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865-0018-00L 1 Credits MSC , NDS D-GESS

The Changing Landscape of Development Cooperation

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Christopher Humphrey
Only for MAS/CAS in Development and Cooperation students, as well as specialists with at least 24 months of practical experience in international cooperation. ETH doctoral students working on topics related to poverty reduction in low- and middle income countries may also be admitted. Registration only through the NADEL administration office.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:07:42

Abstract

This two-day course explores how the landscape of international development has changed over the last two decades to include new official, philanthropic and private actors, new models to achieve development and shifting dynamics between recipients and development agencies. These changes offer opportunities as well as challenges to practitioners in the field.

Objective

The aim of the course is to better prepare practitioners to effectively undertake their mission in a fast-changing development cooperation landscape. To do so, the course will emphasize the need to move past old top-down style development practices, make better use of the sophisticated knowledge and evolving needs of recipient communities and countries and coordinate within the increasingly complex array of players active in development.

Content

• Explore the political, economic and developmental shifts that have resulted in the more complex development landscape of today • Consider development from the point of view of the incentives and interests of recipients, and discuss how this shapes development agency-recipient interactions. • Outline the main development actors involved, including traditional and emerging aid providers, development banks and finance institutions, NGOs and private foundations. • Evaluate opportunities for collaboration as well as the realities of “competition” among development providers in terms of project selection, financing terms and implementation procedures like environmental and social safeguards. • Take up the issue of policy dialogue and influence between development organizations and recipient governments in the current context

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC , NDS

Examination

Type
ungraded semester performance

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise The Changing Landscape of Development Cooperation
Blockkurs: 20.06. – 21.06.2022 Ort: CLD A1
No time listed 16 h semesterly

Offered In