In this episode of Quantum Humanitarian, we turn to one of the defining themes running through Ali Al Mokdad’s work: the centrality of local leadership in international aid. From frontline resilience to systemic reform, the conversation unpacks why empowering local actors is not just a moral imperative but also a practical necessity for the future of humanitarian and development action.

Drawing on Ali’s reflections and lived experiences, the hosts explore how local leadership challenges old power structures, reshapes accountability, and opens the door to more sustainable, community-driven responses. This isn’t about theory alone—it’s about presence, courage, and the quiet strength of those who carry the weight of crises where they live.

Links:

Global Development and Humanitarian Assistance is Crumbling: A Conversation on What Happens Next

or

https://youtu.be/ZkVKEVBGKqY?si=yurVGkmQc3pGdd93

Ali Al Mokdad on the Aid Funding Crisis: The World Didn’t Fall When Help Left

or

https://soundcloud.com/humanitarian-ai-today/ali-al-mokdad

Webinar | Transforming Development and Humanitarian Aid Through Local Leadership

or

https://www.developmentaid.org/news-stream/post/191086/transforming-development-webinar

As global systems shift and funding pipelines contract, the humanitarian and development sector faces a profound employment crisis. Thousands of skilled professionals are caught between loss and survival — losing not only jobs but also purpose, community, and stability.

In this episode of Quantum Humanitarian, we reflect on what this means for individuals, organizations, and the future of aid. Drawing on Ali Al Mokdad’s insights, we explore the structural drivers behind job losses, the human cost of uncertainty, and the resilience that emerges when titles disappear but commitment remains.

This is more than a policy discussion; it is a conversation about identity, survival, and what it takes to hold on to meaning when the system itself begins to unravel.

Links:

Not Open to Work — Open to Rebuild

or

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-work-rebuild-ali-al-mokdad-ho1mf/?trackingId=%2FwAYwV1iR1uDhFJsq2DL2A%3D%3D

The World Didn’t Fall When the Help Left

or

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/world-didnt-fall-when-help-left-ali-al-mokdad-q2gtf/?trackingId=%2FwAYwV1iR1uDhFJsq2DL2A%3D%3D

10 Indicators That the Humanitarian Sector Is on the Edge of Chaos

or

https://medium.com/@almokdadali1/10-indicators-that-the-humanitarian-sector-is-on-the-edge-of-chaos-e3519780f69b

What happens when we strip humanitarian action down to its core assumptions? In this episode of Quantum Humanitarian, we explore Ali Al Mokdad’s application of first principles thinking to the aid sector. From reimagining how operations are structured to challenging how programs are designed and delivered, Ali’s insights push us to move beyond incremental fixes and toward systemic clarity.

This is a conversation about rebuilding humanitarian action from the ground up — focusing on logic, efficiency, and impact, while asking: what would excellence look like if we weren’t bound by legacy systems?

Links

Achieving Operational Excellence through First Principles Thinking | Webinar

or

https://www.developmentaid.org/news-stream/post/182154/operational-excellence-through-first-principles-thinking

There is a gap in NGO Program Design. Why use First Principles Thinking to address this?

or

https://www.developmentaid.org/news-stream/post/176763/first-principles-thinking

Back to Basics: Redefining NGO Interventions with First Principles

or

https://alialmokdad.com/back-to-basics-redefining-ngo-interventions-with-first-principles/