Harvard Center for International Development

Last week, CID Leadership Asim Ijaz Khwaja and Fatema Z. Sumar traveled to the UK and Saudi Arabia. In London, they presented CID's strategy on moving From Poverty to Potential to the Harvard Kennedy School’s Dean’s Council. They also met with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to discuss trends in global development and strategic choices facing British foreign aid. In Riyadh, CID met with senior leaders across government, research institutions, and the private sector. Their discussions focused on development challenges in the Kingdom – and explored opportunities for research, policy innovation, and talent exchange. They were joined by CID Global Development Council members Eng. Abdullah Alrakhis and Iqbal Khan. ?? Paul Clark Photography (London) #thrivingworld #globaldevelopment #innovation #policy #CIDontheroad

???? In Tamil Nadu, India, rising temperatures, poor air quality, and water shortages are making new motherhood even more challenging. The consequences are stark: ?? For infants – Heat rashes, dehydration, and breathing difficulties are now common. ?? For mothers – Mental health struggles and sleep disturbances are intensifying, while access to healthcare and support remains limited. This week on #CIDVoices, global health expert Saravanan Thangarajan MDS, MBA (Harvard Medical School) shares the urgent realities new mothers face—and why policymakers must act now. Read more about Saravanan’s research and the critical steps needed to protect mothers and infants. https://bit.ly/440Pyjj #ClimateChange #MaternalHealth #InfantHealth #GlobalHealth #PublicPolicy #Sustainability #Advocacy

As we gear up for our annual Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM) next month, we are thrilled to release the first episode of our Road to GEM25 podcast series. This series sets the stage for GEM25: Catalyzing AI for Inclusive Change. ??? Episode 1: Leveraging AI for Global Development: Opportunities and Policy Implications AI is reshaping global development—but how can it be harnessed to address challenges in governance, decentralization, and inclusion? In this episode, we dive into the transformative potential of AI with Pritham Raja (J-PAL) and Chinasa T. Okolo (Brookings Institute), who explore the intersection of AI, policy, and global equity. From using AI to bridge gaps in local governance to the power of smaller, more accessible language models, they discuss the innovations shaping the field. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a development practitioner, or just curious about the future of tech in low-income countries, this conversation offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of AI for public good. Listen now: https://bit.ly/4kVMQlv Guests: Pritham Raja - Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) | Chinasa T. Okolo, Ph.D. - The Brookings Institution Student Host: Lili Vessereau Learn more about CID's Global Empowerment Meeting and Road to GEM25: https://lnkd.in/gH2PAFef #RoadToGEM #GEM25 #AIForGood #InternationalDevelopment #EmpowermentThroughAI

Last night, CID Executive Director Fatema Z. Sumar moderated a panel discussion with leaders in global development Nisha Biswal (U.S. International Development Finance Corporation), Jonathan Nash (Blumont, Inc.), and Paul Foldi (Professional Services Council) at the Harvard Kennedy School's JFK Jr. Forum. This important conversation examined the current moment the sector is in, and explored what the future may look like. "The world will and is already moving to reshape around a new order that has not one major 'pole in the tent.' The US is not the long pole in the tent. Other poles will emerge and more shifting alliances and roles will happen ... This will rapidly create a world in which there is more burden sharing as other actors step up." - Nisha Biswal ?? Watch the recording: https://lnkd.in/erGEseh5 ?? Read the Harvard Crimson's coverage of the event: https://lnkd.in/eDm-aaJ3 ?? Listen to other conversations in CID's "The Future of US Foreign Aid" Series: https://lnkd.in/egWxDq5Z Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School

"Leadership and governance matters. People matter, their energy matters. You you can't make that up from the outside, you just cannot." - Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group Don't miss this important and wide-ranging conversation between CID Faculty Director Asim Ijaz Khwaja and The World Bank President Ajay Banga at last night's JFK Jr. Forum event. ?? Coming up tonight at 5pm ET: CID Executive Director Fatema Z. Sumar moderates a discussion on USAID and the Future of Foreign Aid with Nisha Biswal former Deputy CEO, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Paul Foldi,?Vice President, International Development Affairs, Professional Services Council and former Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer and Jonathan Nash, President and CEO of Blumont, Inc. and former Acting CEO of Millennium Challenge Corporation. Watch the livestream: https://lnkd.in/gYEj--NA Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School Harvard's Belfer Center #ForeignAid #GlobalDevelopment #Economics #Poverty

?? Don't miss it! Tonight at the JFK Jr. Forum at Harvard Kennedy School, CID Faculty Director Asim Ijaz Khwaja will moderate a discussion with Ajay Banga, President of the The World Bank. Together, they will discuss how the Bank is evolving to tackle the intertwined challenges of today’s world — from creating jobs and driving inclusive growth to working with the private sector and making development central to global stability and opportunity. Register here: https://bit.ly/4hJzGFl In-person attendance is for Harvard ID holders only. The event will be live-streamed to the IOP's YouTube channel for the general public. Learn more about CID's virtual series, "The Future of US Foreign Aid:" https://bit.ly/41skwzc Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard's Belfer Center https://bit.ly/4hGSnJL

New on #CIDVoices: ?? Empowering Women in the Informal Economy: Insights from SEWA's Community-Driven Approach This week, we highlight the remarkable efforts of the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) in India. Founded in 1972, SEWA has tirelessly worked to uplift women in the informal sector, showcasing their invaluable contributions to the economy. Rather than viewing poverty through the lens of mere aid, SEWA emphasizes empowerment and decision-making, proving that when communities lead, the outcomes can be transformative. Key Insights: ?? Community-Driven Solutions: SEWA's innovative approach emphasizes local ownership of data and strategies, bridging the gap between vulnerability and resilience. ?? Global Impact: Their model is not just limited to India. SEWA is now sharing its wisdom with women in Ghana and Kenya, fostering global solidarity among informal workers. ?? Reimagining Economic Analysis: The work of SEWA has implications beyond immediate support, calling for a structural change in understanding economic dynamics. ?? Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/43X1mTM ?? James Coltella ?? Karthik Girish Fatema Z. Sumar, The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University, Satchit Balsari, Mamta Murthi, Hiteshree Das, Caleb Shreve from Global Fairness Initiative,?Ekaterina Sleta from The World Bank, Kartikeya Bhatotia, Abhishek Bhatia #WomenEmpowerment #SEWA #InformalEconomy #SustainableDevelopment #CommunityLeadership #EconomicResilience

"Discriminating against women is actually bad economics. It not only violates human rights principles but also has implications that undermine economic growth and weaken institutions. Empowering women is essential for a prosperous society." In honor of International Women's Day, we were privileged to host an inspiring discussion (co-sponsored by Harvard W3D: Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development) with Augusto Lopez-Claros, Executive Director of the Global Governance Forum, and our moderator, Professor Eliana La Ferrara (Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School). The two discussed the role of gender equality in driving economic growth and enhancing governance worldwide. Augusto emphasized that bridging gender gaps is a collective global responsibility, requiring strategic and collaborative efforts. The data shows that nations embracing gender equality not only boost economic prosperity, but also enhance societal harmony. ?? ?? Catch the full event on our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/4bWji2M #CIDSpeakerSeries #GenderEquality #EmpowermentForAll #InternationalWomensDay #InclusiveGrowth #LeadershipInEquality

?? This Thursday, CID welcomes Dean Karlan, former USAID Chief Economist and Professor of Economics and Finance at Northwestern University, for a virtual discussion with CID Faculty Director Asim Ijaz Khwaja. With firsthand insight into USAID’s recent unraveling, Dean will shed light on the current state of foreign aid and the new reality facing aid workers both in the US and abroad. Both panelists will bring their expertise as development economists to analyze the future of foreign aid—assessing the impact of recent policy shifts, exploring the future of research, examining alternative funding models, and evaluating the evolving role of international organizations in global development. This conversation is part of our spotlight series "The Future of US Foreign Aid." ?? Registration is free and open to all. Register here: https://bit.ly/3FMkgTd Learn more about the series, watch recordings of previous events, and register for upcoming conversations on March 24th and 25th, co-hosted with the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School: https://bit.ly/41skwzc Harvard Kennedy School Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management #USAID #Economics #InternationalDevelopment #Impact #ForeignAid

"We have an investment gap of upwards of 4 trillion dollars a year to achieve the sustainable development goals. The investment gap is huge and public budgets absolutely cannot fill that. How do we mobilize more private sector investment?" Last week, CID welcomed Lori Kerr, CEO of FinDev Canada, for a conversation on the current state of financing for development, careers in this space, and the future of development finance. Watch the recording of Lori's talk at CID: https://bit.ly/3FAQErZ #developmentfinance #globaldev #financecareers #investment #impact Wasim Tahir, CFA Harvard Kennedy School