This module aims to equip students with some of the core skills needed to work in development by giving them hands on experience of applying some of the most commonly used tools in development programmes. We will use real-world examples of development projects and programmes to bring to life the complex challenges of development in practice. Each week, students will learn and apply different tools to analyse, plan, manage and evaluate these programmes. The module will be structured around the programme life cycle, and will include: stakeholder analysis; political analysis; developing a theory of change; logframes; budgeting, programme monitoring; adaptive management; and different approaches to evaluation and learning. Weekly lectures will introduce and problematise these tools, and weekly seminars will involve group problem-solving exercises where students apply these tools and consider their strengths and limitations in practice. This module prepares students for the IDD undergraduate study tour, which takes place at the end of semester 2.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Describe the complex social, political and administrative processes involved in designing and managing development projects and programmes.
Explain and apply key tools and approaches commonly used in the development sector.
Analyse the links between different tools and the effectiveness of development programming.
Evaluate the strengths and limitations of key tools for and approaches to managing development projects and programmes.