima is the Planning & Liaison Specialist in the Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN) Secretariat in Yemen, Assistant National Food Systems Convenor and a member of the global SUN Movement Executive Committee. The SUN Yemen Secretariat, within the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC), is the lead national entity responsible for coordinating all investments and actions for nutrition across sectors, throughout the country. Karima discusses the opportunities and challenges of scaling up development actions to prevent malnutrition and strengthening public systems, alongside humanitarian assistance. For background information on issues discussed, please see the episode notes below. Please share your comments, ideas and experiences.
Please join the debate!
Reading list:
- You can find information and analysis on the political situation in Yemen here:
- Crisis Group Org
- Find out more about N4D´s work in Yemen
- You can also find a link to the Yemen Multisectoral Nutrition Action Plan on that page.
- We recommend reading the Chatham House paper, on aid strategies in ‘politically estranged´ settings, mentioned by Chris at the end of the podcast.
Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co
Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz
© N4D Group 2023
Episode 2:
Mr. Habib Ur Rehman Mayar:
Trusting local actors and solutions in conflict affected countries
In this episode, Carmel, Chris and Jeremy discuss the politics of aid in fragile states with Habib Ur Rehman Mayar, Deputy General Secretary of the g7+ Secretariat and Executive Director of g7+ Foundation. The g7+ is an intergovernmental organisation made up of conflict-affected countries, providing a platform to collectively voice the need for national dialogue and reconciliation; advocate for effective development cooperation founded on the principles of country ownership, transparency and mutual accountability; and facilitate sharing of first-hand experience and good development practices. In this conversation, Habib advocates for reforms to the international aid system to support country led, sustainable development and solutions to conflict.
Reading list:
- Read about the G7+ here
- Learn about the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States and the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS)
- Find out more about N4D´s work in Yemen
Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co
Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz
© N4D Group 2023
Episode 1:
The N4d Team
Discuss paving the way for challenging conversations on driving political change for nutrition and development.
In this first episode of ¨The Politics of Ending Malnutrition¨, the N4D Directors, Carmel, Chris and Jeremy, discuss the purpose of the Podcast and how it relates to N4D´s country focussed strategy. They explain how the series of exciting and challenging conversations with decision makers will explore the way in which political and economic issues enable and hinder the scale up of evidence-based solutions to end malnutrition around the world.
Reading list:
For the definition of political economy quoted by Chris and a guide to understanding political economy analysis and thinking and working politically, learn more here
For information on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus
The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement
To read background on CMAM – the Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition and the barriers to scale up and how they might be overcome
Credits: Recorded edited and published by: N4D & Nutriat.co
Theme tune: Saraweto, used with kind permission of Just East of Jazz
© N4D Group 2023
Available on all major podcast platforms
COMMENT HERE