International Development Courses

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 a decade ago in Asia and used widely in Africa, it has been very successful to help hundreds of thousands of women’s businesses grow more rapidly and with more stability. The Western Hemisphere is a new frontier for microfranchising. There are few examples in industrialized countries despite the fact that commercial franchising plays a major role in the US economy, especially in the retail and service sector. The course will examine successful examples as well as examines why it has not yet been successful elsewhere.

This course will introduce students to an array of indicators and measurement tools for vulnerability and resilience among children and their application to monitor and evaluate a variety of child protection policies and programs.  Domains to be explored include, but are not limited to, child abuse; child labor; social connections with friends, family, and community members; externalizing behaviors; and internalizing issues, such as depression, self-esteem, hope and future expectations.

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? Students who are seeking ways to measure and manage to achieve a double bottom line (social and financial) or a triple bottom line (social, financial and ecological) will appreciate the practical skills that this course offers.