Podcasts

Latest Episode

Where art meets humanitarian action: the UNICEF Giga Photo Award

In this episode, we explore where art and humanitarian work meet through the UNICEF Giga Photo Award.

Joined by Daniel Ginsianmung, we talk about how photography can help tell stories about digital connectivity in ways that data and policy alone often cannot. The conversation looks at why youth and emerging photographers from the global south are central to this work, and how visual storytelling can translate complex issues such as access, inequality, and urgency into something deeply human.

From everyday moments of connection to the realities of being offline, this episode reflects on the power of images as an advocacy tool, and on the importance of giving young photographers the space to tell their own stories.

Previous Episodes

Working through chaos in Haiti

In this episode of Bits&Bytes, Junior Alexander, UNICEF’s Head of ICT in Haiti, reflects on his work keeping vital digital systems running in one of the most challenging contexts in the world. He shares how connectivity, satellite links, and solar‑powered solutions help sustain essential services for children despite violence, instability, and widespread outages. Junior speaks openly about the emotional impact of witnessing the crisis up close, the resilience of communities, and why supporting children gives his work purpose. A story of dedication, urgency, and hope in the middle of Haiti’s ongoing emergency.

Child rights in the age of AI

How will artificial intelligence shape the lives of the children who are growing up with it?
In this episode, we speak with Henrietta Ridley, UNICEF’s first Chief of AI, about what it really means to build a child‑centric digital future at a time when technology is moving faster than policy, ethics, and even public understanding.

Bringing HOPE to whoever needs it most

In this episode of Bits&Bytes we hear from Gabriele Erba and Domenico Di Nicola to discover how UNICEF’s HOPE platform is transforming humanitarian aid through digital cash transfers, open-source technology, and AI-driven innovation. We dive into how HOPE helps deliver secure, scalable, and fast financial assistance to families with children in need—across more than 30 countries and over $850 million distributed.

Using AI to decode adolescent mental health

In this episode of Bits&Bytes, UNICEF colleagues Mirella Hernani and Viviana Canyon Tamayo explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and adolescent mental health. This conversation dives into how AI can help identify early signs of distress among youth. Learn about partnerships with social media companies and the ethical complexities of using data for social good.

Innovating for Impact: UNICEF's 5D Framework

Join Luna Kim and Shalini Subbiah from UNICEF's Office of Innovation as they delve into the transformative power of the 5D innovation framework. Discover how this multipurpose tool is helping UNICEF identify, validate, and scale innovations to tackle systemic barriers and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Luna and Shalini share their experiences, motivations, and the journey of developing the 5D framework, highlighting its impact on global innovation and child welfare.

Ethical AI for all children

In this episode we explores the transformative role of digital technologies and AI in children's lives. Kaan Cetinturk, UNICEF Chief Information Officer, shares insights on how AI can enhance education, healthcare, and digital access for children, particularly those in underserved areas. The conversation also addresses the importance of ethical AI use and bridging the digital divide to ensure equitable access for all children.

Using AI to save lives

Anthony Mockler and Hugo Ruiz Verastegui are data scientists at UNICEF's Data Lab in Bangkok. Discover how their unique backgrounds and experiences in AI and machine learning are driving innovative solutions for humanitarian challenges. From detecting illegal landfills to supporting emergency responses with real-time data, Anthony and Hugo share their journey, motivations, and the impact of their work. Learn about their commitment to open source and digital public goods, and their vision for the future of AI in humanitarian aid.

Championing youth volunteering in India with Meri LiFE

Seep Agrawal from UNICEF India talks to Bits&Bytes about Meri LiFE, a climate-related digital platform that has attracted over 25 million users and more than 100k downloads across India. The platform allows young people to put their creative ideas about climate change into action, providing support through training, mentorship, funding, collaboration, and tools to advance climate volunteering.

25 years of digital impact in Sudan’s emergencies

Elshabi Mahmoud, ICT Specialist in Sudan, tells us about his 25 year experience in emergencies from Darfur to the latest civil war in Sudan and how technology supports UNICEF's work of helping children and women in need.

How we built a digital platform for climate action in India

Gibson Riungu, UNICEF ICT officer in India, tells us how his past experiences in emergency contexts has helped him develop the Meri LiFE platform. An initiative to help young people get involved in volunteer work that has now reached more than 25 million people!

Gaza Emergency Response

Nasri Sidawi, a Palestinian from Jerusalem, shares his harrowing experiences working for UNICEF in Gaza. Amidst frequent wars and emergencies, he highlights the dire conditions children face, including hunger and lack of basic necessities. Despite the destruction and restricted movement, Sidawi and his team strive to support the children and adapt to the ever-changing, challenging environment.

FunDoo: interactive learning in your palm

Ali Danish from India tells us about FunDoo, an innovative learning platform developed by UNICEF. Launched in 2021, it aims to equip young people with essential skills through experiential learning. The platform offers low-bandwidth, bite-sized, self-paced content accessible via popular messaging apps. FunDoo also includes gamified elements and incentives like certificates and badges to make learning engaging.

Personalized education in Nigeria with the Learning Passport

Jutaro Sakamoto shares his journey in delivering accessible education to over 2 million Nigerian children through the Learning Passport. This innovative platform, designed to bridge the learning poverty gap, offers online, mobile, and offline technology, facilitating high-quality, adaptable education across 41 countries.

Bebbo in Tajikistan, parenting made easy

Kouysinoy Maksoudova tells us about her work for UNICEF in Tajikistan and how digital technologies are helping parents in the early stages of parenthood.