MNGT-E1002 - Market-based Development in the Global South, Lecture, 6.9.2022-13.10.2022

On context

Country level data is helpful, but remember that it provides only a starting point; it is a national average after all.  So, you might have to modify things up or down from those national averages, when making assessments about the state of development in your chosen geography.  Some good sources of information to consider, at the national level:

• Multidimensional poverty index
• Human development index
• Various development indicators, such as unemployment, economic output, etc.  Best found at https://data.worldbank.org/indicator
• SDG data,as discussed in session 3.   https://sdgs.un.org/goals#goals   Follow this link to see country profiles, and how the countries are performing on the SDGs: https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/profiles
  

More locally, you might be able to find sub national statistics from government offices, or from other reports, such as those made by NGOs. You may also find sources speaking about certain development issues in a given region.  This is helpful for establishing that something like poverty is an issue.

The main thing is to just ensure that you are 'customizing' the national level data based on other sources.

Keep in mind that the main goal here is NOT to get some exact statistic for your chosen geography; i.e., 45% of people lack access to clean drinking water.  Instead, what you want to be able to say is that 'lack of access to clean drinking water is a challenge in this area.' So, if national level data says 35% of people lack access to clean drinking water, it is likely to be a problem everywhere.

On Interventions

It is generally going to be easier to find information on interventions funded by governments and run by NGOs, as these tend to have good centralized databases. Corporation-led stuff, while still important, tend to not have centralized databases and might involve more of a 'just looking around' approach.  I will provide some potential keywords and approaches below.

EU and country level databases.

• EU Aid Explorer
• Project Browser, Canada
  
• Development Tracker, UK
  
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  There are a couple links here: the highest level is the projects and data portal. The Development Experiences Clearinghouse may also be helpful. Searchable by country, the Foreign Assistance database is probably the best starting point.
• Database of Finland's Development Assistance: OpenAid.fi
  

Also search through some of the bigger NGOs:

• CARE
• PLAN
• OXFAM
• Unicef
• BRAC

For looking at corporation-led MBD, try some keywords like: Company name +

• Bottom of the Pyramid
• Base of the Pyramid
• SDG1, no poverty
• International Development

It also may work to search for your region/city/country + the following:

• Microfinance
• Microinsurance
• Business innovation
• Value-chain development
• Income generating activities
• Entrepreneurship training