Welcome to the One Young World Academy Series 2024 – your voice matters, and the world is listening!
Congratulations on being selected for this impactful initiative brought to you by One Young World and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation! You are now part of a community of around 1,000 young leaders from across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, ready to engage in crucial discussions about the future of global development.
The One Young World Academy is a globally recognized e-learning platform designed to empower young leaders to make an impact. We are launching a special series focused on Official Development Assistance (ODA) which will guide participants through understanding ODA and to inform their own advocacy initiatives.
About Official Development Assistance (ODA)
Official Development Assistance (ODA) provides vital financial aid to low- and middle-income countries, supporting health, education, and infrastructure. In times of crisis, ODA is often the most reliable source of funding, helping millions access essentials like electricity, medical care, and food, while creating opportunities for a better future.
Although countries agreed in 1970 to allocate 0.7% of national income to ODA, as of 2024, only five have met this goal. ODA funding dropped by $4 billion in 2022, affecting over 70 countries and nearly 3 billion people. This funding gap threatens progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with millions still expected to live in extreme poverty by 2030.
Young leaders are crucial in holding donor nations accountable for improving ODA in both quality and scale. The One Young World Academy, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to equip 1,000 young leaders to advocate for better ODA. Participants will learn from development experts, and submit video proposals, with top submissions featured on global media outlets. This series encourages young leaders to drive change by leveraging their experiences to bridge the gap between the Global North and South.
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What is the One Young World Academy Series About?
The One Young World Academy Series 2024, consists of three pre-recorded sessions featuring high-level representatives who will address crucial development topics. The series will target around 1000 young leaders from Europe, Africa, Asia and America. The sessions aim to emphasise the importance of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the challenges of ODA cuts. You will explore how the debt situation in Africa has impacted the continent’s development and growth, and you’ll be encouraged to take action through your deliverables, addressing how ODA can help bridge the gap between the Global North and South.
The program’s main objective is to integrate young leaders like you into critical discussions about the importance of ODA. These sessions will place ODA at the heart of development conversations, equip you with tools to understand its significance, reignite interest in ODA, showcase progress made so far, and share impactful case studies from across the globe.
Session Content
Moderator

James Chau
President of the China-United States Exchange Foundation and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador.
Born in London, he has earned a special reputation as a television news anchor who has interviewed world leaders in politics, science, and culture. They include Nobel Peace Prize laureates Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, Muhammad Yunus, and Aung Sang Suu Kyi. He has also spoken to Bill Gates, Christine Lagarde, Winnie Mandela, Elton John, Jane Goodall, Winnie Mandela, and Madame Peng Liyuan. He was a main anchor on China Central Television and a guest presenter on BBC World News.
Mr. Chau leads the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), an independent non-governmental organization that builds trust between the world’s two leading economies through educational exchanges, cultural programs, and digital content creation.
Introductory Session: 'Introduction: Understanding the definition and significance of Official Development Assistance (ODA)'
This session will explore the definition of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and its significance in today's global context. It will also examine the decision-making process behind ODA and its effects on various budgets. Lastly, the session will emphasize the importance of advocacy on this issue and the crucial role of active youth engagement across different scenarios.
Guest Speaker
David McNair
Co-founded by Bono, it is a movement of millions of people fighting for economic opportunities and healthy lives. He sits on the European Council on Foreign Relations Council and is a founding executive board member of the Africa Europe Foundation.
Previously, he was a non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he authored a collection of essays entitled ‘Why Europe Needs Africa.’ He worked on successful campaigns to reduce child mortality and crack down on grand corruption and tax evasion.
In 2012, he was named one of the ninety-nine top foreign policy leaders under 33. He holds a PhD in social geography from the Queen’s University of Belfast.
Session 1: 'Navigating Today's Global Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities in International Development'
This session will delve into the current global socio-economic and political landscape, focusing on the differences between the slow growth in Europe and the growing opportunities in Africa. We will also address the difficulties in drawing attention to global issues with the prevalent focus on domestic matters and geopolitical tensions and examine the shift towards right-wing parties with national agendas among youth. The session will conclude with uplifting stories of progress in international development, highlighting improvements in areas such as maternal and child health and vaccination.
Guest Speakers

Laurence Janta-Lipinski
Career diplomat, policy advisor, and scholar with over 15 years of experience advising governments at the highest level. Provides policy analysis and strategy development with a demonstrated track record in science and technology policy, and global governance – specifically in the areas of the digital economy, climate policy, and global health. Served in a variety of key roles within the Government of France on European affairs, political strategy, and policy-planning. Effective and entrepreneurial executive manager of complex and highly-technical projects across silos. Has written and published extensively on politics, diplomacy, and science & technology policy.

Adrien Abécassis
Career diplomat, policy advisor, and scholar with over 15 years of experience advising governments at the highest level. Provides policy analysis and strategy development with a demonstrated track record in science and technology policy, and global governance – specifically in the areas of the digital economy, climate policy, and global health. Served in a variety of key roles within the Government of France on European affairs, political strategy, and policy-planning. Effective and entrepreneurial executive manager of complex and highly-technical projects across silos. Has written and published extensively on politics, diplomacy, and science & technology policy.

Etsehiwot Negash Kebre
Etsehiwot Kebret is a Development Finance Advisor who focuses on African Debt, Special Drawing Rights, and broader global financial architecture reform. Her writing can be found in the Diplomat, CSIS Africa, China Dialogue, Africa Business, and more. Prior to DR, Etsehiwot had diverse experience in humanitarian and development issues, working in both multilateral organizations and international non-governmental organizations. She holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.
One Young World Ambassadors
Cerni Escalé Cabré
Cerni is an Andorran politician who founded the Concòrdia political party and has been leader of the opposition in the General Council since 2023. Before venturing into politics, Escalé volunteered for the Red Cross in Dominica with the indigenous Carib people. He worked for six years at the World Bank, restructuring debt in Argentina and supervising the fund in the 2014 Ebola crisis.
After returning to Andorra, he became General Secretary of the Escaldes–Engordany parish. In July 2022, Escalé left his municipal office to found the political party Concord. His party took over 21% of the vote and five seats, second behind the 16 seats and 32% of the governing Democrats for Andorra

Radhika Batra
Social Entrepreneur, Neonatologist and Pediatrician fighting malnutrition and its devastating consequences in children and women, across 4 countries. Have successfully saved more than 550,000 malnourished children from preventable blindness through my work at Every Infant Matters. Striving tirelessly to ensure ubiquitous access to healthcare for all by health systems strengthening and ensuring last mile delivery of healthcare services.
Winner of the Gates Foundation’s Global Goals’Goalkeepers Award in the progress of SDG’s category, recognised as one of the United Nations’ and Niti Aayog’s Top 75 Women Transforming India. One Young World Ambassador and Delegate Speaker at Hague 2018. Also a Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 Honouree and a twice over TEDx Speaker.
One Young World Counsellors

Laura Chinchilla
Laura Chinchilla is a political scientist with a master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University. She was the first woman to be elected president of Costa Rica (2010-2014).
Previously, she served as minister of public security (1996-1998), congresswoman (2002-2006), minister of justice (2006-2008), and vice president (2006-2008). Mrs. Chinchilla has worked as a consultant with various international organizations, such as: the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Michael Møller
Michael Møller is a former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and in his last post served as Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva and Secretary-General of the Conference of Disarmament, and has over 40 years of experience as an international civil servant.
He served as the Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation from 2008 to 2011. He is now member of the Board of the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation, Senior Adviser to Macro Advisory Partners, Distinguished Fellow at the Geneva Graduate Institute in Geneva, Member of the Executive Board of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Member of the Board of One Young World, Honorary President of Art for the World, Honorary Chairman of Greycells and member of the Advisory Boards of a number of other Foundations.

Paul Polman
Business leader, campaigner, co-author of “Net Positive: how courageous companies thrive by giving more than they take”, a Financial Times Business Book of the Year. #3 Thinkers50.
Paul Polman works to accelerate action by business to tackle climate change and inequality. As CEO of Unilever (2009-2019), Paul demonstrated that business can profit through purpose, marrying a long-term, multi-stakeholder model with excellent financial performance. During Paul’s tenure, shareholders saw their returns increase by 290% while the company consistently ranked 1st in the world for sustainability.
Today Paul works across a range of organisations to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which he helped develop. This includes his work to drive systems change with Systemiq and bold new industry coalitions, including in fashion and food. He leads the UN Global Compact, is an Ambassador for the Race to Zero, and works to develop our next generation of leaders, through the Oxford University Saïd Business School, INSEAD, One Young World and others. Paul actively campaigns on a range of human rights issues, including promoting disability inclusion through the Valuable 500 and the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, which he set up with his wife Kim. More on www.paulpolman.com.
Session 2: 'Understanding ODA: The Backbone of Global Development Funding'
This session aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to ODA, which is a crucial fund worth $200+ billion annually supporting health, development, and climate programs worldwide. ODA is often overlooked outside of development agencies and relevant Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), despite being the primary funding source for many Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-related initiatives. The session will delve into the history of ODA, how countries set priorities for international development programs and the concerning trends of ODA cuts with specific examples of affected programs. Additionally, it will dive into the importance of including voices from the Global South in the aid debate, emphasising the need for diverse perspectives in shaping effective development policies. The session will conclude with inspiring stories of significant progress, such as South Korea's transition to a donor country and advancements in education, to highlight the positive impacts of ODA.
Guest Speakers

Maimuna Maibe
With over 16 years of experience spanning the public, private, and development sectors, Maimuna Maibe is a seasoned executive shaping and executing Africa's policy and advocacy strategy at Global Citizen. In her role, she aligns global advocacy efforts with the priorities of African nations, focusing on government relations in key markets and cultivating strategic partnerships with foundations and multilateral organisations.

Daeshik Jo
Mr. Daeshik Jo is a Secretary-General of the KCOC(Korea NGO Council for Overseas Development Cooperation). KCOC is a network of over 140 Korean NGOs engaged in humanitarian assistance and development cooperation at international level. Before he joined civil society, he was a career diplomat. He served as Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Canada and Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
With a profound interest in poverty and development in developing countries, he has extensive experience in both the public sector and CSO. He holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from USC (University of South Carolina, USA) and his B.A. in Sociology from Korea University. He is married with two sons. The ROK Government awarded him an Order of Service Merit twice, in 2008 and 2013.
One Young World Ambassadors

Vivian Ojo
Vivian is a Namgerian (Namibian-Nigerian) professional with over 10 years of experience in international development focusing primarily on performance management, strategy delivery and human capital development. Most recently she was a Change Advisory Specialist at the Global Fund in Geneva Switzerland where she led the development, implementation and monitoring of the 6 year People and Organization strategy for over 1000 employees managing over 3 billion dollars per year.

Giorgi Tumasyan
Giorgi Tumasyan is a passionate advocate for Georgia's path toward European Union membership, leveraging Official Development Assistance (ODA) as a catalyst for transformative change. As a former Georgia's Youth Representative to the United Nations, a Young European Ambassador from Georgia of the EU's Neighbourhood and Enlargement, and a Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum, he has actively worked to advance Georgia's EU integration.
Leading initiatives like the SDGs Caucasus, Giorgi strategically directs ODA to drive impactful projects that strengthen governance, boost sustainable development, and align Georgia with EU standards. His efforts demonstrate how ODA serves not merely as financial support but as a vital instrument for accelerating Georgia's journey towards a stronger, more integrated European future.
One Young World Counsellor

Shudufhadzo Musida
Shudufhadzo 'Shudu' Musida is an Author and Mental Health Champion, whose journey is rooted in a deep commitment to humanitarian causes, shaped by her childhood experiences and an unwavering desire to uplift her community. Crowned as Miss South Africa in 2020, she transformed her title into a platform for meaningful change, dedicating her advocacy to mental health and sustainable development.
Shudu's journey is deeply rooted in her belief in the transformative power of education. This belief was the bedrock of her academic pursuits, culminating in a Bachelor of Social Science degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Pretoria, followed by an Honours degree in International Relations from the University of Witwatersrand.
As the first Regional Champion for Eastern and Southern Africa with UNFPA, Shudu has become a force for sexual reproductive health rights and mental health. Her impactful work extends to the written word, with two authored books on mental health earning her well-deserved recognition.
Session 3: 'Rebranding the Official Development Assistance (ODA) concept'
The session will assess the current state of international aid and discuss the necessity to revitalise its role. The session will explore strategies to redefine aid to ensure that policies from the Global North meet the actual needs of the Global South. Content will also showcase successful activist efforts that have effectively drawn attention to these issues, featuring perspectives from dynamic activists. It will end with a call-to-action and a summary of the video as the deliverable, focusing on how participants can raise awareness and highlighting the consequences if aid priorities are not properly addressed.
Sessions Outcomes
The sessions will encourage action by inviting participants to submit a deliverable (3-5 min video) after the series which will be graded. The selected winners (top 5) of the video submission will be invited to speak on global media outlets about the significance of ODA in the current political and economic climate. One Young World Ambassadors (alongside other invitees) will be encouraged to explore ODA in their country contexts and will be asked to consider how ODA can serve as a means of bridging the gap between the Global North and South, acting as a mechanism of hope.
Guest Speakers

Fara Ndiaye
Fara Ndiaye is a problem-solver dedicated to improving lives across Africa. As co-founder of Speak Up Africa, she tackles critical issues in public health, sanitation, and gender equality. With 15 years in the field, Fara excels at uniting diverse groups—from local communities to government officials—to create lasting change. Her work on malaria prevention in Senegal demonstrated her talent for crafting impactful campaigns and forging key partnerships.
Fara's experience spans grassroots NGOs to international organizations like the IOM, giving her a unique perspective on development challenges. She holds degrees from McGill University and the Graduate Institute of Geneva, blending academic knowledge with practical skills.
Known for her persistence and collaborative spirit, Fara is committed to finding workable solutions to Africa's most pressing issues. Her approach: bring people together, listen to communities, and take decisive action.

Hassan Damluji
Hassan is a senior executive, advisor and author on global affairs, with a track record of building and leading teams, organizations and large-scale initiatives, working in complex stakeholder environments. He is a co-founder of Global Nation, a think/do-tank aimed at improving global cooperation.
Global Nation advises the world’s leading institutions working on tackling humanity’s greatest challenges, including the Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, WHO, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Wellcome Trust, and national governments. It also receives grant funding to pursue thought leadership and coalition-building for a fairer international system.
One Young World Ambassadors

Farhana Shahnaz
Farhana Shahnaz is a development practitioner with an academic background in Economics, Development Studies, and International Relations. She currently works as a Content Manager for the World Food Programme, supporting the development, preparation, execution, and dissemination of campaigns for target audiences. In particular, Farhana has contributed towards resource mobilisation efforts, helping to bridge the funding shortfall for the general food assistance for the Rohingya refugees.
In her previous role with the UNDP, Farhana worked as a Communications Officer for a project focusing on preventing violent extremism (PVE) and fostering inclusivity and peace.

Luca Bucken
Luca Bucken is the Founding Partner at Beyond.Representation, a boutique talent management and advisory firm serving community leaders, organizations, and businesses committed to building a better future.
A policy advisor and partnership strategist with leadership experience across policy and practice in health, security, and climate across four continents, he has advised community-centered non-profit organizations, start-ups, and policy thought leaders, amongst others in Afghanistan, Libya, Kenya, Philippines, Rwanda, and Somalia, on programming and growth strategies to shape local impact and high-level policy agendas.
Luca’s leadership for inclusive and sustainable peace has been recognized by the UN SDG Action Campaign, UN Climate Change, the World Economic Forum, and others.
One Young World Counsellor

Sarah Sladen
Sarah Sladen is the former Agency Youth Coordinator overseeing the advancement of USAID’s Policy for Youth in Development and its goals to increase young people’s access to and participation in the services, practices, and policies that impact their lives.
Ms. Sladen has more than 15 years of technical experience in international youth development, including promoting youth economic opportunities; coalition building and advocacy; and peacebuilding and conflict resolution. She joins USAID after serving as a Technical Advisor for Youth Engagement and, before that, as Director of the Youth Economic Opportunities Network at Making Cents International.
Ms. Sladen previously led the growth and management of the Alliance for International Youth Development at InterAction, where she coordinated community advocacy for the inclusion and prioritization of youth issues in U.S. foreign assistance.