The Eyes on Sudan podcast series is focused on amplifying voices of local leaders and actors in the Sudan response and advocating for locally led humanitarian action as best practice.

In 2025, as part of the HLA’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and the ensuing refugee crisis across East Africa, the HLA convened humanitarian actors across East Africa in Kampala Uganda in June 2025 and in Port Sudan in September 2025.

The goal of both Humanitarian Xchange (HX) conferences was to create space for humanitarian actors responding to the crisis to connect, network, share experiences as a collective and forge ways forward for the future of locally led humanitarian action.

For the HLA, the conversations went beyond both conferences through relationships fostered, resulting in greater impact for individuals and organisations.

The Eyes on Sudan podcast series was born from HX – from an identified need to not only amplify voices of local leaders and actors in the response but to focus on locally led humanitarian action as a best practice in Sudan and across East Africa.

Three episodes have been recorded so far. The first fittingly in Arabic with representatives from Emergency Response Rooms – community-led mutual aid networks comprising over 26,000 volunteers across more than 700 decentralised units in all 18 states of Sudan. The groups deliver life-saving assistance where international aid and formal state support is unavailable.

The series highlights voices from a broad spectrum of the humanitarian response including partners, funders, local and international organisations.

Ep 1: At the Table or On the Menu? Local Responders on the Frontlines of Humanitarianism

The first episode in the Eyes on Sudan series – Musaab Alhadi, Technical Specialist, Group Cash Transfer Save the Children Sudan is in conversation with Nihal Al-Zaki, Secretary-General, Rima Organisation and Al-Baraa Bashir, Media and Public Relations Officer, Kassala Emergency Youth Response Room  with a welcome from Nancy Mureti, Head of Regional Centres (fmr) HLA. The conversation recorded live in Adeela studios, Kampala questioned what true leadership and participation means to first responders in the Sudan.

Listen here

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Ep 2: From Policy to Practice: How Localisation Really Works in Sudan

In this episode Musaab Alhadi, Technical Specialist, Group Cash Transfer Save the Children Sudan is in conversation with Julio Simancas, Head of Partnerships and Localisation Save the Children Sudan focused on the INGO perspective – what localisation means in practice in the way Save the Children responds in Sudan.

Listen here

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Ep 3: From Policy to Practice: new funding and partnership models across Sudan

In this episode, Bashair Ahmed, founder of Shabaka hosts an exploratory conversation with key actors in the Sudan response Safaa Dawoud, Project Coordinator at Malam Darfur Peace and Development (MDPD), Taylor Dudley, Director of Coalition Building at Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Federico Motka, Head of Emergencies and Humanitarian at Vitol Foundation. The discussion analyses how Sudan’s ongoing conflict has challenged conventional humanitarian responses and accelerated a shift towards locally led action. 

Listen here

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The series is available on all major platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more.

This series is produced by Nwabundo Okoh, Communications and Marketing Lead HLA and Musaab Alhadi, Technical Specialist Group Cash Transfer Save the Children Sudan 

About Humanitarian Xchange (HX)

Humanitarian Xchange (HX) a groundbreaking global event series designed to cultivate a collaborative, forward-thinking environment for addressing humanitarian challenges and driving transformative change.

The inaugural Humanitarian Xchange (HX24) event was held on 20 February in London, UK and was named Best Charity Event/Event for Positive Change in the Conference and Event Awards. From London to Gaziantep, Sarajevo to Baghdad, Kampala, Port Sudan and Abuja with the support of Google.org and Centre for Disaster Philantrophy, HX is bringing together passionate individuals and organisations worldwide.

Kampala, Uganda – 26 June 2025

The Humanitarian Leadership Academy (HLA) and Save the Children in Uganda will host Humanitarian Xchange (HX) Kampala, a two-day regional conference themed Locally Led Response in East Africa – Adaptation and Resilience. The event will take place from 26–27 June 2025 in Kampala, Uganda, in a hybrid format (in-person and online), and will be conducted in both English and Arabic.

This hybrid, bilingual event will bring together local, regional, and international humanitarian actors to share knowledge, best practices, and strategies for strengthening crisis response across East Africa.

Famari Barro, Country Director at Save the Children Uganda said:
“The world is at a pivotal moment in humanitarian response, particularly in East Africa, where the impacts of conflict and climate change are intensifying. We are delighted to work with the Humanitarian Leadership Academy to host HX Kampala – which offers a vital space for local leaders and organizations to reflect, collaborate, and align efforts to build more resilient and adaptive responses.”

Participants from Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and over 21 countries are expected to attend. Speakers will represent a wide range of perspectives—including refugee-led organizations, academia, NGOs, and INGOs—addressing topics such as the Sudan crisis, youth engagement, sustainability, and more.

Nancy Mureti, Head of Regional Centers at the Humanitarian Leadership Academy said:
“This is a unique opportunity to share challenges, successes, and next steps. Locally led response is the cornerstone of lasting change. These two days will be impactful for all participants, both in-person and online.”

The conference will focus on key areas such as innovation in humanitarian work, collaboration between humanitarian, development, and peace efforts, and the role of diaspora communities. It will also highlight youth involvement, sharing of skills and knowledge in crisis situations, support for locally led advocacy, and the impact of climate change, conflict, and displacement.

Download the agenda in English and Arabic

In 2024, HLA launched the Humanitarian Xchange (HX) – a groundbreaking global event series designed to cultivate a forward-thinking environment for addressing humanitarian challenges and driving transformative change.

The inaugural Humanitarian Xchange (HX24) event was held on 20 February in London, UK and was named Best Charity Event/Event for Positive Change in the Conference and Event Awards. From London to Gaziantep, Sarajevo to Baghdad, and now Kampala, with the support of Google.org, Center for Disaster Philanthropy and other partners, HX is bringing together passionate individuals and organisations worldwide.

Visit the HX website to learn more.