People smiling in a classroomAs part of our five-year “BCD” strategy to Build, Convene, and Deploy talent to create a thriving world for all, the Harvard Center for International Development (CID) is committed to providing students with a comprehensive understanding of key issues in the field of international development. Our non-credit CID Student Seminars meet regularly during the semester to connect students with leading international development practitioners who navigate critical, cross-cutting topics within their fields.

CID is offering 5 seminars in Spring 2025. 

Seminar Details

CID Student Seminars will take place over the course of four in-person 75-minute sessions spread throughout the spring semester. Each session will have pre-readings of approximately 30-60 minutes to inform and spark discussion between students and speakers.

In some cases, seminars may feature optional outside events such as social activities and field visits. All seminar participants will have the opportunity to attend a CID social gathering with faculty during the spring semester. 

AI in International Development facilitated by CID Faculty Affiliate Mark Esposito

The "AI in International Development" seminar offers participants critical insights into how AI is transforming key sectors like poverty alleviation, healthcare, education, and crisis response, influencing global policy and development strategies. The seminar will explore how AI can shape digital policies aimed at improving societal well-being and economic prosperity in developing nations. We will examine AI innovations that enhance service delivery, optimize resource management, and support data-driven decision-making in government.

Ethical concerns, including data privacy, algorithmic fairness, and potential biases in AI, will be central to our discussions. Addressing these issues is crucial as countries integrate AI into national planning, striving to avoid increased inequality or reduced public trust. The seminar will emphasize a balanced approach that aligns technological progress with sustainable development, ensuring that AI’s implementation respects both environmental and social integrity. Participants will engage in discussions on maximizing AI's potential for real-world challenges, developing frameworks for its integration into national strategies while promoting equitable growth. By analyzing case studies and interacting with policy experts, attendees will gain a nuanced understanding of the geopolitical and socio-economic factors affecting AI in international development.

The Critical Role of Development Finance Institutions facilitated by CID Research Fellow Wasim Tahir

As global challenges intensify, development finance institutions (DFIs) have become the beating heart of sustainable growth in emerging markets. Governments are increasingly channeling official development assistance (ODA) through these vital entities. Nations like the United States and Canada have expanded or established new DFIs, while the Bridgetown agenda seeks to unlock billions in additional funding through World Bank Group reforms. Meanwhile, countries such as the UK are recognizing the importance of development finance for domestic growth, exemplified by the creation of the UK Infrastructure Bank.

This seminar will dissect the anatomy of a DFI, exploring their operations, shareholding structures, transaction processes, and how they achieve and measure impact. We will delve into topics increasingly relevant to the sector, including private capital mobilization, blended finance, climate finance, and peace-positive investing. By the end of the series, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the inner workings of DFIs and their critical role in global development.

Development Diplomacy facilitated by CID Executive Director Fatema Sumar

When political and development actors constructively work together in common cause, transformative change can happen.  Success can result in major new anti-poverty initiatives; new investments in physical, social, and digital infrastructure; and policy and institutional reforms addressing the root causes of poverty.  When they talk past each other and fail to align, the opportunity to invest in the development agenda can evaporate. International development often considers the economic, technical, and social elements of design, implementation, and evaluation.  Yet, critical to success is the diplomacy required between actors who often work in silos that separate the development, foreign policy, national security, and political communities.  These silos extend even within the development community between donors and implementers, for instance.

Over the course of four sessions, this CID seminar will consider the novel concept of “development diplomacy” and how diplomacy can be more smartly leveraged to achieve development outcomes. Students will leave the seminar with a framework to guide their own career journeys to becoming development diplomats. The seminar will draw from articles, case studies, and the book, The Development Diplomat: Working Across Borders, Boardrooms, and Bureaucracies to End Poverty.

From Evidence to Action: The Political Economy of Welfare Reform in Indonesia facilitated by CID Visiting Scholar Sudarno Sumarto

Evidence-based policymaking is a powerful way for researchers to influence policymaking and bring about reforms for the common good. However, the path from evidence to policy implementation is not straightforward.

This series of talks will provide insights into the political economy of welfare policymaking in developing countries, with Indonesia as a case study, particularly focusing on the dynamics of evidence-based policymaking. However, this series is not just about the evidence for various policy reforms, but also about how and why evidence is (or isn’t) produced and used. Many times, evidence-based policymaking is as much political as it is technical. Researchers who ignore the political dimensions risk failure when advocating for policy reforms.

Leading with a Gender Lens in International Development  facilitated by CPL Fellow Mara Bolis (co-sponsored by the Center for Public Leadership)

Inequality undermines development, yet too often policies and programs fail to account for differences in individual human preferences, needs, opportunities and risks. As a result, well-intended initiatives may increase – rather than reduce - vulnerability. While there are many drivers of inequality, marginalization based on gender is a persistent cause.

This co-curricular is designed to help students augment their leadership skills by enabling them to think with a gender lens.  In this seminar, students will be exposed to concepts, tools and approaches to enable them to bring these considerations into their work no matter their primary area of focus.  The material will include case studies for illustrative purposes and a guest lecture to provide an unfiltered perspective of the challenges and benefits of integrating gender considerations into one's work. This course will focus on the area of international development policy and practice, though the learnings will be applicable to other policy realms.

Every development problem has a gendered dimension that is accentuated based on race, ethnicity, caste, religion, disability and other factors. People of all genders pursuing careers in international development will be more effective practitioners and leaders if they understand how to spot and address gender inequality in their work.

For everyone interested in international development who is eager to understand how to spot and address gender inequality in their work, please join Mara’s office hours for thoughts about how to make your work more inclusive.  

Mara Bolis is a second-year Havard Kennedy School fellow working with CPL this year focusing on leadership capabilities to drive gender equality. This follows her work on gender and international development with the Center for International Development in the 2023-2024 academic year. 

AI in International Development facilitated by CID Faculty Affiliate Mark Esposito

  • Dates: Mondays: March 24, March 31, April 14, April 21
  • Time: 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm
  • Location: Harvard Kennedy School, Rubenstein 429 – Perkins Conference Room
  • Office hours: upon appointment

The Critical Role of Development Finance Institutions, facilitated by CID Research Fellow Wasim Tahir

  • Dates: Wednesdays: March 26, April 2, April 9, April 16
  • Time: 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm ET; lunch will be served
  • Location: Harvard Kennedy School, Rubenstein 429 – Perkins Conference Room
  • Office hours:  Book time with Tahir, Wasim: Office Hours 

Development Diplomacy facilitated by CID Executive Director Fatema Sumar

  • Dates: Tuesdays: March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15
  • Time: 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm ET; lunch will be served
  • Location: Harvard Kennedy School, First session in Malkin Penthouse, all other sessions in Rubenstein 429 – Perkins Conference Room
  • Office hours: Book Office Hours here 

From Evidence to Action: The Political Economy of Welfare Reform in Indonesia facilitated by CID Visiting Scholar Sudarno Sumarto

  • Dates: Tuesdays: February 18, February 25, March 11, March 25
  • Time: 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm ET; lunch will be served
  • Location: Harvard Kennedy School, Rubenstein 429 – Perkins Conference Room
  • Office hours: Email Sudarno Sumarto directly to set up office hours 

 Leading with a Gender Lens in International Development facilitated by CPL Fellow Mara Bolis

  • Dates: Tuesdays: February 18, February 25, March 4, March 11
  • Time: 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm ET; lunch will be served
  • Location: Harvard Kennedy School, T-135 CPL Darman Seminar Room

Seminar participants are expected to commit to attending all seminar sessions and engaging as much as possible with the reading and content. All sessions are in-person. Each seminar can accommodate up to approximately 35 participants. Final seminar size will be determined based on applications received. The seminars are non-credit courses, no grades or assignments.

Application Process

These seminars are open to undergraduate and graduate students across all schools at Harvard who are interested in international development. Students need not be experts on a seminar’s given topic, but they should be able to demonstrate interest in applying what they learn to positively influence their work.

Click here to access the application for AI in International Development. Applications close on March 3 at noon ET. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Click here to access the application for The Critical Role of Development Finance Institutions.  Applications close on March 3 at noon ET. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Click here to access the application for Development Diplomacy . Applications close on March 3 at noon ET. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Click here to access the application for From Evidence to Action: The Political Economy of Welfare Reform in Indonesia. Applications close on February 7 at noon ET. Application will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Click here to access the application for Leading with a Gender Lens in International Development. Applications close on February 5.

CID seminars fill up quickly. Preference will be given to students who submit applications early. 

Yes, students can apply to participate in more than one seminar if they are able to make all the classes. If applying to multiple, students should indicate their primary preference; final admittance decisions will factor in individual applications as well as overall demand.

Reflections from CID's Seminar on Gender and Development

Insights from CID's Fall 2023 Seminar on Development Diplomacy