In the third episode of our ‘What If?’ podcast series we talk to Per Heggenes, IKEA Foundation CEO. Per shares his vision on climate change and renewable energy, talks about what inspires him and offers a unique insight into the Foundation’s first 10 years. He also spotlights our new grantmaking strategy as we look forward to the future. This podcast is hosted by Altaf Makhiawala, Strategic Communicator at the IKEA Foundation.  The podcast features audio clips from Sustainable Energy for All, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UNDP, Right to Play and the UN Sustainable Development Goals team ..read more

Episode Introduction  Everyone has the right to breathe clean air. Yet, every year, the health of millions of people is threatened by air pollution. So what needs to happen to ensure all people enjoy clean air, blue skies and better health? Jane Burston, Executive Director of the Clean Air Fund, speaks with Liz McKeon, our Climate Action Portfolio Lead, about the economic impact of air pollution and clean air solutions.  Guest Bio   Jane Burston runs the Clean Air Fund, a global re-granting institution funding projects to improve air quality. Previously she worked as Head of Cli ..read more

Episode Introduction Women farmers in rural communities are responsible for feeding much of the world, but they often don’t get enough to eat themselves. They struggle to access financial support that would help them earn a decent income—and the pandemic is making this situation even worse. In this episode, we discuss how the COVID-19 crisis is impacting women in rural communities and how we can support them to become the leaders and food producers our world needs. Willy Foote and Katie Naeve of Root Capital discuss this with Nico Janssen, Programme Manager for our Agricultural Livelihoods Por ..read more

Sarah Klassen from Start Network and Jon Stone from the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership Secretariat (REAP), discuss how early action could help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in vulnerable communities, in this interview with Patricia Atkinson, IKEA Foundation Chief Programme Officer. You’ll hear more about preparedness and examples from the field. Sarah and Jon explain how local actors are leading the way in responding to the pandemic and look at how climate change is severely impacting people in remote parts of the world.   Guests Bio  Sarah Klassen is a Crisis Anticipation T ..read more

Episode Introduction  In this episode, Founder and CEO of SELCO Foundation, Harish Hande is in conversation with Renewable Energy Portfolio Lead, Jeffrey Prins on how renewable energy can help communities survive and recover from the COVID-19 crisis.   Guest Bio   Harish Hande is a renewable energy entrepreneur with over 24 years of grassroots experience in understanding, developing and deploying renewable energy solutions for underserved communities. Born in rural Karnataka, Harish went on to pursue his graduation from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and a PhD fro ..read more

 Episode Introduction   In this episode, Founder and CEO of Acumen, Jacqueline Novogratz discusses leadership practices in times of uncertainty with IKEA Foundation CEO, Per Heggenes. You’ll get practical insights into how anyone can stand up and make positive social change on some of the big issues of our times.    Guest Bio   Jacqueline Novogratz is the New York Times best-selling author of The Blue Sweater and Manifesto for a Moral Revolution. She founded Acumen in 2001 with the idea of investing philanthropic patient capital in entrepreneurs seeking to solve t ..read more

In the second episode of our ‘What If?’ podcast series, Rachel Kyte, CEO at Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), paints a picture of world that has successfully transitioned to renewable energy in all aspects of our lives. As Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, Rachel has a unique perspective on how to empower leaders to broker partnerships and unlock finance to achieve universal access to sustainable energy. Find out what inspires her and what are her hopes and dreams for a life that is sustained by renewable energy.  This podcast is hoste ..read more

Episode Introduction  In this episode, Barri Shorey from International Rescue Committee, discusses not only the current challenges refugees face around the world, but the often overlooked long-term economic impacts of how the COVID-19 pandemic affects refugees differently with IKEA Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Per Heggenes. The question we will discuss will be: What’s life like for a refugee caught in the global COVID pandemic – now, and in the future?   Guests Bio   Barri Shorey is the Senior Director of the Economic Recovery and Development Unit of the International Res ..read more

This is a special edition of our podcast recorded at our 10th anniversary event in Amsterdam on 6 June, where IKEA Foundation partners and thought-leaders from around the globe shared their vision for how to make the world a better place. In this podcast, we’ve created a montage of our guests’ ‘What IF?’ questions, expressing their hopes for a brighter future. We have a special bonus at the end of the podcast – a ‘what if’ poem written and performed by Benjamin Fro, a singer/song-rapper based in Amsterdam. Benjamin’s performance was so powerful that he received a standing ovation at the event ..read more

Episode Introduction  Alexander Betts, Professor of Forced Migration and International Affairs at the University of Oxford, and Ola Rosling, CEO of Gapminder, discuss what (almost) everybody gets wrong about refugees in this episode hosted by IKEA Foundation CEO Per Heggenes.   There are a lot of misconceptions about refugees, especially around their intentions and why they leave their homes, belongings and loved ones to venture into the unknown. Do you think you know your facts about refugees? Learn more from two interesting and knowledgeable guests who shine a light on some of ..read more