International Development Courses

Disasters show little regard for economic borders as both developed and developing countries suffer from disasters. Disasters are costly and the human toll is often severe whether in New York or Dhaka. The effectiveness of disaster risk reduction strategies and the investment in these strategies is prioritized in many nations today while opportunity for progress exists in numerous countries.

This intensive two-credit course examines microfinance, one of the most successful approaches to assisting women to expand their microbusinesses, increase their income, improve their families’ wellbeing, and increase their self-esteem. Microfinance is an innovative and financially sustainable strategy targeted to microenterprises and small businesses, which provide the majority of jobs worldwide. It is designed to assist very low income and limited asset persons to grow their businesses over many loan cycles.

This intensive two-credit course examines microfinance, one of the most successful approaches to assisting women to expand their microbusinesses, increase their income, improve their families’ wellbeing, and increase their self-esteem. Microfinance is an innovative and financially sustainable strategy targeted to microenterprises and small businesses, which provide the majority of jobs worldwide. It is designed to assist very low income and limited asset persons to grow their businesses over many loan cycles.

Microfranchising is a new methodology adapting some of the methods of commercial franchising to meet the needs of the economically active poor in developing countries. Developed two decades ago in Asia, it is now used widely in Africa and is growing in Latin America. Microfranchises are proven businesses that have been standardized so they can be replicated rapidly by many low income businesspeople with little formal education. The microfranchisor provides training, on-going technical assistance, products, publicity and marketing.

Social enterprises are businesses that address social problems in order to improve people’s lives, communities, and the environment while striving to become financially sustainable. They increase social impact by often reinvesting surplus rather than maximizing profit to external stockholders. Whether they are for-profit or non-profit, the “mission driven” entities sell products or services to generate revenue that fuels their growth. There is often a creative use of subsidized funds in the early stages that then form the basis for long term sustainability without further philanthropy.

Social performance management (SPM) is an institutionalized process of translating social mission into practice. It is easy for an NGO or for-profit institution to say that they are carrying out a social mission but how to do they prove it and improve it?

This course is for students of all disciplines who seek simple, practical tools for market research. Much of this course is dedicated to hands-on practice of qualitative tools. The 18 tools were developed by MicroSave in Africa and now are used worldwide. The authors originally took Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) tools and adapted them to market research that can be used by microfinance institutions, business developers, health organizations, and development agencies.