LEARNING OUTCOMES
Core learning outcomes:
- Understanding different views about the causes of poverty
- Understanding the concept of market-based development, including the most common approaches
- Recognizing when market-based development approaches may be appropriate, and how market-based development supplements other development approaches
- Develop critical thinking skills to assess how well an intervention is embedded in the local context
- Understanding the need for multi-stakeholder partnerships in market-based development, and how to assemble and manage these partnerships
- Critically assessing the ethics involved in market-based development, especially the impact of unequal power balances
Credits: 6
Schedule: 03.09.2024 - 17.10.2024
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Patrick Shulist
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):
Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):
Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
valid for whole curriculum period:
The course introduces the concept of market-based development as it is broadly undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and other developing contexts; collectively, the Global South. Market-based development does not offer a panacea for poverty-alleviation, but rather offers a powerful set of tools that work in some situations. As such, we will discuss when market-based approaches, such as microfinance, value-chain development, entrepreneurial training, and last-mile provisions, are appropriate and effective. Moreover, we will help students understand how to effectively structure interventions by focusing on three key pillars:
- Context: interventions must be appropriately tailored to the specific political, institutional, scarcity, and historical contexts.
- Partnerships: given the complexity of market-based development, partnerships involving different NGOs, businesses, and government entities are critical.
- Ethics: it is imperative to understand the fundamental power imbalances at play, as well as the importance of not presupposing that outsiders (especially Europeans versed in a different institutional context) know what is best for local communities.
To help us understand the complexities and nuances of all of these topics, the course will have a number of guest speakers who represent a cross-section of the actors involved in market-based development. Moreover, students will have the opportunity to integrate this learning by undertaking a final group-based project focused on providing solutions to the challenges encountered in real-world market-based development interventions.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
Individual and group work
Exam
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
Lectures
Individual and group work
Exam
DETAILS
Study Material
valid for whole curriculum period:
A selection of articles, cases, and videos.
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
1 No Poverty
8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
Teaching Language: English
Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Autumn I
2025-2026 Autumn IRegistration:
Students are admitted to the course in the following priority order 1) Creative Sustainability / Sustainable Entrepreneurship students, 2) Other students.