Aid and Development

The module is taught across ten sessions, each dealing with a different aspect of aid and development. Thematically, the module deals with three main areas: firstly an exploration of key ideas and themes in aid and development; secondly, and examination of how aid functions at different levels; and thirdly, aid in specific contexts. The following is a schematic of the course:

1. Introduction: What is aid?
2. Aid and ownership
3. Evaluating aid
4. International Organisations, the UN, and aid
5. Donors, Governments and Aid
6. Non-governmental organisations
7. Faith-Based Organisations, Diasporas, and Philanthrocapitalists
8. Aid, Violence and Conflict
9. Access, negotiation and the rules of aid
10. Humanitarian aid & forced migration

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

At the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an awareness of how ‘aid’ policy emerged, and how it has changed into its modern form
• Demonstrate an awareness of the key arguments in the literature on the use of aid as a developmental tool
• Analyse and discuss aid policy from the perspective of international organisations, national donors, and non-governmental organisations
• Demonstrate that they have develop a thorough understanding of the complexities and challenges of linking aid to development objectives
• Demonstrate an understanding of how aid is evaluated and assessed, and the complications inherent in evaluation models and theories
• Demonstrate an understanding of how aid is delivered and functions in disaster and conflict contexts

Workload

Teaching takes place through a weekly 1 hour lecture and 1 hour tutorial.

Method of assessment

100% Coursework. Each student will be required to submit an Essay worth 60% of the overall grade and a Project Evaluation worth 40% of the overall grade.

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules