International development

Who Are You and Why Are You Here?

I have previously noted my interested in the expanded journal version of people recounting their experiences (e.g. this recent book on the Ebola response). The style (and title) of Jacques Claessens “Who are you and why are you here?” (2018), which was originally published in French in 2013 and translated in this version by Nigel […]

Tags: #Books #Burkina Faso #Development Studies #International development #Jacques Claessens

Thought Provokers Jan 21

Professional Development Options (Online & Free)

For those interested to gain more skills that are relevant to development and humanitarian activities, this post will list free, online resources. Each includes a brief description. If you have other suggestions of free training options, send me an email and I will add them. I have recommended that you try to make this a habit […]

Tags: #Free training #Humanitarian assistance #International development #Online Training #Professional Development

The Development Dance

The practice of development is messy. Far too often it is much more messy we tend to acknowledge. That messiness often does not appear RCTs or evaluations, but it has a significant impact on the implementation of activities. One of the layers of messiness is the negotiation between donor and recipient governments, covered in Haley […]

Tags: #Development Dance #Development Studies #Donors #International development #Politics

Thought Provokers Aug 23

New publication: Designing Knowledge Co-production for Climate and Development

Harvey, B., Cochrane, L., Van Epp, M., Cranston, P., and Pirani, P.A. (2017) Designing Knowledge Co-production for Climate and Development. CARIAA Working Paper #21. International Development Research Centre: Ottawa. Abstract: Climate change poses significant global challenges. Solutions require new ways of working, thinking and acting. Knowledge co-production is often cited as one of the innovations needed […]

Tags: #Climate change #Development Studies #International development #Knowledge coproduction

Research Jul 25

New Publication: The Geography of Development Studies: Leaving No One Behind

Cochrane, L. and Thornton, A. (2017) The Geography of Development Studies. Forum for Development Studies. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08039410.2017.1345786 Abstract: Whereas the Millennium Development Goals sought reductions, the Sustainable Development Goals have set forth bold new objectives of leaving no one behind. This Commentary explores the continued geographic prioritization and exclusions within development studies research and some of the […]

Tags: #Development Studies #Geography of Development Studies #International development #Leaving No One Behind #Research for Development

Research Jul 6

Interesting Books (275+)

In addition to the “essential” development studies books, some other interesting books include (organized chronologically): Pre1950s On the Genealogy of Morality (1887) Nietzsche Growing up in New Guinea (1930) Mead 1950s Black Skin, While Masks (1952) Fanon 1960s The Fire Next Time (1962) Baldwin Arabia Felix (1964) Hansen Stokely Speaks (1965) Kwame Ture State […]

Tags: #Book Reviews #Books #Development Studies #Interesting books #International development

Toxic Aid: A Tanzanian Study

Every few months the question is asked: Does aid work? Sebastian Edwards, professor and former World Banker, wrote “Toxic Aid: Economic Collapse and Recovery in Tanzania” (2014) to help wade through the an answer. In short, he concludes “aid affects economic performance in a highly complex way, and through multiple and changing channels. It also […]

Tags: #Development #Foreign assistance #International development #Tanzania #Toxic Aid

Thought Provokers Jun 28

The Politics of Development in Morocco

‘Doing development differently’ can be interpreted as redistributing power in a decentralized way, and ensuring broad participation. How do we move these ideas from paper to practice? And, are these two objectives (not explicit in the DDD manifesto, but common in the discourse) compatible? Third, are these approaches to ‘doing development differently’ effective pathways to arrive […]

Tags: #Decentralization #Doing Development Differently #International development #Morocco #Politics

Thought Provokers Apr 25

Whose Reality Counts?

Twenty years ago Robert Chambers published “Whose Reality Counts? Putting the First Last” (1997). He challenges the academics and professionals to turn how they work upside down. His earlier book, Rural Development (1983) did similarly. In doing so, however, Chambers is not the angry dissident disowning ‘development’, rather he offers an optimistic vision: “That the […]

Tags: #Development Studies #International development #Professionalism #Robert Chambers #Whose Reality Counts

Thought Provokers Feb 25

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About me

Logan Cochrane

Associate Professor at HBKU in the College of Public Policy. He is an Associate Fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences and an Adjunct Professor at Hawassa University (Institute for Policy and Development Research). Over the last fifteen years, he has worked in Afghanistan, Benin, Burundi, Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Logan acts as a consultant for governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, seeking to create bridges between research and practice.

Logan Cochrane