Episode 31: Bettina Iseli, Food Security at the Crossroads of Conflict, Climate, and Aid.

May 19

Joining us to explore the growing complexities of global food security and humanitarian aid is Bettina Iseli, Chief Program Officer and member of the Executive Board of Welthungerhilfe, one of Germany’s largest private aid organizations. Bettina oversees the strategic direction of hundreds of international interventions and brings decades of experience working in some of the world’s most fragile and vulnerable regions.

Since 2019, Bettina has led Welthungerhilfe’s global programme activities, guiding the organization’s long-term humanitarian and development strategy. Prior to this role, she headed the department for institutional donors. Under her leadership, the organization continues to expand its work at the intersection of emergency relief, climate resilience, food sovereignty, and long-term development.

Founded in the early 1960s, Welthungerhilfe is independent of political and religious affiliations and is committed to the goal of “Zero Hunger by 2030.” Since its inception, the organization has supported more than 11,000 projects across 72 countries, ranging from disaster relief and rehabilitation to agricultural development, water systems, and community-led infrastructure projects.

In this conversation, we discuss the realities of delivering aid in conflict zones, the growing pressures of climate change on global food systems, the politicization and fragmentation of humanitarian assistance, and the difficult ethical decisions organizations face when resources fall short. We also examine the shift toward localized aid models, the relationship between food insecurity and conflict, and what citizens and governments in stable democracies should be demanding in response to an increasingly unstable global food landscape.

To learn more about the work of Welthungerhilfe please visit their website and consider donating to help support their mission.