Harvard Center for International Development

? Next up in our CID Faculty Research Insights series: #CIDfacultyaffiliates Rema Hanna (Harvard Kennedy School) and Gabriel Kriendler (Harvard University), with co-authors Arya Gaduh (University of Arkansas), Tilman Graff (Harvard University), and Benjamin Olken (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) show how cities can design efficient, user-friendly transportation networks through their research in Jakarta, Indonesia. ???? ?? "Globally, as more cities invest in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, the lessons from this study provide a data-driven framework for designing more effective transit networks. The emphasis on commuter preferences—particularly the strong sensitivity to waiting times—suggests that cities can significantly enhance the attractiveness of public transport by focusing on these service quality dimensions. By improving network design, cities can boost public transport usage, contributing to more sustainable and equitable urban growth for millions of urban residents in fast-growing cities around the world." Read the research summary for further details and policy implications: https://bit.ly/40X6g1u #publictransportation #indonesia #policyimpact #economics #globaldevelopment

"What gives me hope is that community-based change, driven by extraordinary change agents, is happening all around the world at every moment. We don't want to lose sight of people-centered change and the capacity for change agents around the world to do the work in which they're doing every single day." In our final CID Speaker Series of the fall, CID hosted Michelle Nunn, President and CEO of CARE for a moderated discussion with CID Executive Director Fatema Z. Sumar. Nunn discussed CARE's evolution over almost a decade, focusing on local partnerships and innovative strategies to address global crises and development. Emphasizing community-based change and entrepreneurship, she encouraged collaboration and adaptation in the face of limited resources and shifting political landscapes. She also met with students for a CID Career Chat to share opportunities to work with organizations like CARE. ?? ?? ?? Watch the event now on our Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/3CC9EVG To learn more about some of the research and work underway at CARE, check out the following: Her Voice: CARE's annual report on what women are saying about their needs and leadership in the world can be found here (https://lnkd.in/dh-Kza6f) alongside an op-ed Michelle wrote for the?World Economic Forum (https://lnkd.in/dhXpg2YD) The Women in War: Leaders, Responders, and Potential report explores how women endure conflict (https://lnkd.in/dZDaPT8w) The Growth is Not Enough report explores the intersections of gender inequality, hunger, and economic growth (https://lnkd.in/dsz-X4BF). The Starving for Equality report shows how gender inequality makes men hungrier, too (https://lnkd.in/dR3ZgDCq). Emily Janoch, Fatema Z. Sumar, Jasmin Higo, MPA, Mara Bolis ?? Miguel Reyes #internationaldevelopment #care #communitybasedchange

?? We are turning a spotlight on the impactful research of our faculty affiliates across Harvard University. First up, #CIDfacultyaffiliate and Harvard Business School professor Reshmaan Hussam and co-authors Erin M. Kelley and Gregory Lane (University of Chicago) and Fatima Zahra (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) show how employment can positively influence mental health and wellbeing among Rohingya refugee communities in Bangladesh. ???? "For refugees facing extended displacement, structured work may offer a rare opportunity to reclaim agency, routine, and self-worth in a setting often characterized by uncertainty and idleness. By demonstrating that employment enhances mental health more effectively than cash transfers, the research challenges traditional views on financial aid, suggesting that integrating work opportunities into aid programs may yield deeper, more sustained improvements in wellbeing." Read the research summary for further details and policy implications: https://bit.ly/48UtFmo #mentalhealth #refugee #bangladesh #policyimpact #employment

How do Neighborhoods Impact Educational Choices? ?? #CIDFellow Dejan Kova? and co-author Annika Backes analyzed data from nearly 500,000 students in Croatia and uncovered compelling findings about neighborhood influences on college choices and academic paths. Key takeaways: ? Spillover Effects: An older neighbor's enrollment in a particular program can boost the likelihood that younger neighbors will apply for the same program by up to 23%. ? Gender Dynamics: Female students are influenced more strongly by older neighbors compared to male students, while older male neighbors have a greater impact on younger students than older female neighbors. ? Information Access: In cities without universities, students are significantly more likely to apply to programs their older neighbors attended, highlighting the critical role of information networks, especially in rural areas. Read more on #CIDVoices: https://bit.ly/4fy7xAx #education #croatia #highered #careerpathways

CID is currently accepting applications for two fellowships opportunities. Fellows have the opportunity to attend community events, seminars, and meetings, exchange best practices and ideas, discuss research, and network with the broader CID and Harvard research communities. ?? CID Education Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: This fellowship is for applicants who have received their PhD within five years of the fellowship's start date (September 2025) and are working on education research related to a UniCredit Foundation country (Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia) ?? Applications due: December 3, 2024 ?? CID Economic Development PhD Research Fellowship: The fellowship for current PhD students who have finished their coursework. Fellows will have the opportunity to pursue their own economic development research, receiving guidance from a CID Faculty Affiliate. Successful applicants must come from a PhD institution in a UniCredit Foundation country (Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia), and their research can focus anywhere in the world. ?? Applications due: March 7, 2025 Learn more, apply, and share! https://bit.ly/49BQ0oj Asim Ijaz Khwaja Fatema Z. Sumar Michela Carlana UniCredit Harvard Kennedy School #fellowship #postdoc #PhD #education #economicdevelopment #globaldev #UniCreditFoundation

“We need the scale, resources, and ingenuity of the private sector.” Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank With support from CID, #CIDFellow Wasim Tahir, CFA attended the International Monetary Fund and The World Bank Autumn Meetings in October. The meetings explored whether private capital can revolutionize development finance and how it can be mobilized to create effective change. Read Wasim's takeaways on #CIDVoices. https://bit.ly/40RALpw #GlobalDevelopment #PrivateCapital #SDGs #DevelopmentFinance #WorldBank #IMF

Last week, CID’s Executive Director Fatema Z. Sumar engaged on a number of events across Harvard University focused on #climate, #elections, and #gender. At the 2024 Climate Symposium at Harvard Business School, “Unlocking Policy and Financing Pathways for a Just Climate Transition in the Global South,” Fatema moderated a keynote with Tiza Mafira, Director of Climate Policy Initiative Indonesia. In the lead up to COP29 Azerbaijan and its focus on #climatefinance, the discussion explored how smart policy can pave the way to a more sustainable future and who should foot the bill for climate transitions for developing economies. At the Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation's panel on "Three Super Cycle Elections (U.S., India, Indonesia) & Implications for ASEAN," Fatema joined former Thai Prime Ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat, Director of the?Global Vietnam Wars Studies Initiative?and the?Unseen Legacies of the Vietnam War Project at Harvard Kennedy School Hai Nguyen,?and moderator and Poronui Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School Mattias Fibiger. The discussion focused on potential impacts on trade and investment, macroeconomic and fiscal policies, geopolitical alignments, national and regional security, and decarbonization strategies, providing insights into how ASEAN might best navigate this evolving global landscape. Finally, at the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative 2024 Gender Deep Dive, Fatema moderated a discussion with Amb. Melanne Verveer, the Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security The discussion focused on how to drive generational change to advance the rights of women and girls, particularly those on the frontlines of conflict in places like Afghanistan and Ukraine. #internationaldevelopment #climatechange #sustainblefuture #elections #ASEAN #economics #geopolitics #investment #gender #womensrights

?? Hiring alert! CID is hiring for a Research Fellow to work with Professor Eliana La Ferrara. CID research fellows work closely with faculty on specific research projects. Fellows come from diverse backgrounds and bring highly valued technical skillsets and cultural perspectives to our research teams. This specific fellowship be will under the direction of Professor Eliana La Ferrara. Ongoing projects include the role of social norms in mediating the impact of climate change on gender inequality (South Asia), determinants of forced hysterectomies (South Asia), marriage certification and intra-household dynamics (Sub-Saharan Africa), and the use of entertainment education for technology diffusion (Sub-Saharan Africa) or to facilitate migrants’ integration in host communities (Latin America). The selected applicant will be expected to start any time between July 1, 2025 and September 1, 2025 and the position will be based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3YKkbFE #researchfellowship #globaldev #climatechange #genderequality #migration #education Harvard Kennedy School

?? Congratulations to CID Faculty Affiliate Natalia Rigol and her co-authors Rohini Pande, Charity Moore, Simone Schaner, and Erica Field. Their paper, "On Her Own Account: How Strengthening Women’s Financial Control Impacts Labor Supply and Gender Norms," is impacting policy decisions worldwide. Learn more ? Yale Economic Growth Center #InclusionEconomics #gender #policyimpact

Listen in to CID Fellow Wasim Tahir, CFA as he reports out from #COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. What role can blended finance play in bridging climate funding gaps? #climatefinance #globaldev