Directly From Geneva: Inside the WHO Executive Board Meeting

Directly From Geneva: Inside the WHO Executive Board Meeting

With this show, we bring you an inside view of the Executive Board meeting of the World Health Organization

Director of Strategy and Advocacy, Maik Dünnbier is in Geneva, representing Movendi International the membership to contribute to the discussions about key global health challenges.

In the show we want to share unique insights and brand new updates from the proceedings - directly from Geneva.

To do that, Maik changes his role and Pierre Andersson is the host of this episode. Pierre is Alcohol Policy Advocacy Advisor at Movendi International.

We recorded this conversation on February 11, 2025 – in the morning of the final day of the 156th session of the WHO Executive Board.

Highlights of the show

In today’s show, Pierre and Maik discuss what the WHO Executive Board is, why it matters, and why Movendi International is participating.

They dive deep into several topics that are on the agenda to discuss if and how alcohol harm and alcohol policy solutions are being addressed. Maik shares an analysis of gaps, omissions, and opportunities for improvement.

In the conversation, Pierre and Maik also shed light on alcohol industry interference and conflicts of interest.

And Pierre challenges Maik to look to the future, asking about what the deliberations and decisions at this Executive Board meeting mean for upcoming major event in global health later this year.

Our guest

Maik Dünnbier is Director of Strategy and Advocacy at Movendi International.

He has an academic background in political science, philosophy, and history of ideas as well as global development Dresden University, in Germany and Stockholm University, in Sweden.

In addition, he has extensive experience in youth work on local, national and European levels, having volunteered for more than a decade in different functions for Movendi International.

Maik leads Movendi International’s advocacy work on global and regional level, including the engagement with the UN system. Maik develops the strategic approach to advancing comprehensive alcohol policy solutions to support countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

You can follow Maik's work on LinkedIn.

Resources for the episode

• WHO EB 156, February 2025: Movendi International advocacy priorities and agenda item analysis
• All Movendi International statements
• WHO 156th Executive Board Meeting landing page
  • All agenda items

Feedback

Your feedback, questions, and suggestions for future topics and guests is most welcome. Please get in touch at: maik.duennbier@movendi.ngo.

You are most welcome to follow Movendi International and Maik Dünnbier on LinkedIn, too.

About The Alcohol Issues Podcast

The Alcohol Issues Podcast is an original production from Movendi International. It’s a show about latest alcohol policy developments, brand new research, and stories that reveal the predatory practices of the alcohol industry. We bring you in-depth conversations with trail-blazing alcohol policy makers, visionary community activists, and leading scientists. We do it all to reshape how the world thinks about alcohol’s impact on society and the benefits of alcohol policy action.