• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

Tools, Policy, and Practice of International Development

Module description

This course provides a strong grounding in development practice, including the key tools, techniques and policy considerations employed by development practitioners. Drawing upon real-world examples, students will learn about the main actors in development and how development projects are developed, planned, monitored, and evaluated. Some of the important skills and knowledge you develop include an understanding of log-frames, stakeholder planning, risk management, participatory methods, proposal writing, and reporting. You will also gain a comprehensive overview of important ethical considerations that impact the work of development, including issues of voice and representation, working in dangerous contexts, and safeguarding of vulnerable communities.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims:

• To provide a thorough grounding in the different actors and core issues facing development practice.
• To develop practical skills in the practice of development, including an understanding of the project cycle.
• To provide skills enabling students to think in policy relevant terms

To develop an awareness of ethical, risk, and safe-guarding issues involved in development practice. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an understanding of various tools and techniques used by development practitioners, and critically assess their strengths and weaknesses.
• 2. Show a critical understanding of academic debates on development practice, and the different ways these have been applied around the world.
• 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the various stages of a development project cycle.
• 4. Show an understanding of the ethical considerations that impact the work of development.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. devise and sustain arguments related to international development
• 6. read and engage with a variety of types of literature – reports, papers, articles, books – incorporating different types of data and methodology and disciplinary perspectives
• 7. discuss and critically engage with theories and practice of international development from a variety of intellectual perspectives

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. present ideas, oral and written, in a clear, well-structured manner
• 9. Develop autonomous learning skills, notably self-direction and time management
• 10. Reflect on the process of learning and evaluate personal strengths and areas for improvement.

Syllabus plan

While the module content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the module will cover a selection of the following themes:

• Tools, Policy, and Practice of Development
• Power and Knowledge in Development
• Race and Gender in Development
• International Organisations and International Financial Institutions
• Governments, NGOs, and Civil Society
• The Project Cycle
• Social Change, Advocacy and Activism

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Babb, Sarah. and Alexander Kentikelenis (2018). “International Financial Institutions as Agents of Neoliberalism,” in The SAGE Handbook of Neoliberalism, edited by D. Cahill, M. Cooper, M. Konings, & D. Primrose. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
• Banks, K. and Hulme, D. (2012) “The Role of NGOs and Civil Society in Development and Poverty Reduction.” Brooks World Policy Institute, Working Paper no, 171.  http://www.bwpi.manchester.ac.uk/medialibrary/publications/working_papers/bwpi-wp-  17112.pdf
• Brouwer, Ria (2013) Revisiting gender mainstreaming in international development:  Goodbye to an illusionary strategy, ISS Working Paper, no. 556. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/39504/wp556.pdf
• Cammack, P. ‘What the World Bank Means by Poverty Reduction, and Why it Matters’ New Political Economy, Vol 9, No 2, June 2004, pp. 189-211.
• Cornwall, A. E. Harrison, and A. Whitehead (eds), Feminisms in Development: Contradictions, Contestations and Challenges, London: Zed Books, 2006
• Hickey, S. and G. Mohan “Towards participation as transformation: critical themes and challenges” in S. Hickey and G. Mohan Participation: From Tyranny to Transformation?  London, Zed Books, 2004, pp. 3-24.
• Hira, A. (2012) State of the state: Does the state have a role in development? In: Haslam, P.A., Schafer, J. and Beaudet, P. (eds.) Introduction to International Development: Approaches, Actors and Issues. Oxford University Press, pp. 127-142.
• Hulme D. (2016) ‘Why Worry About the Distant Poor?’ in Should Rich Nations Help The Poor? Cambridge: Polity
• Rahman, Anisur, “People’s Self-Development” in People’s Self-Development. Perspectives of Participatory Action Research. A Journey through Experience, London, Zed Books, 1993 pp. 178-201
• Rapley, J. 2007, Understanding Development: Theory and Practice in the Third World,
• Richard A.M., 2009. Mediating Dilemmas: Local NGOs and Rural Development in Neoliberal Mexico. PoLAR: Political and Legal Anthropology Review Volume 32, Issue 2, pages 166-194
• Rogerson, R.  (with A Hewitt and D Waldenberg), ‘The International Aid System  2005–2010. Forces For and Against Change’ ODI Working Paper 235, 2004, pp  1-50. www.odi.org.uk/publications/working_papers/index.html
• Stiglitz,J.  'Towards a New Paradigm for Development: Strategies, Policies and Processes,' 9th Raul Prebisch Lecture delivered at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, October 19, 1998, UNCTAD. Chapter 2 in The Rebel Within, Ha-Joon Chang (ed.), London: Wimbledon Publishing Company, 2001, pp. 57-93, http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/download/1998_2_Towards_a_New_Paradigm_for_Development.pdf
• Stichelmans, Tiago (2016). How international financial institutions and donors influence economic policies in developing countries, Eurodad Discussion Paper, September 2016.
• Veltmeyer, H. and Bowles, P. (eds.) The Essential Guide to Critical Development Studies. Abingdon: Routledge.
• Zoomers A., van Westen G., Terlouw K., 2011. Looking forward: translocal development in practice  International Development Planning Review Volume 33, Number 4 Pages 491-499
• Ziai, A. (2013) ‘The discourse of “development” and why the concept should be abandoned’, Development in Practice 23(1): 123–36.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE: DFID, “Tools for Development”
• http://www.protectedareas.info/upload/document/toolsfordevelopment-dfid.pdf

Key words search

International Development, Policies and Projects