Political Development
This course examines the evolution of institutions, social structures, and civic values that shape systems of power in non-Western societies. It explores how political development arises through both long-term transformations, such as colonialism, globalization, and demographic change, and sudden events including conflict, economic crises, and natural disasters. Students will consider key themes such as state formation, democratization, governance, state fragility, identity, and the politics of security. The course draws on historical and social science perspectives to analyze development as both a process of transformation and an area of international policy shaped by global actors. Participants will engage critically with major debates, build familiarity with core theories and concepts, and explore emerging issues such as hybrid political orders and environmental politics.
- M 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
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Instructor:
Olivier Nay
Info - 3 points
Persistent Problems in the Global South
Global South Challenges
This course explores persistent policy and governance challenges in the Global South through a comparative lens. Drawing on case studies and empirical research, it examines the politics of poverty, hunger, inequality, corruption, social unrest, and institutional reform. Students will analyze how historical legacies, resource constraints, and diverse political systems shape development outcomes. The course emphasizes critical evaluation of competing theories, the use of the comparative method, and the application of policy analysis skills. Students will develop proficiency in interpreting and presenting evidence-based policy arguments and deepen their understanding of strategies to address entrenched global development challenges.
- W 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
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Instructor:
Rumela Sen
CULPA: 1 Info - 3 points
Topics in Financial Inclusion: Enhancing
Financial Inclusion Topic
This course provides an applied introduction to financial inclusion, focusing on how financial services can be designed, delivered, and scaled to improve the lives of low-income populations worldwide. Students will examine the evolution of microfinance and the emergence of new models such as digital financial services, fintech platforms, and gender-focused initiatives. Topics include savings and credit, household financial behavior, funding models, climate finance, and business model innovation.
Through interactive lectures, guest speakers, and group projects, students will analyze the constraints that limit financial access, assess approaches to expand inclusion, and develop recommendations for policymakers and practitioners. Assignments include a country-focused consulting project and a blog post competition highlighting current debates in the field. No prerequisites are required.
- T 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
- 1.5 points
Innovation Driving Development Impact
Innovation Driving Devt I
This course is the second in a two-course sequence exploring how innovation contributes to development. While the first course focuses on institutional reforms within international development organizations, this course examines innovation in low and middle-income countries. Students will analyze how science, technology, and innovation systems shape development trajectories, and will explore mission-oriented innovation, digital transformation, and strategies to scale proven solutions.
Through a combination of conceptual frameworks, case studies, and practical exercises, students will develop critical perspectives on how innovation policies and programmes can address complex development challenges. Topics include inclusive digital transformation, digital public infrastructure, frugal and locally led innovation, and the design of innovation ecosystems. The course features examples of innovation initiatives led by international organizations, Global South governments, and grassroots innovators.
Students will gain familiarity with key concepts, frameworks, and practices related to scaling innovation, strengthening innovation systems, and advancing mission-driven approaches in development cooperation. While the course builds on foundations from the first course, it stands on its own and may be taken independently.
Spring 2026 Course Dates: Feb 14-15, Feb 21-22, Feb 28-March 1
- SUSU 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
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Instructor:
Benjamin Kumpf
Info - 1.5 points
Migration and Economic Development
Economics of Migration
This course equips students with economic tools to analyze the impacts of international migration on destination and origin countries. Emphasizing migration between low-, middle-, and high-income economies, it explores the effects of migration restrictions, remittances, diaspora networks, and labor market outcomes. Students will review key economic models, assess policy debates, and engage with empirical research. The course combines lectures, case discussions, and applied assignments to strengthen analytical skills and inform policy recommendations in migration and development.
- R 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
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Instructor:
Limon B Rodriguez
Info - 1.5 points
Impact Evaluations in Practice
This course will be useful for students who would like to participate in evaluations of development projects. At the end of the course, students will know how to plan an impact evaluation, how to manage one, and how to recognize and differentiate a good impact evaluation from a badly conducted one. Students should also come with one case study that they have been involved in and that would lend itself to an impact evaluation. Previous experience in implementing a development project is desirable.
Spring 2026 Course Dates: March 27-28 & April 3-4
- FS 1:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Jyotsna Puri
Info - 1.5 points
Emerging AI and MERL: Responsible Use of
This seven-week course examines the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) in international development and humanitarian contexts. Students will explore two critical dimensions: using MERL approaches to assess AI systems (MERL of AI) and leveraging AI tools to conduct MERL activities (AI for MERL). The course situates AI technologies within current US and global geopolitical contexts, emphasizing both practical applications and ethical challenges that influence decisions about AI use in different development and humanitarian contexts.
Through a combination of theoretical frameworks, case studies, discussions, and hands-on exercises, students will develop knowledge and competencies in evaluating AI tools, understanding their limitations and biases, and making informed decisions about their appropriate use in development and humanitarian settings. The course addresses key ethical concepts (including data privacy, bias and inclusion, climate impacts), and helps students build their practical technical skills in AI for MERL. It also supports managerial level skills such as assessing AI vendors and developing AI policies. Special attention is given to critical perspectives on both AI and MERL, examining how power dynamics and resource inequities affect AI development and deployment in low and middle-income countries.
Students will engage with practical AI tools throughout the course, developing skills in critical assessment while maintaining awareness of ethical boundaries and professional responsibilities. The course culminates in students developing an AI use policy, integrating technical knowledge with ethical frameworks and contextual considerations relevant to their future work in international development or humanitarian assistance. This course does not have prerequisites, but you will benefit more (as well as contribute more to discussions with your colleagues) if you have at least 2 years of professional experience in international development or humanitarian aid, or if you have taken Methods for Sustainable Development Practice (DVGO8000I), Evaluation in International Organizations (DVGO7092), Impact Measurement and Evaluation for Sustainable Development (TPIN7315), or a comparable course.
- W 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
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Instructor:
Kevin C Hong
Info - 1.5 points
Economic Development for International A
Lecture
This course introduces students to the economic analysis of development processes and policies in low- and middle-income countries. It examines foundational concepts in development economics, including poverty and inequality, human capital, economic growth, structural transformation, and sustainability. The course emphasizes both theoretical frameworks and empirical methods, providing students with analytical tools for assessing development policies and programs. Students will explore topics such as the measurement of development, macroeconomic policies, trade and industrialization, the environmental dimensions of poverty reduction, and the use of experiments and data analysis to inform policy decisions.
- R 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
- R 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
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Instructor:
Andrew Simons
Info - 3 points
Economic Development for International A
Recitation
This course introduces students to the economic analysis of development processes and policies in low- and middle-income countries. It examines foundational concepts in development economics, including poverty and inequality, human capital, economic growth, structural transformation, and sustainability. The course emphasizes both theoretical frameworks and empirical methods, providing students with analytical tools for assessing development policies and programs. Students will explore topics such as the measurement of development, macroeconomic policies, trade and industrialization, the environmental dimensions of poverty reduction, and the use of experiments and data analysis to inform policy decisions.
- R 7:10 p.m.-9 p.m.
- F 8 a.m.-9:50 a.m.
- 0 points
Economic Development in Latin America
Econ Dev in Latin America
This course examines the evolution of Latin American economies and their social impacts from independence to the present. Combining historical and contemporary perspectives, it reviews major development phases, including the export era, state-led industrialization, market reforms, and recent crises such as COVID-19. The course emphasizes comparative analysis of the region’s structural change, macroeconomic management, trade strategies, social policies, and debates over inequality. Students will analyze long-term economic trends and institutional legacies, assess policy frameworks, and explore challenges and opportunities for equitable and sustainable growth.
- M 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
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Instructor:
Jose A Ocampo
Wikipedia h-index: 77 Info - 3 points
Inequality, Poverty, and Politics
Inequality, Poverty, & Po
Instructor: Professor Cesar Zucco
The course provides students with a theoretical and empirical overview of the policies designed to address poverty and inequality in the developing world, as well as the political context in which these policies are chosen and implemented, with a particular (though not exclusive) focus on the Brazilian experience. The first meetings focus on normative perspectives and the general political implications of poverty and inequality. We then briefly examine differences in social policies between developed and developing countries and proceed to discuss various practical approaches to the issue. By the end of the course, students should have enhanced their understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of poverty- and inequality-reducing policies, as well as how politics shapes their implementation.
- T 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
- 3 points
Advanced Economic Development for Intern
Lecture
Pre-requisites:
A calculus-based micro-economics course (SIPA IA6400) or equivalent. This is an advanced course in development economics, designed for SIPA students interested in rigorous, applied training. Coursework includes extensive empirical exercises, requiring programming in Stata. The treatment of theoretical models presumes knowledge of calculus. Topics include: the economics of growth; the relationship between growth and poverty and inequality; rural-urban migration; the interaction between agrarian institutions in land, labor, credit, and insurance markets; prisoner’s dilemmas and the environment; and policy debates around development strategies. Recurrent themes: Are markets efficient, and if not, in what specific ways are they inefficient? What are the forces driving development and underdevelopment? What are the causal links between poverty and inequality and economic performance? What is the role of interventions by states or civil organizations in bringing about development? The course will integrate theoretical ideas and empirical analysis, with an emphasis on questions relevant for economic policy.
- T 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
- T 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Eric A Verhoogen
Info - 3 points
Advanced Economic Development for Intern
Recitation
Pre-requisites:
A calculus-based micro-economics course (SIPA IA6400) or equivalent. This is an advanced course in development economics, designed for SIPA students interested in rigorous, applied training. Coursework includes extensive empirical exercises, requiring programming in Stata. The treatment of theoretical models presumes knowledge of calculus. Topics include: the economics of growth; the relationship between growth and poverty and inequality; rural-urban migration; the interaction between agrarian institutions in land, labor, credit, and insurance markets; prisoner’s dilemmas and the environment; and policy debates around development strategies. Recurrent themes: Are markets efficient, and if not, in what specific ways are they inefficient? What are the forces driving development and underdevelopment? What are the causal links between poverty and inequality and economic performance? What is the role of interventions by states or civil organizations in bringing about development? The course will integrate theoretical ideas and empirical analysis, with an emphasis on questions relevant for economic policy.
- M 8 a.m.-9:50 a.m.
- M 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
- 0 points
Innovations in Development Finance
Innovations-Development F
The aspirations outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are in jeopardy as the world faces cascading and interrelated global crises and conflicts. It has become increasingly apparent that traditional funding modalities are falling tragically short to meet the financing requirements in addressing the SDGs - currently estimated to be around US$4.2 trillion per year. Hence, there is an urgent need to leverage alternative and innovative sources for financing development initiatives.
This course will explore the intersection of development finance, strategy, and policy. It will examine the landscape of traditional development financing, provide an overview of the various innovative development financing mechanisms, and reflect on the process to design them. The course will be highly interactive, involving six classes taking place over three weekends. It will have leading experts as guest speakers, and practical activities including an individual opinion piece, a group project and presentation, and a simulation exercise on partnership building.The course objectives include: (1) examining tradition and innovative approaches to financing of development initiatives and their relevant advantages and disadvantages; (2) reflecting on the process of designing innovative financing mechanisms and (3) developing practical skills necessary such as, writing clearly and persuasively for different audiences, developing proposals for innovative financing, and building partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
Spring 2026 Course Dates: April 10-25
- FS 12:40 p.m.-3 p.m.
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Instructor:
Radha S Kulkarni
Info - 1.5 points
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Deve
MSME Development
This course introduces the role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in driving inclusive economic growth in developing economies. Students will examine the evolution of MSME development approaches, including value chain and market systems development, microfinance, business services, and private-sector engagement strategies. The course emphasizes practical tools such as value chain assessment and intervention design, along with critical analysis of evidence supporting different MSME development frameworks. Topics include financial services, the business enabling environment, inclusion, and the interaction of MSMEs with broader market, social, and ecological systems. Students will gain hands-on experience applying systems thinking, adaptive management practices, and data-driven approaches to evaluate and improve MSME-focused programs and policies.
-
Instructor:
Daniel Langfitt
Info - 3 points
Education in Humanitarian Emergencies
Education in Emergencies
This course examines the role of education as a critical component of humanitarian response. Students will explore the legal frameworks, minimum standards, coordination mechanisms, and funding models that underpin education in emergencies. The course analyzes how conflict and disasters disrupt learning, and how education contributes to protection, psychosocial wellbeing, and resilience. Special attention is given to issues of gender, disability inclusion, and emerging challenges such as climate change. Through readings, discussion, and research, students will gain practical and theoretical insights into designing effective education interventions in crisis-affected settings.
- T 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
- 3 points
The Tenets and Dilemmas of Humanitarian
Humanitarian Action Dilem
This course introduces students to the foundations, actors, and debates that shape modern humanitarian action. Students will examine the history and evolution of humanitarianism, the development of international legal and normative frameworks, and the operational principles guiding humanitarian response. Through case studies and thematic discussions, the course explores the challenges of delivering aid in complex emergencies, including issues of coordination, protection, access, politicization, and accountability.
Attention will be given to ethical dilemmas, the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, the rise of localization, and calls for decolonizing aid. Students will engage critically with core questions: How does humanitarian action intersect with power, politics, and security? Are established norms fit for purpose in today’s crises? The course combines lectures, debates, and independent research to prepare students to assess and navigate the evolving landscape of humanitarian response.
- R 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
-
Instructor:
Laura Perez
Info - 3 points
Managing Humanitarian Emergencies
According to the 2025 Global Humanitarian Overview, humanitarian partners are appealing for over US$47 billion to assist nearly 190 million people facing life-threatening and urgent needs across 72 countries. These staggering numbers are fueled by drivers such as conflicts and political instability, climate change, disease outbreaks, poverty, and natural hazards. Together, these drivers have deepened pre-existing vulnerabilities, resulting in unprecedented need. They have also prompted humanitarians to address the accountability challenges and inequities deeply seated within the aid system.
Humanitarian agencies strive to meet rising needs, but the task that confronts them is immense.
Funding
for humanitarian responses is not keeping pace with requirements: although donors contribute more, the amounts are not commensurate with needs. Beyond financing, donor policies and politics challenge agencies' ability to deliver. The safety and security of aid workers is increasingly under threat.
This course focuses on the management of humanitarian operations and intends to provide students with the opportunity to explore critical issues in the humanitarian system. It helps students understand debates in the humanitarian system, develop a framework of analysis they can use in headquarters and the field, and acquire a toolkit to help them succeed as aid workers. This practical course will interest those wishing to work with an aid agency, directly or indirectly with disaster-affected populations, or those who want to better understand the system and the opportunities and challenges that humanitarians face.
- W 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Pierrette Quintiliani
Info - 3 points
Humanitarian Crisis Simulation
This short course is designed to enable participating students to weigh and apply humanitarian principles, concepts, best practices, and minimum standards to a simulated humanitarian emergency response. The simulation exercise challenges student participants with issues and dilemmas confronting humanitarian practitioners when responding to a complex emergency, and inspires them to work within the humanitarian system and architecture to solve problems in creative ways
In their roles as staff of humanitarian response agencies charged with responding to a large-scale crisis, student participants will analyze a dynamic stream of assessment data, prioritize key humanitarian needs, and make critical decisions about the appropriate type and scale of needed interventions. Participants will also be introduced to the importance and mechanisms of international humanitarian coordination in assembling the response.
The simulation will include a day-long exercise followed by a day of debriefing, analysis, and identification of key challenges and lessons. The Humanitarian Crisis Simulation focuses on humanitarian operations from the perspective of humanitarian assistance agencies operating in the field. The course should, therefore, be of interest to those wishing to work with humanitarian agencies responsible for planning and conducting responses to vulnerable populations affected by disaster, or to those who want to better understand the humanitarian assistance system and the challenges confronting humanitarian decision-makers.
Spring 2026 Course Dates: March 7-8
- US 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Jeffrey Klenk
Info - 1 points
Fighting Corruption: Concepts and Strate
This course examines the causes, dynamics, and consequences of corruption across societies, with emphasis on developing countries. Students will learn to identify different forms of corruption and explore legal, institutional, and policy-based strategies to prevent and address it. Through scenario assessments, simulations, and applied exercises, the course emphasizes practical tools for designing anti-corruption responses. Topics include measurement and transparency, enforcement mechanisms, multilateral initiatives, the role of civil society and media, and emerging challenges such as strategic corruption and financial technologies.
- T 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
-
Instructor:
Richard Nephew
Wikipedia Info - 3 points
User Experience (UX) in Digital Developm
UX in Digital Development
This course introduces students to human-centered approaches for designing and evaluating digital technologies in development contexts. Moving beyond technological determinism and the notion of digital “silver bullets,” the course emphasizes understanding users, their communities, and local systems to create more inclusive, sustainable solutions. Through frameworks in Human-Centered Design (HCD), systems thinking, and participatory methods, students will engage with core issues of digital development practice, including technology adoption, literacy, and equity.
Students will learn to critically assess and design digital tools such as mobile applications, platforms, and services, while considering constraints and opportunities in low-resource settings. The course combines interactive sessions in UX and UI design with guest lectures from practitioners and researchers. Coursework includes facilitation and participation, authoring a reflective Medium article on HCD in development, and a culminating group design project. No prerequisites are required beyond a constructive and critical mindset.
- R 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
- 3 points
Gender, Politics, and Development
Gender, Politics, & Devel
Gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls, are now widely accepted as development goals in their own right and as essential to inclusive and sustainable development. Yet despite progress in many areas, gender gaps and discrimination persist. This course asks: How did gender equality move from the periphery to the center of development discourse, and what difference has this shift made? Is gender equality a human right, an essential dimension of human development, or “smart economics”? What are the implications of a gender equality agenda for men and boys, and for broader understandings of gender identities and sexualities? What policies, strategies, and practices have been effective—or ineffective—in narrowing gender gaps and improving outcomes for both women and men in different development settings? What are possible responses to the “gender backlash” emerging in some countries and institutions?
In this course, we approach gender, politics, and development through theory, policy, and practice. We explore multiple constructions of gender in development discourse; the intersection of gender with race, ethnicity, caste, class, sexual orientation, disability, and other social categories; and the influence of dominant economic and political trends. We examine how gender norms shape the approaches of governments, development agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
A critical gender lens is applied to a wide range of development sectors and issues, including economic development, political participation, education and health, environment and climate change, and conflict and displacement. The course also considers current debates and approaches related to gender mainstreaming and gender metrics in development practice. Students engage with the material through class discussions, exercises, case studies, and the development of a gender-related project proposal.
- T 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
- 3 points
Global Constitutionalism
This course compares a range of proposals that have been advanced to promote a constitutional world order. It begins with traditional conceptions of the balance of power among independent “Westphalian” states, then explores arrangements designed to produce alternative forms of constituted international and world order. These include liberal and authoritarian internationalism, collective security through the League Covenant and the United Nations Charter, John Rawls’s
Law of Peoples
, and various other contemporary models of international law, global governance networks, and global democratization.
In addition to assessing the particular merits and limitations of these visions of world order, the course examines the underlying principles of international politics, ethics, and constitutional design that characterize efforts to establish rules for the globe.
- W 1:20 p.m.-3:10 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Michael Doyle
Info - 3 points