Kofi Time: The Podcast

Get up close and personal with this collection of stories and memories of Kofi Annan. The final episode in our special 10-part series "Kofi Time" welcomes a variety of guests who worked closely with Kofi Annan during his time as the head of the United Nations and as Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation. What was it like to work with him, and what made him such a special leader? During the last nine episodes, podcast host Ahmad Fawzi discussed with influential experts and leaders who worked with Kofi Annan, his unique legacy and its continued relevance to our world today. Ahmad and guests discussed how Kofi Annan solved crises and challenges in public health, conflict resolution, human rights, hunger and poverty. In this last episode, we look at the man himself and try to understand who he really was. Ahmad talks to people who worked with him day after day, whether at the United Nations or at the Kofi Foundation, which he established later and chaired until his death in 2018. Also in this episode, Kofi Annan Foundation Executive Director Corinne Momal-Vanian turns the tables and asks host Ahmad to share his memories of working with Kofi Annan. Hear from Kofi Annan’s Special Representative in Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti, Lakhdar Brahimi; Under-Secretary-General for Peace-Keeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno; Deputy Chief of Cabinet, Elizabeth Lindenmayer; his personal assistants, Anastasiya Delenda and Natalie McDonnell; one of his close protection officers, Moataz Khalil; and his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

"Too many regimes fail to represent the needs and hopes of their people." In Kofi Time episode 9, Ahmad Fawzi welcomes Mohamed Ibn Chambas to discuss democracy in Africa. Together, they discuss the reasons why democracy seems to have lost some of its shine on the continent, especially among young people. And yet, surveys show that a great majority of people reject autocrats and military takeovers. Drawing on Kofi Annan's leadership, how can we enhance democratic resilience and promote the participation of civil society, women, and young people? About Mohamed Ibn Chambas: Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas is a Ghanaian politician, lawyer, diplomat and academic. He served previously as Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and Head of the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWAS) from 2014 to 2021. Dr Chambas was the Joint Special Representative (JSR) of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur(UNAMID) and Joint Chief Mediator (JCM) in charge of the Darfur peace negotiations between 2013–14. From 2010–13, he was the Secretary-General of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group (ACP). Prior to his leadership of the ACP, Dr Chambas served as President of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2007–2010. He also served as the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS starting in February 2002, when ECOWAS was a Secretariat.

In Kofi Time episode 8, part 2, podcast host Ahmad Fawzi welcomes Alicia Bárcena, former Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, to continue the discussion on eradicating poverty. Alicia and Ahmad deplore weakened multilateralism, the lack of political will and the economic policies that can undermine development progress. They discuss the need for collective action and for a comprehensive vision to tackle poverty. Alicia stresses the need for a ‘care society’ that cares for the planet, people, and public goods. In an age of unprecedented wealth and technical progress, how can we promote solidarity and redistribute resources? How can Kofi Annan’s spirit inspire us to push development further and finally make poverty history? About Alicia Bárcena: Alicia Bárcena is the former Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) (2008-2022). She had previously served as the Under-Secretary-General for Management at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Chef de Cabinet and Deputy Chef de Cabinet to the former Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan. Alicia Bárcena held the post of Deputy Executive Secretary and Director of ECLAC's Environment and Human Settlements Division. Prior to her time at ECLAC, Ms Bárcena served as Co-ordinator of the Latin American and Caribbean Sustainable Development Programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), responsible for the Environmental Citizenship Project at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Alicia Bárcena was the Founding Director of the Earth Council in Costa Rica, a non-governmental organization in charge of the follow-up to the agreements reached at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. Ms Bárcena has published numerous articles on sustainable development, public policy, environmental issues, and public participation. Alicia Bárcena holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM, in Spanish), as well as a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University. She has completed a Master's degree in Ecology and has initiated studies for a PhD degree in Economics at the UNAM. She has been awarded honoris causa doctorates from the University of Oslo, Norway, in September 2014, the University of Havana, Cuba, in March 2016, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in September 2019. In July 2015, she was appointed by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) as an extraordinary teacher to collaborate at the Economics School and other entities. On 1 October 2014, she received the medal 2013 in International Relations from the University of Anáhuac.

In Kofi Time episode 8, part 1, Ahmad Fawzi welcomes Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to discuss how we can advance the fight against poverty. Mark discusses how Kofi Annan's concept for the Millennium Development Goals was a necessary milestone in reducing poverty and brought unprecedented progress in development. Mark and Ahmad discuss Kofi Annan’s approach to sustainable development: combining a long-term vision with short-term goals. How can we reignite Kofi Annan’s global endeavour to eradicate poverty once and for all? About Mark Suzman: As CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mark Suzman leads the organization in service of our mission – to help every person have the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life. Knowing that we cannot achieve that mission alone, he brings a deep commitment to building partnerships and ensuring that the culture of the foundation directly enables the impact we aspire to have. Mark serves as a member of the foundation’s board of trustees in his role as CEO. Mark's upbringing in apartheid South Africa instilled in him a desire to use the advantages afforded to him to help tackle injustice and inequality. He began his career doing that through journalism, writing for the Johannesburg Star and then the Financial Times, where he covered international trade policy, welfare reform, and political issues, including the historic 1994 election of Nelson Mandela. In 2000, Mark joined the United Nations, where he was part of the effort to implement the Millennium Development Goals under the leadership of then Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He held multiple positions at the UN over his six-year tenure, including senior advisor for policy and strategic communications in the Office of the Secretary General, and policy director in the Office of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Program. Mark joined the foundation in 2007 as director of Global Development Policy, Advocacy, and Special Initiatives. Prior to becoming CEO, he served as managing director of Country Offices, president of Global Policy and Advocacy, and chief strategy officer. In these roles, he built and oversaw the development of the foundation’s offices in India, China, Africa, and Europe, and managed the foundation’s relationships with government, private philanthropists, and civil society. He also implemented a new system for how the foundation measures impact and manages tradeoffs across its strategic priorities. Mark holds a doctorate in international relations from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He earned his bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, from Harvard University.

In episode 7 of Kofi Time, podcast host Ahmad Fawzi welcomes two special guests, Hajer Sharief and Jeremy Gilley, to discuss the importance of youth inclusion in global challenges and peacebuilding. Sharing their experiences of meeting and working with Kofi Annan, Hajer and Jeremy highlight Kofi Annan’s ability to connect with young people, giving them a voice and treating them as true counterparts. Kofi Annan knew young people can be powerful agents of change. What can we learn from the 'Kofi Annan way' and how can we ensure youth are included in decision-making? About Hajer Sharief: Hajer Sharief is a Libyan human rights advocate and the co-founder of “Together we build it.” Hajer promotes the participation of women and youth in peacebuilding efforts in Libya. The United Nations Secretary-General selected her to serve as a member of the Advisory Group of Experts for the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security, mandated by UNSCR 2250. Hajer is also one of the twelve UN Women Champions on Women, Peace, Security and Human Rights and one of the twelve Extremely Together Young Leaders. About Jeremy Gilley: Actor and filmmaker Jeremy Gilley is best known for founding Peace One Day. A passionate advocate, Jeremy has made it his mission to ensure that war-torn countries work towards a state of peace. Since establishing the foundation, Jeremy has pioneered vital work in countries torn apart by conflict and made a difference to the lives of many. Throughout his career, Jeremy has been highly rewarded for his commitment to a peaceful world. In 2008, he received the 2008 Campaigner of the Year award and the Cinema for Peace Award for the Most Inspirational Film of the Year. Later in 2010, he was awarded the Wateler Peace Prize by the Carnegie Foundation. He has also been the recipient of the Lennon-Ono Grant for Peace, the Champions of Peace Award and the Africa Peace Award.

In episode 6 of Kofi Time, our special guest is Zeid Raad Al Hussein. Zeid discusses his friendship with Kofi Annan and how they worked together to protect human dignity and promote human rights. Through the creation of the Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court, Kofi Annan played a critical role in establishing the mechanisms we have today to protect human rights and combat impunity. How can we uphold Kofi Annan’s legacy and ensure that respect for human rights is not just an abstract concept but a reality? About Zeid Raad Al Hussein: Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is IPI’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Previously, Zeid served as the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2014 to 2018 after a long career as a Jordanian diplomat, including as his country’s Permanent Representative to the UN (2000-2007 & 2010-2014) and Ambassador to the United States (2007-2010). He served on the UN Security Council, was a configuration chair for the UN Peace-Building Commission, and began his career as a UN Peacekeeper in the former Yugoslavia. Zeid has also represented his country twice before the International Court of Justice, served as the President of the Assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court from 2002-2005, and in 2005, authored the first comprehensive strategy for the elimination of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in UN Peacekeeping Operations while serving as an advisor to Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Zeid is also a member of The Elders, an independent group of global leaders working together for peace, justice and human rights, founded by Nelson Mandela. Zeid holds a PhD from Cambridge University and is currently a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

In episode 5 of Kofi Time, host Ahmad Fawzi interviews diplomat Michael Møller on Kofi Annan’s special kind of leadership. A respected leader among his peers and the public, Kofi Annan served the people of the world with empathy and tolerance. Embodying moral steadfastness and an acute political acumen, his leadership was one of its kind. What drove him, and how can we emulate his leadership style to face today’s global challenges? About Michael Moller: Mr Møller has over 40 years of experience as an international civil servant in the United Nations. He began his career in 1979 with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and worked for the United Nations in different capacities in New York, Mexico, Iran, Haiti, Cyprus and Geneva. Mr Møller served as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva as well as Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament and Personal Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to the Conference of Disarmament from September 2013 to July 2019. Prior to that, Mr Møller served as Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation from 2008 to 2011. In recognition of his efforts to deepen public understanding of the vital role of the United Nations and its partners in Geneva, Mr Møller received a series of prizes from the City of Geneva, the Union Suisse des Attachés de Presse and, most recently, the Fondation pour Genève. Born in 1952 in Copenhagen, Mr Møller earned a Master’s degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University, the United States, and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom.

In episode 4 of Kofi Time, our special guest is Catherine Bertini. Ms. Bertini discusses how she worked with Kofi Annan to fight hunger and malnutrition around the world. Not only is access to food far from universal, but it is also severely impacted by conflicts and climate change. As food prices increase and access becomes even more challenging, how can we replicate Kofi Annan’s approach to improving food systems to make sure no one gets lefts behind on the path to food security globally? About Catherine Bertini: An accomplished leader in food security, international organization reform and a powerful advocate for women and girls, Catherine Bertini has had a distinguished career improving the efficiency and operations of organizations serving poor and hungry people in the United States and around the world. She has highlighted and supported the roles of women and girls in influencing change. She was named the 2003 World Food Prize Laureate for her transformational leadership at the World Food Programme (WFP), which she led for ten years, and for the positive impact she had on the lives of women. While in the US government, she expanded the electronic benefit transfer options for food stamp beneficiaries, created the food package for breastfeeding mothers, presented the first effort to picture healthy diets, and expanded education and training opportunities for poor women. As a United Nations Under Secretary-General, and at the head of the World Food Programme for ten years (1992 to 2002), she led UN humanitarian missions to the Horn of Africa and to Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel. During her time serving with WFP, Catherine Bertini was responsible for the leadership and management of emergency, refugee, and development food aid operations, reaching people in great need in over 100 countries, as well as advocacy campaigns to end hunger and to raise financial resources. With her World Food Prize, she created the Catherine Bertini Trust Fund for Girls’ Education to support programs to increase opportunities for girls and women to attend school. At the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, where she is now professor emeritus, she taught graduate courses in humanitarian action, post-conflict reconstruction, girls’ education, UN management, food security, international organizations, and leadership. She served as a senior fellow at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation early in its new agricultural development program. Bertini is now the chair of the board of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Concurrently, she is a Distinguished Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. She has been named a Champion of the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit. She is a professor emeritus at Syracuse University. Photo Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

In episode 3 of Kofi Time, our special guest is Dr Peter Piot. Dr Piot shares with Ahmad Fawzi how he and Kofi Annan worked together to reverse the HIV/AIDs tide that swept through Africa in the 1990s. Dr Piot explains how they used patient yet bold diplomacy, innovative partnerships, and an inclusive approach to bring previously marginalised communities to the table. Can this approach be replicated today as the world enters the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic and must prepare for future health emergencies? About Peter Piot: Dr Peter Piot co-discovered the Ebola virus in Zaire in 1976. He has led research on HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, and women's health, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Peter Piot was the founding Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1995 until 2008. Under his leadership, UNAIDS has become the chief advocate for worldwide action against AIDS. It has brought together ten organizations of the United Nations system around a common agenda on AIDS, spearheading UN reform Peter Piot was the Director of the Institute for Global Health at Imperial College; London and he held the 2009/2010 "Knowledge against poverty" Chair at the College de France in Paris. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and was elected a foreign member of the National Academy of Medicine of the US National Academy of Sciences.

In episode 2 of Kofi Time, host Ahmad Fawzi interviews renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour. Together, they discuss a world in turmoil, and what would Kofi Annan - who did so much for peace - do today? Christiane shares her thoughts on the ‘Kofi Annan way’, the difficult job mediators and peacebuilders face, and the courage they must show. With Ahmad, they deliberate whether there is a type of ‘calling' for those who work in this field. About Christiane Amanpour: Christiane Amanpour is a renowned journalist whose illustrious career has taken her from CNN, where she was Chief International Correspondent for many years, to ABC as a Global Affairs Anchor, PBS and back to CNN International for the global affairs interview program named after her. She has received countless prestigious awards, including four Peabody Awards, for her international reporting and her achievements in broadcast journalism. She served on the board of directors of the Committee to Protect Journalists and as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Freedom of Expression and Journalist Safety. She is also an honorary citizen of Sarajevo and was made a Commander of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 2007.