2023-24 Highlights
- Seventy-seven professionals participated in at least one program.
- Countries where participants came from included: China, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Rwanda, Seychelles, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Yemen and Zambia.
- Custom programs were created for academic administrators from the Lao People's Democratic Republic on the management and innovation of higher education and for emerging leaders from MENA region on leadership development.
Learning Exchange Partnership with Lao Universities
The Duke Center for International Development, with support from USAID and RTI International, hosted a delegation of higher education administrators from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) for a week-long study tour to learn about the U.S. university system from Duke University, the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University and RTI International. Following the study tour, the Duke team designed and organized three interactive webinars for Lao higher education academics and administrators. The partnership is part of USAID’s Study and Modeling of Management Capacity and System Strengthening Project (SMCS) to improve the education quality of the Lao PDR public university system. Read more about the partnership.
Leadership Development Training for Emerging Leaders From MENA Region
Eighteen young professionals from 11 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region completed a leadership residential program at Duke as part of the Leadership Development Fellowship (LDF Fellowship), an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of State’s U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and implemented by World Learning. The Duke Center for International Development hosted the LDF Fellows for a 2.5-week leadership development program, which focused on three primary themes: civic engagement, innovative leadership and climate action. Read more about the LDF Fellowship.
In-person Summer Programs
Project Appraisal and Risk Management
The four-week Project Appraisal and Risk Management (PARM) program, led by Professor of the Practice Fernando Fernholz, taught financial, economic, stakeholder, and risk analysis and risk management through real and applied case studies, lectures and group discussions. Five participants learned about a wide range of issues such as environmental impacts, risk management and poverty reduction, and completed a project in their own sector of interest.
Tax Analysis and Revenue Forecasting
The four-week Tax Analysis and Revenue Forecasting (TARF) program covered the economic foundations of tax policy, revenue forecasting and statistical techniques, giving 10 participants the capacity to implement successful tax reforms. Professors of the Practice GP Shukla and Sebastian James covered a wide variety of taxes, such as value-added tax, personal and corporate income tax, excises, property tax, trade taxes, and taxes on natural resources.
Fiscal Decentralization and Local Government Financial Management
The three-week Fiscal Decentralization and Local Government Financial Management (PFD) program, led by Professor of the Practice Roy Kelly, prepared 10 professionals to develop and implement decentralization policy reforms to improve local public financial management and stimulate efficient and accountable economic and social development.
2024 PARM cohort
2024 TARF cohort
2024 PFD cohort
Online Programs
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning for Development (MELD) program
The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning for Development (MELD) program introduced 15 participants to the theoretical underpinnings, frequently used concepts, and logical structure and sequencing of project and program design, monitoring, implementation and learning. Led by Visiting Professor of the Practice Hans-Martin Boehmer, the group used specific case studies and exercises to deepen their understanding and application of conceptual elements.
This course was excellent and well-balanced in learning theoretical content and examples of practical applications. I enjoyed Prof. Boehmer's teaching style, real-life and work experiences, expertise, humor, grace, and humility. And the guest speakers were all insightful and excellent!
2024 MELD participant
Behavioral Economics & Behavioral Science
In the Behavioral Economics & Behavioral Science course, led by Joseph Sherlock, a behavioral scientist at Duke's Center for Advanced Hindsight, 10 participants explored how behavioral insights can help them better understand and address development challenges faced by low-income communities. Working alongside Duke faculty and peers, they applied the lessons to the immersive and engaging group project component. Projects included Sustainability: Curbing Consumption, Sustainability: Nudging Farmers and Fishermen to take more sustainable practices, Health: Combating Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy, and Education: Increasing School Retention Rate.
“Probably some of the best virtual facilitation that I've encountered to date. Perfect balance of content, pace, short break, participant engagement, etc.”
2024 BEBS Participant
DCID's virtual and in-person programs provide mid-career and senior-level professionals with the opportunity to learn from and share best practices with our faculty and other experienced international development practitioners from around the world. Learn more about our executive education programs.