What Works: Promising Practices in International Development

The history of international development is a complicated mixture of hopeful altruism and difficult reality. The media often paint development aid as wasteful spending, leaving the public wondering if any intervention can ever work. Yet can the case be made for a more optimistic outlook on international development? Hear success stories from around the world This free online course highlights case studies and strategies that are considered “successes” in improving the well-being of the poor and contributing to overall societal progress. Researchers from the University of Oslo, Stanford University, the University of Malawi and the China Agricultural University will shed light on several promising practices, ranging from public health, agricultural, political, and economic development programs. You will be equipped with a toolkit to examine interventions critically, while recognizing how successful development strategies can be deployed in a range of international contexts. Learn with internationally-renowned experts During the course, you’ll hear from experts including Stanford’s Francis Fukuyama and Larry Diamond; former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Brundtland; and policy directors at Norad—the Norwegian Aid Agency. You’ll also get to share your ideas with other learners form around the world though course discussions and other activities. You can find out more at whatworks-development.org or join our Facebook page. Dan Banik and Kevin Hsu have also written a post for the FutureLearn blog: “Take part: 2015 is the European Year for Development.”

• Dan Banik