Empathy & Development : A Conversation with Cynthia Rowe

Описание: Happy International Women's Day! 🌸
Welcome to a very special episode of What Makes You Human, hosted by Mariam Bukar Hassan (Alhan Islam) and today, we are honouring the International Women's Day 2026 theme: Rights, Justice, and Action for Women and Girls Everywhere.
In this deeply moving and thought-provoking conversation, Mariam sits down with Cynthia Rowe — Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission in Nigeria (FCDO) — a seasoned development diplomat with over two decades of experience working across East Africa, West Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.
What does it mean to lead with empathy in the world's toughest spaces? What happens when a diplomat's work meets raw human pain? And how does a woman with a career spanning continents stay grounded, joyful, and fiercely committed?
This episode answers all of that and more.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE:
🟡 Who is Cynthia Rowe ?
🟡 The heartbreaking story of "Ida" — a woman from Borno who lost everything and still rebuilt for 16 children
🟡 How the UK government is tackling violence against women and girls in Nigeria — from humanitarian support to economic empowerment
🟡 The role of referral systems and safe spaces in conflict-affected communities
🟡 Digital violence against women — who is responsible: governments, tech platforms, or individuals?
🟡 The Special Seats Bill and women's political representation in Nigeria
🟡 South-South learning and why Nigerian women must lead their own change
🟡 Cynthia's personal joys — female friendships, water, animals, and a photograph that travels with her everywhere
🟡 The unforgettable story of ballgowns in a bunker in Afghanistan



"When you are economically independent, suddenly you have control — and suddenly you have choices." — Cynthia Rowe

This is not just a conversation about policy. It is about humanity, resilience, and the quiet power of women who refuse to give up — whether in a refugee camp in Borno or a shelter in Kabul.
If this episode moved you, share it with a woman who needs to hear it today.

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