The Devex Book Club

SummaryAward-winning journalist Roger Thurow reveals how conventional farming practices are simultaneously depleting resources and failing millions of farmers worldwide. His investigation finds that many receiving food aid are actually food producers, highlighting a fundamental flaw in global agricultural systems. Drawing from field research across multiple continents, Thurow highlights promising indigenous and regenerative farming approaches that could transform global food systems while addressing climate challenges.Chapters00:00 The Collision of Nourishment and Planetary Health02:30 The Journey into Agriculture and Food Security05:42 Unintended Consequences of Agricultural Practices10:25 Lessons from Farmers: Regret and Resilience14:26 The Debate: Regenerative vs. Modern Agriculture20:08 Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture25:15 The Role of Farmers in Global Agriculture27:54 The Importance of Listening to FarmersWant to stay updated on the latest news in global development? Subscribe to Devex’s Newswire: https://www.devex.com/newsletters/newswire 

SummaryGarance Wattez-Richard, CEO of AXA EssentiALL, discusses the transformative potential of inclusive insurance in addressing vulnerabilities, particularly in low and middle-income countries. She sits down with Raj Kumar to share her journey into the insurance industry, the evolution of microinsurance, and the importance of regulatory frameworks. The discussion highlights the profitability of inclusive insurance and its critical role in achieving sustainable development goals, especially in the context of climate change. Chapters00:00 The Risk of Vulnerability00:47 Revolutionizing Insurance for All01:37 A Journey into Development and Insurance06:45 The Evolution of Microinsurance11:41 Profitability in Inclusive Insurance14:50 The Risks of Insurance Solutions19:15 Regulatory Challenges in Emerging Markets23:07 Insurance as a Core Development Activity28:13 The Future of Insurance and Development Want to stay updated on the latest news in global development? Subscribe to Devex’s Newswire: https://www.devex.com/newsletters/newswire 

SummaryDiscover why "business as usual" fails in the world's toughest places. Viva Ona Bartkus sits down with Raj Kumar to reveal the counterintuitive tactics that unlock massive opportunities where others fear to tread. Learn why:The most successful security strategy isn't higher walls – it's community ownershipHow to turn "middlemen with guns" into business partnersWhy Chinese companies are winning while Western firms hesitatePlus: The radical partnership model that's transforming dangerous markets from Uganda to Colombia. Bartkus shares explosive insights from 15+ years working with multinationals, Special Forces, and local communities in conflict zones.Chapters00:00 Embedding Business in Local Communities01:53 The Journey to Frontline Markets07:02 Understanding Market Dynamics11:18 The Role of Middlemen in Local Economies12:45 Security Through Community Engagement16:14 The Next Round of Globalization20:02 The Competitive Landscape of Global Investment23:42 Collaboration Between Security and Development25:28 Bridging the Gap Between Business and Humanitarian Efforts28:41 The Role of ESG in Business Strategies31:17 Adapting Business Models for Extractive Industries36:43 The Future of Development FinanceWant to stay updated on the latest news in global development? Subscribe to Devex’s Newswire: https://www.devex.com/newsletters/newswire 

From refugee camps to Oxfam's helm, Danny Sriskandarajah has witnessed firsthand how real change can happen—not in boardrooms, but on streets and in communities. Drawing from his book "Power to the People," he challenges the development sector's top-down mindset by showcasing how citizen action, from anti-corruption movements to neighborhood repair cafes, creates lasting social transformation. In an era where just 3% of humanity lives in truly open societies, Sriskandarajah presents a compelling case for what he calls "the undergrowth": the vital networks of civic engagement that bypass traditional institutions to build solutions from the ground up. His message is both urgent and optimistic: in a world of climate crisis and democratic decline, our most powerful lever for change isn't waiting for permission—it's citizens reclaiming their power.

What does it take to transform an idea from one that serves hundreds to millions, if not billions? Sanjay Purohit has spent his career aiming to crack this code. As the CEO and Chief Curator of Centre for Exponential Change, Purohit knows firsthand that scaling social impact requires more than just good intentions—it demands a complete reimagining of how we approach societal change. Since 2016, he's been pioneering "Societal Thinking," an approach that's reached over 500 change leaders across 20 countries, tackling everything from climate action to gender equity. Think scale: A curation of ideas to help you—the first in his groundbreaking trilogy on social transformation—captures these battle-tested insights.

In this episode of the Devex Book Club podcast, President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Microsoft's Juan M. Lavista Ferres to talk about how he got his start with computer science, what AI can do (and what it can’t), and how Beluga whales can help detect war crimes in Syria.  

Doing meaningful work doesn't have to come at the expense of your whole life. In fact, Alex Amouyel argues that anyone can create a life full of impact. In this episode of the Devex Book Club, Alex takes us through her own winding career trajectory, from her time as a scientist to her current role as President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation, and shares that with enough will and determination, everyone has what it takes to make a difference. For more information on upcoming episodes and to sign up for our mailing list, visit the Devex Book Club here: https://pages.devex.com/devex-book-club.html

Reframing six centuries of world history in a single book is no easy feat. Doing it in lively, engaging prose that keeps you hooked the whole way through is even harder. But such is the talent of Howard French, longtime foreign correspondent and author of Born in Blackness, our Devex Book Club selection for this month. For more information on upcoming episodes and to sign up for our mailing list, visit the Devex Book Club here: https://pages.devex.com/devex-book-club.html

The middle class is the most successful group in world history, but today, it’s facing a bit of an identity crisis. The realities of automation, climate change and other factors are straining the once ubiquitous middle class dream, and younger generations are questioning whether it’s really all it’s cracked up to be. In his new book, "The Rise of the Global Middle Class: How the Search for the Good Life Can Change the World," economist and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Sustainable Development Homi Kharas traces the evolution of the middle class all the way from its roots in Victorian England, and ultimately offers a new policy agenda that could pave a way forward. For more information on upcoming episodes and to sign up for our mailing list, visit the Devex Book Club here: https://pages.devex.com/devex-book-club.html

Like many of us, Rajiv Shah knew early on that he wanted to make an impact on the world, but he wasn’t quite sure how to do it. His book, "Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens," opens with some of that early uncertainty, like the summer he spent treating leprosy patients in India, and his time working on Al Gore’s ultimately doomed campaign. But as Raj writes in his book, that uncertainty was all part of an important realization he’d eventually come to: that large-scale change doesn’t come from caution, but from what he calls a “big bets philosophy,” which says that it’s only by trying to fundamentally solve, not just improve, pressing problems that the world can truly be transformed. For more information on upcoming episodes and to sign up for our mailing list, visit the Devex Book Club here: https://pages.devex.com/devex-book-club.html