Duke Center for International Development

Learn about the complex crisis in Syria and hear from diverse perspectives on current events during a humanitarian briefing from the Rotary Club of Global Partners in Peace. (Two of the panelists are Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy MIDP alums & Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center fellows! Imad Alhajj & Branka Panic) Info ??

On March 5, Emiliana Vegas will discuss her book, "Let's Change the World: How to Work within International Development Organizations to Make a Difference," in a fireside chat with Edmund (Eddy) Malesky, director of the Duke Center for International Development. The book for current and aspiring changemakers combines insider tips, best practices and targeted advice, offering a blueprint for all of us determined to be a force for good. The Duke MPP alumna has been highly recognized for her career working to inform education policy in the Global South. She has been a leading economist at The World Bank, division chief of education at the Inter-American Bank, and co-director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings. She is currently a professor of practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. ???Wed., March 5 ?4:30 p.m. ??Sanford Building 05 More info: https://lnkd.in/dgFqWee9

Upcoming event ?? Burma: Reform, Coup, Crisis...Hope Join us for an insightful fireside chat with Sean Turnell, former economic adviser to Myanmar’s democratic government, as he discusses his first-hand experience and expertise on Burma's economic reforms and the ongoing resistance against military rule with Edmund (Eddy) Malesky, professor of political economy and director of the Duke Center for International Development. The conversation will explore Burma's economic reform efforts, the resistance sparked by these reforms, the coup and its aftermath, and how global support can help bring about meaningful change. Sean Turnell is a Senior Fellow at the Lowy Institute, former senior analyst at the Reserve Bank of Australia, and a long-time expert on economic policy and financial institutions. Following the military coup that took place in Myanmar in February 2021, Sean was imprisoned alongside Myanmar's democratic leadership. After 650 days of incarceration and severe ill-treatment, he was finally released in November 2022. He has written extensively on macroeconomic policymaking, economic reform, and the role of financial institutions in economic development, with a special focus on Australia, Myanmar, and the Indo-Pacific. His new book, "The Best Laid Plans," sheds light on Burma’s economic journey and his personal experience. ??Tuesday, March 4 ??Sanford Building, Room 04 ?5 p.m.

"The risks of overestimating rerouting can result in overreactions, such as across-the-board punitive measures against countries like Vietnam, which will raise prices for American families while disrupting legitimate economic activity that is creating jobs and feeding Vietnamese families." Edmund (Eddy) Malesky and co-authors Jaya Wen, Ebehi Iyoha and Sung-Ju Wu discuss findings from their recent work analyzing trade rerouting through Vietnam following the 2018 U.S.-China trade war in this Harvard Business Review article: https://lnkd.in/ec-ZYhff

"Small farmers ‘are facing increased food insecurity for their entire families, linked to increased drought and changing rain patterns. Cutting aid will decrease funding for the people in precarious situations who so far have chosen not to migrate.’" In a New York Times article, Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy professor Sarah Bermeo offered insight into the link between climate change and migration in Central America and how stopping aid could affect small farmers in the region. https://lnkd.in/d9CDvEtd

In an LSE United States Centre #USAPP blog post, Prof. Sarah Bermeo writes that "while U.S. aid programs need reform, Trump’s actions to freeze and dismantle aid go against the explicit wishes of Congress and most Americans. Stopping aid funding for 90 days could do enormous damage to local implementing agencies, damage which may not be easily reversed." Read her commentary: https://lnkd.in/efGd6dxP Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy Duke Program on Climate, Resilience and Mobility

Looking forward to the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center's 22nd annual spring conference!

We're excited to announce that applications for the 2026 Rotary Peace Fellowship are now open! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/d2wCjeb Each year, Rotary awards fully funded fellowships for peacebuilders from diverse backgrounds to study at one of our peace centers located at premier universities around the world. This year, our Center will select ten fellows to study peacebuilding and international development at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. Candidates have until May 15 to submit applications to The Rotary Foundation. Please help us promote the fellowship to the peace and development leaders in your community and encourage them to?apply. Thanks to generous support from donors to The Rotary Foundation and the dedicated participation of Rotary members, more than 1,800 peace fellows have trained at Rotary Peace Centers since 2002 and are working in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and development roles in more than 140 countries. UNC Global Affairs Duke Center for International Development #Rotary #rotarypeace #peacebuilding

Does “Made in Vietnam” simply mean “Made in China?” In this article for VoxChina, Edmund (Eddy) Malesky and co-authors Ebehi Iyoha, Jaya Wen, Sung-Ju Wu and Bo Feng discuss their research exploring the extent of trade rerouting through Vietnam during the 2018–19 US-China trade war. https://lnkd.in/ehYfGTfk

Last semester, we were fortunate to have Dr. Martin Cerisola, Duke alumnus (PhD Economics) and former director at the International Monetary Fund, on campus to share insights and advice with students. In Prof. Cory Krupp’s Macroeconomic Policy course, he spoke about the current global debt landscape, vulnerabilities facing emerging markets, and the IMF's role in helping countries manage their fiscal affairs. He also met with a small group of MIDP and MPP students to discuss his 30-year career at the IMF. The gathering was part of the Journeys in International Development series hosted by DCID, Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy Career Services and the MIDP Student Council. During the conversation, moderated by Sayra Martinez MIDP’25, Dr. Cerisola reflected on how his experiences at the IMF aligned with his ambitions and how his work was deeply shaped by his upbringing in Argentina. He also highlighted the role Duke's economics program played in his journey. His advice to students: build a versatile skillset – a blend of macroeconomic knowledge, econometrics, policy analysis, and crucially, negotiation and cultural understanding. He also emphasized the importance of reflecting on your career path and anticipating where you want to be in five years. Thank you, Dr. Cerisola!