The course aims at a broader conceptual understanding of the role of impact assessment and introduces to recent concepts of monitoring and evaluating impacts of projects and programmes in development cooperation. The course enables participants to design appropriate impact monitoring approaches and methods for assessing mid- and long term effects of development interventions.

The topics are selected on the basis of their actual and future relevance for the international development cooperation:• Project / Programme Cycle Management• Governance and the Millenium Development Goals in Sub-Sahara Africa• Governance and DecentralisationAdditionally, the seminar deals with the topic „Climatic Change"

In this course, social and cultural dynamics of international development cooperation are analysed, discussed, and connected to contemporary development cooperation activities and projects. Themes to be focused on include the impacts of colonisation in development cooperation, decolonisation, migration, gender, racism, and education.

The course deals with different approaches and types of evaluations within the framework of development projects. The participants acquire knowledge and skills for the use of methods for the analysis of project processes and results and their use in project management. In order to deepen the understanding, practical project examples are focused on.

The course provides an introduction into contemporary theoretical concepts and practical approaches of poverty reduction. For the macro level linakges between economic growth and poverty reduction are discussed, including prop-poor growth policies. For the micro level project and programme concepts are presented and discussed that are based on livelihood and empowerment approaches.

The course offers an introduction into organisational development (OD) in projects and programmes of development assistance. It enables students to lead a dialogue and to cooperate with other actors in OD-processes. Case studies and exercises are used to present and discuss approaches, methods and instruments of organizational development

This course offers an introduction to project cycle management (PCM). Case studies are used to deal with issues of project identification, project planning, project monitoring, and project evaluation. The lectures also aquaint with methods of data collection in the context of development projects.

The course acquaints the participants with the current thinking and practise in the field of livelihood approaches to development. Such approaches intend to be people centred and holistic. The course enables development practitioners and researchers to integrate a livelihood orientation into their professional work.