����vlog����

CID Student Seminars will take place over the course of four in-person 75-minute sessions spread throughout the spring semester. Each session will have pre-readings of approximately 30-60 minutes to inform and spark discussion between students and speakers.

In some cases, seminars may feature optional outside events such as social activities and field visits. All seminar participants will have the opportunity to attend a CID social gathering with faculty during the spring semester. 

The Critical Role of Development Finance Institutions, facilitated by CID Research Fellow Wasim Tahir

As global challenges intensify, development finance institutions (DFIs) have become the beating heart of sustainable growth in emerging markets. Governments are increasingly channeling official development assistance (ODA) through these vital entities. Nations like the United States and Canada have expanded or established new DFIs, while the Bridgetown agenda seeks to unlock billions in additional funding through World Bank Group reforms. Meanwhile, countries such as the UK are recognizing the importance of development finance for domestic growth, exemplified by the creation of the UK Infrastructure Bank.

This seminar will dissect the anatomy of a DFI, exploring their operations, shareholding structures, transaction processes, and how they achieve and measure impact. We will delve into topics increasingly relevant to the sector, including private capital mobilization, blended finance, climate finance, and peace-positive investing. By the end of the series, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the inner workings of DFIs and their critical role in global development.

Urban Regional Governance for Sustainable Development, facilitated by ALI Leadership Fellow  Claudia López Hernández

This seminar delves into the intricate dynamics of globalization, urbanization, climate change, and urban-regional governance, through a panoramic view of world tendencies and specific cases such as Bogotá’s Metropolitan Region. Through four detailed sessions, we will explore the historical and contemporary factors that have shaped the urban-region's governance structures, the impact of globalization, urbanization on sustainable development goals (SDGs) in guiding future policies and actions.

Participants will develop the skills to analyze and design governance frameworks that address social, environmental, and economic challenges at the city, metropolitan and regional level by applying evidence-based strategies to foster equitable growth, enhance resource management, and align local initiatives with global sustainability goals.

In the past fifty years, urban areas have spearheaded advancements in education, health, economic growth, and quality of life. Urban agglomerations are commonly known for providing clean water and sanitation, job opportunities, and infrastructure. However, the distribution of these benefits has been uneven, leaving significant gaps in access and quality across different regions.

Shaping appropriate scales for territorial governance is a delicate balancing act. Exercising competencies for sustainable development requires overcoming the custody of minor powers, which often perpetuate expensive bureaucracy, political patronage, gerrymandering, and other demons, or simply stubbornness and an outdated way of thinking.

In Class 1, we will check concepts and scales of megaregions, regions, and metropolitan areas, laying the foundation for a comprehensive understanding of how these territories function, interact, and compete. Class 2 will analyze disparities in social development indicators between urbanized and rural areas to bridge the gaps. Class 3 will examine how planning and design can address care, climate change, peacebuilding, and responsible economic growth. Finally, Class 4 will connect regional governance strategies to national and global development efforts providing a view of how local economic and governance policies have global implications.

Leading with a Gender Lens in International Development , facilitated by CPL Fellow Mara Bolis 

Inequality undermines development, yet too often policies and programs fail to account for differences in individual human preferences, needs, opportunities and risks. As a result, well-intended initiatives may increase – rather than reduce - vulnerability. While there are many drivers of inequality, marginalization based on gender is a persistent cause.

This co-curricular is designed to help students augment their leadership skills by enabling them to think with a gender lens.  In this seminar, students will be exposed to concepts, tools and approaches to enable them to bring these considerations into their work no matter their primary area of focus.  The material will include case studies for illustrative purposes and a guest lecture to provide an unfiltered perspective of the challenges and benefits of integrating gender considerations into one's work. This course will focus on the area of international development policy and practice, though the learnings will be applicable to other policy realms.

Every development problem has a gendered dimension that is accentuated based on race, ethnicity, caste, religion, disability and other factors. People of all genders pursuing careers in international development will be more effective practioners and leaders if they understand how to spot and address gender inequality in their work

Mara Bolis is a second-year Havard Kennedy School fellow working with CPL this year focusing on leadership capabilities to drive gender equality. This follows her work on gender and international development with the Center for International Development in the 2022-2023 academic year. 

The Critical Role of Development Finance Institutions, facilitated by CID Research Fellow Wasim Tahir

• Dates: Tuesdays: October 8, 15, 22, 29
• Time: 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm ET; lunch will be served
• Location: Harvard Kennedy School, Rubenstein 429 – Perkins Conference Room
• Office hours: . Office hours are open to students interested in discussing this topic. 

Urban Regional Governance for Sustainable Development, facilitated by ALI Leadership Fellow  Claudia López Hernández

• Dates: Thursdays: October 10, 17, 24, 31
• Time: 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm ET; lunch will be served
• Location: Harvard Kennedy School, Rubenstein 429 – Perkins Conference Room

Leading with a Gender Lens in International Development , facilitated by CPL Fellow Mara Bolis 

• Dates: Thursdays: October 1, 8, 15, 22
• Time: 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm ET

Seminar participants are expected to commit to attending all seminar sessions and engaging as much as possible with the reading and content. All sessions are in-person. Each seminar can accommodate up to approximately 35 participants. Final seminar size will be determined based on applications received. The seminars are non-credit courses, no grades or assignments.

These seminars are open to undergraduate and graduate students across all schools at Harvard who are interested in international development. Students need not be experts on a seminar’s given topic, but they should be able to demonstrate interest in applying what they learn to positively influence their work.

Applications for the Fall seminars are now closed. Sign up for our newsletter to get notified when Spring 2025 applications open!

Yes, students can apply to participate in more than one seminar if they are able to make all the classes. If applying to multiple, students should indicate their primary preference; final admittance decisions will factor in individual applications as well as overall demand.