Tjada D'Oyen McKenna is a veteran humanitarian official who now leads Mercy Corps, a major international NGO that provides relief in disaster zones, including Gaza and Syria. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, I have periodically checked in with her to discuss the challenges of meeting the needs of Gazans trapped and displaced by the conflict. Over a year later, the dynamics of getting aid into Gaza have largely remained unchanged—there are still significant bureaucratic obstacles imposed by the Israeli government, which controls the flow of aid. Moreover, there is no meaningful so-called "de-confliction mechanism" to allow aid groups to operate in Gaza without fear of being attacked by warring parties. Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, even as new signals suggest a ceasefire may soon be reached.

In Syria, the situation has obviously changed dramatically over the past several weeks, so we discuss how Mercy Corps plans to expand its aid operations as the new de facto authorities consolidate power in Damascus.

Please support our humanitarian journalism with a paid subscription: https://www.globaldispatches.org/

Today’s episode is produced in partnership with the CGIAR Research Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration as part of a series that examines effective approaches to improving the well-being of people in fragile and conflict-affected settings. CGIAR is a global partnership that brings together international organizations focused on research for food security.

We are calling this series “From Fragility to Stability.” In today’s episode, we host a roundtable discussion with three experts on how to place women’s empowerment at the core of resilience-building efforts.

Our guests include:

• Vivian Efem-Bassey, Programs Management Specialist in the Women’s Rights Unit at ActionAid in Nigeria.
• Sarah Hendricks, Director of the Policy, Program, and Intergovernmental Division of UN Women and Head of the Secretariat for the Secretary-General's Gender Equality Acceleration Plan.
• Jordan Kyle, Research Fellow in the Gender and Inclusion Unit at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

If Donald Trump actually follows through on many of his campaign promises to impose tariffs, it would thoroughly upend the rules-based system governing international trade. That system, which is partially embodied by the World Trade Organization, was once championed by the United States. However, over the years, U.S. presidents, including President Biden, have occasionally skirted its rules and processes. The incoming Trump administration, though, seems willing and eager to ignore it altogether.

So, what does that mean for global trade? And could Trump's actions spark a trade war? Joining me to answer these questions and more is Dmitry Grozoubinski, a trade expert and author of the new book Why Politicians Lie About Trade...and What to Do About It. The book is an excellent primer on trade policy—I learned a lot from it. We kick off by discussing the book before diving into a long conversation about how Trump's approach to international trade upends the logic of the rules-based trading system and whether or not his policies might result in a trade war.

https://www.globaldispatches.org/