The Year in Review
DCID collaborated with the Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology, Saïd School of Business (Oxford University), SC Johnson Business School (Cornell University) and VinUniversity on the inaugural International Open Innovation Conference. Held at VinUniversity, the conference convened thought leaders, policymakers, leading scholars, scientists and practitioners to discuss innovative green solutions and sustainable development.
How to Have an Impactful Career within International Development Organizations
In a fireside chat with DCID director Edmund Malesky, Duke MPP alumna Emiliana Vegas discussed her book, "Let's Change the World: How to Work within International Development Organizations to Make a Difference." She shared insights from her more than two decades working in international development organizations and provided advice to an audience of graduate and undergraduate students.
Burma: Reform, Coup, Crisis...Hope
Sean Turnell, the former economic consultant to Myanmar’s democratic government, joined DCID director Edmund Malesky for a fireside chat on the 2021 Myanmar military coup, Turnell's time in prison under the military junta, the country’s shattered economy, and the unwavering spirit of its people. Turnell also met with small groups of students and faculty during his Duke visit.
Climate Mobility and Climate Justice: The State of Research and Policy Advocacy
Lauren Grant, founding executive director of Beyond Climate Collaborative, presented a research seminar about the complexities of climate-related migration and the need for a multidisciplinary research approach to address the interplay of climate change with other factors driving mobility. Additionally, she conducted a workshop on policy advocacy for climate justice in Kerilyn Schewel's Migration Policy and Development class.
Women in Development Talk: Applied Development Economics
Parvina Rakhimova MIDP’13, International Monetary Fund; Shoghik Hovhannisyan MIDP’06, International Finance Corporation World Bank Group; and Cory Krupp, professor of the practice at Duke Sanford; reflected on their journey in applied development economics during DCID's Women in Development Talk series event. Moderated by Vivien La Torre MIDP’26 and hosted by Antonella Di Ciano MIDP'25, the virtual conversation explored the gender-specific barriers the panelists encountered during their careers and the lessons they’ve learned about confidence, leadership and community.
What Foreign Aid Funding Mechanisms Should America Use to Best Achieve Development Goals?
In partnership with USAID Alumni Association, George Washington University and World Hunger Education Services, DCID co-hosted a virtual roundtable exploring how aid may be packaged and leveraged best in the future. Phyllis Pomerantz, Duke Sanford professor of the practice emerita, moderated a session examining new and emerging funding mechanisms that the U.S. should consider adopting.
DCID Research Seminar: Trends and Transformations in Global Migration
Marie McAuliffe, head of the Migration Research & Publications Division at International Organization for Migration (IOM), drew upon global insights from the IOM's World Migration Report to critically examine the strategic “big picture” of migration and displacement. She explored how these dynamics are shaped by wider global transformations, particularly technological, geopolitical, and environmental change.
DCID Research Seminar: Why Don’t Citizens Hold Politicians Accountable for Air Pollution?
Shikhar Singh, assistant professor of political science at Duke, discussed findings from a large-scale citizen survey in the highly polluted megacity of Delhi to understand why urban citizens in low-income democracies rarely hold elected officials accountable for toxic air. His co-authored study revealed partisanship and sensitivity to the potential private costs of mitigation policies reduce accountability pressures.
Vietnam-U.S. Relations at 30 and the Prospects of a Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Under the Trump Administration
2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Vietnam-U.S. diplomatic ties. In a presentation to Duke students, political scientist Hai Hong Nguyen reviewed the trajectory of Vietnam-U.S. relations over the past three decades, lessons that can be learned, and the prospects of a comprehensive strategic partnership under the Trump administration. The event was co-hosted by DCID and the Duke Asian/Pacific Studies Institute.
Myanmar Business Environment Index 2023: Business Perceptions in Post-Coup Myanmar
The Myanmar Business Environment Index (MBEI) captures key aspects of local economic governance that businesses are facing in Myanmar and provides evidence to understand how the private sector currently views and interacts with the de facto authorities. The Asia Foundation and DCID hosted a virtual discussion about the report's findings with the report's authors: Edmund Malesky, Duke; Amb. Mark McDowell, country representative in Myanmar; Ville Peltovuori, The Asia Foundation; and Anna Bantung-Herrera, The Asia Foundation.
Journeys in International Development: Fabi Rueda
Fabiola Rueda MIDP'07 visited with a group of MIDP and MPP students to share insights from her professional journey, including her work as a programs manager at World Vision and her Duke MIDP experience. She also spoke in Catherine Admay's Human Rights and Conflict class about the Venezuelan migrant crisis and the challenges migrants face as they leave the country.
Journeys in International Development: Leila Elmergawi
Leila Elmergawi Duke GLS'11, IDP Certificate'11, senior advisor to the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology at the U.S. Department of State, discussed her career experiences with Sanford students. The conversation was part of the Journeys in International Development series, co-hosted by the MIDP Student Council and DCID.
Journeys in International Development: Martin Cerisola
Macroeconomist Martin Cerisola Duke PhD'03, former assistant director at the International Monetary Fund, shared career insights and advice with students as part of the Journeys in International Development series, co-hosted by DCID and the MIDP Student Council. He also spoke about the current global debt landscape and vulnerabilities facing emerging markets in Cory Krupp's Macroeconomic Policy class.