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Georgetown University, MPS PR/CC | Fall 2014 International Development Communications MPPR-‐825-‐01 Thursdays, 5:20 – 7:50pm

Class Syllabus (As of 7/14/14)

Lecturer Jennifer Lentfer Course Description The models of providing poverty-‐reducing aid to developing countries are changing, and more than ever before, globally-‐engaged citizens in rich nations are looking for effective ways to affect change in the developing world. Despite the fact that global issues like poverty and hunger are incredibly complicated, people tend to communicate them in easy-‐to-‐understand terms. Invisible Children’s Kony 2012 campaign demonstrated that general audiences still respond well to messaging that offers an us/them, black/white solution that can be acted on quickly. But this is not the reality of how social, political, and institutional change works anywhere. How can a new generation of communications professionals embrace nuance without turning the public off? The primary goal of the course is to provide students an in-‐depth understanding of the key concepts that are the underpinnings of international aid and philanthropy work, such as advocacy, results, and sustainability. Case examples and guest lectures from international development experts will prepare students to lead communications for NGOs, government agencies, and CSR efforts. By the end of the semester, students will have compiled an online portfolio that represents guidance from their analyses of the “best” and “worst” of international development communications. Learning Objectives By the end of this class you should be able to:

● Be an effective bridge between those who understand exactly what makes international development programs effective and those just interested in the bottom line.

● Identify and demystify aid industry jargon. ● Apply best practices in online and print communications to further the aims of

international development organizations and programs. ● Create an online resource for people to engage with the complexity of

communicating social change. Attendance Policy

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Missing more than two classes will result in a final grade reduction of one level (for example, an A will be converted to an A-‐). Absences for classes, beyond the initial two, will result in further reduction of the final grade. If you are absent for more than four classes, you will be in danger of failing this course. Requirements for Work Submitted • Write for a general professional audience. • Place your name, date, name of this course, and title of assignment at the top of first

page. Papers will be returned unread if they do not have a date. • Number pages for all papers more than two pages in length. Papers will be returned

unread if they do not have page numbers. • Use “APA style” for citations and references. All papers with citations should include

a reference list (i.e. bibliography). The rules of APA Style, detailed in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, offer sound guidance for writing with simplicity, power, and concision. Tutorial: (http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-‐tutorial.aspx)

• Proofread or have a friend proofread for oversights and mechanical errors. If you need editing or writing help (beyond simple proofreading), seek it out before turning in your paper. You can also make use of the Georgetown University Writing Center. (See further information below.)

• The lecturer will not review assignments in advance for feedback. • Unless otherwise indicated, turn in all assignments online in electronic form by the

start of class on the due date. I will provide further information on how to do this at the first class session. Please note that I may request a hard copy in some cases.

Late Policy for Work Submitted Any assignment received after its due date will receive a final grade reduction of one level (for example, an A will be converted to an A-‐) for each day that it is late.

Expectations for In-‐Class Participation • Be present and minimize distractions. Although

note-‐taking is allowed, students should turn off cell phones or other devices with wi-‐fi or internet access while in class, unless required by class assignments or discussions. Anyone who's speaking is welcome and encouraged to request the attention of any other class participant who they find “lost” in their devices.

• Be ready to disagree…respectfully. Class discussions should be considerate of others’ views. I encourage students to refer to the principles of dialogue to support fruitful discussions. (See box.)

The 7 Principles of Dialogue 1. Create a safe space for exploration. 2. Agree that the purpose is learning. 3. Assume the best first. 4. Stay through the hard places. 5. Keep in mind that everything that

people find “wrong” or “bad” represents an absence of something that they hold in their mind as “the ideal.”

6. Listen with interest and acceptance. 7. Be willing to be changed by the

situation.

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Required readings, materials, outside events, and any associated fees Readings (required and supplemental) are listed below in the course outline and will be posted to our class Google drive. Course readings and case examples will be drawn from actual documents used by the international development organizations whose work we will examine. Class Schedule (15 meetings, Thursdays, 5:20 – 7:50pm)

Week 1: August 28th

Week 2: September 4th

Week 3: *September 11th Week 4: September 18th Week 5: September 25th Week 6: October 2nd

Week 7: October 9th

Week 8: October 16th

Week 9: October 23rd Week 10: October 30th Week 11: November 6th Week 12: November 13th

Week 13: November 20th

Holiday (No class) November 27th Week 14: December 4th

Week 15: December 11th

*Note: Jennifer potentially in Cambodia during week 3 – in that event, will invite substitute lecturer.

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Course Outline and Readings WEEK 1 – Aug 28 -‐ Intro, Overview Questions to be explored: What is international development? Does it necessarily improve poor people’s well-‐being? How is international development related to foreign assistance, philanthropy, international advocacy and campaigning, and social enterprise, and other do-‐gooder endeavours? Where and how do communications fit it? What the heck are we going to be doing all semester? Required Watching (in class): Save the Children: “The Most Important ‘Sexy’ Model Video Ever” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOXMKEnra8w&feature=youtu.be ONE Campaign: What Americans think about foreign aid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3tZBfyNH9A&list=PL6LFs_QnWsyvTqQeR8cGVdRQ_q-‐rJOpgo Good Fortune – A documentary about how massive international efforts to alleviate poverty in Africa may be undermining the very communities they aim to benefit Dapo Oyewole: Development as Dignity at TEDxIkoyi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3aJnP4nwNo UNICEF: Jesus, Gandhi and Mother Teresa Stump in Extremely Virtuous Holiday Ads http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/jesus-‐gandhi-‐and-‐mother-‐teresa-‐stump-‐unicef-‐extremely-‐virtuous-‐holiday-‐ads-‐154548 Assignment: SurveyMonkey -‐ Students to complete a brief survey providing information on their interest in and experience with international development communications as part of their participation grade. Due Wednesday, September 3rd by 6pm

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WEEK 2 – Sept 4 -‐ Development Theory and the Real Work of Social Change Questions to be explored: Who are the stakeholders within the ecosystem of international development? What is the size of the development “industry”? What are the key theories/perspectives on how development occurs? Is development (and the will to develop) an inborn process? Or must people learn it? How is international development related to social change? At what level (international, national, community, individual) are changes most needed to bring about long-‐term changes in people’s lives? How has social transformation occurred throughout history? Required Reading & Watching: Forsyth, et al: University of London Introduction to International Development: Part II: Theories and history of development (Read pages 19-‐27) http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/sites/default/files/programme_resources/lse/lse_pdf/subject_guides/dv1171_ch1-‐4.pdf Wilkinson-‐Maposa, S. & Fowler, A. (2009). The poor philanthropist: How and why the poor help each other. Cape Town: Southern Africa-‐United States Center for Leadership and Public Values. Chapter 1 of The Barefoot Guide to Working with Organizations and Social Change. The Barefoot Collective. (2009). Cape Town: Community Development Resource Association. www.barefootguide.org Momodu Maligi: Long lasting change is about good governance and national ownership http://www.theguardian.com/global-‐development-‐professionals-‐network/2013/mar/22/momodu-‐maligi-‐water-‐resources-‐sierra-‐leone David Humphries: Forget feast or famine, it's time to tell the complex story of development http://www.theguardian.com/global-‐development-‐professionals-‐network/2013/nov/01/ngo-‐global-‐development-‐communications Paul Hawken: Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement In the World Came Into Being

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and Why No One Saw it Coming http://www.blessedunrest.com/video.html Simon Hodges: What’s so special about storytelling for social change? http://www.opendemocracy.net/transformation/simon-‐hodges/what’s-‐so-‐special-‐about-‐storytelling-‐for-‐social-‐change Supplemental: Annie Leonard: The Story of Solutions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpkRvc-‐sOKk Amartya Sen: Strides in Development http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mre-‐lKWsRU4&feature=g-‐like YouTube: Happiness Concept -‐ Bhutan's Gross National Happiness vs. GDP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rNGzD5fWAo Kathleen P. Enright & Courtney Bourns: The Case for Stakeholder Engagement http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/the_case_for_stakeholder_engagement/ Hani Morsi: Resilient autocrats, networked movements and the digital beachheads of enduring activism http://participationpower.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/resilient-‐autocrats-‐networked-‐movements-‐and-‐the-‐digital-‐beachheads-‐of-‐enduring-‐activism/ Global Greengrants: A Drop in the Bucket http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoWlNPgPLeg Arntraud Hartmann and Johannes F. Linn: Scaling Up: A Framework and Lessons for Development Effectiveness from Literature and Practice http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2008/10/scaling-‐up-‐aid-‐linn EDGE Funders Alliance: Engage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X9f_Ud5J-‐U Guest Speaker: Nomvula Dhlamini, Community Development Resource Association, Cape Town, South Africa (Article: Voices: the building blocks of social change) and Julie Dixon, Georgetown CSIC, will give an intro to cause consulting for group assignments. Assignment: Prepare for quiz on this week’s lecture and texts for next class.

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WEEK 3 – Sept 11 – The state of the discourse: The words and images that color our notions of international development Questions to be explored: How does popular culture affect the public’s perceptions of international development? How are advocacy campaigns such as #Kony2012 and aid agency marketing telling the stories of people in need and what makes them successful? Who are the communications intended to help and who actually benefits? How does jargon used in international development affect external communications? Where are the most interesting discussions on international development taking place? Why is poverty porn so profitable? Can we tell compelling stories about people in need that don’t simplify or stereotype? Required Reading & Watching: Arjan de Haan: Aid: the drama, the fiction, and does it work? http://www.devstud.org.uk/downloads/4b9ea13e32626_ISS%20working%20papers%20Aid%20the%20dama%20the%20fiction.pdf Tom Murphy: International development according to Hollywood http://www.humanosphere.org/2013/08/international-‐development-‐according-‐to-‐hollywood/ Elizabeth Williamson et al: In Push to Free Nigerian Girls, a Tangled Web http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304431104579550354216910992 Ruth Alexander: The rise of the $1 benchmark http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-‐17312819 Common Cause: The Case for Working with Values and Frames (See handbook.) http://valuesandframes.org

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Andrea Cornwall and Deborah Eade, eds. (2010). Deconstructing Development Discourse: Buzzwords and Fuzzwords. Warwickshire : Practical Action and Oxfam. http://policy-‐practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/deconstructing-‐development-‐discourse-‐buzzwords-‐and-‐fuzzwords-‐118173 Read Preface and Chapter 1: Introductory Overview Martin Kirk: How to…make development communications more effective http://www.theguardian.com/global-‐development-‐professionals-‐network/2012/nov/27/development-‐communications-‐data The Dóchas Code of Conduct on Images and Messages http://dochas.ie/Shared/Files/5/Illustrative_Guide_to_the_Dochas_Code_of_Conduct_on_Images_and_Messages.pdf Supplemental: Allison Smith: Raising awareness of why we don’t need more awareness http://www.whydev.org/raising-‐awareness-‐of-‐why-‐we-‐that’s-‐need-‐more-‐awareness/ Nicholas Kristof: Those Girls Haven’t Been Brought Back http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/opinion/Sunday/nicholas-‐kristof-‐those-‐girls-‐havent-‐been-‐brought-‐back.html Glokal: Education for Sustainable Inequality? www.glokal.org/?edmc=827 Andrew Darnton: Finding Frames: New ways to engage the UK public in global poverty http://www.findingframes.org/Finding%20Frames%20New%20ways%20to%20engage%20the%20UK%20public%20in%20global%20poverty%20Bond%202011.pdf Tobias Denskus and Andrea Papan: Reflexive engagements: the international development blogging evolution and its challenges https://www.academia.edu/3537226/Reflexive_engagements_the_international_development_blogging_evolution_and_its_challenges Guest Lecturer: Oscar Abello, Freelance Writer and Social Media Consultant (Articles: Can the world handle complexity? and A new label lets you know how much social justice is in your shopping and Why Bill Gates Can’t Solve Problems For The World’s Poor) Assignment: QUIZ in class (5%) Students will complete a brief quiz on last week’s readings and lecture to ensure a foundational understanding of the concept of international development.

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WEEK 4 – Sept 18 – Relief to Development: Communications on disasters and conflicts Questions to be explored: Who are the first responders in any disaster? When does recovery begin to occur? How does the humanitarian community respond? What role does communications play during disasters and conflicts? What are the most important elements of crisis communications? How does the portrayal of disasters and conflicts in the media color the public’s perception of international development and of people’s vulnerability and resilience? What are the ethical considerations of portraying people affected by conflict and disaster? Required Reading & Watching: Development Initiatives: Global Humanitarian Assistance Report 2013 http://www.globalhumanitarianassistance.org/report/gha-‐report-‐2013 Josh Weinstein: The ethical obligations of writing about poverty and conflict http://developeconomies.com/travel-‐and-‐culture/the-‐ethical-‐obligations-‐of-‐writing-‐about-‐poverty-‐and-‐conflict/ CQ Global Researcher: Confronting Rape as a War Crime http://www.sagepub.com/chamblissintro/study/materials/cq_researcher/cq_16war.pdf Aid Jonathan Jones: Consciences awakened by the camera http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/jul/22/consciences-‐awakened-‐camera Leap: Inspiring Stories from South Sudan http://aidleap.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/inspiring-‐stories-‐from-‐south-‐sudan/ Vijaya Ramachandran and Julie Walz: Haiti: Where has all the money gone? http://www.cgdev.org/publication/haiti-‐where-‐has-‐all-‐money-‐gone Mari Kuraishi: To Help Typhoon Survivors, Go Local

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http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/26/to-‐help-‐typhoon-‐survivors-‐go-‐local/ Supplemental: Ed Cairns: Local capacity and humanitarian aid http://www.insightonconflict.org/2012/06/local-‐capacity-‐and-‐humanitarian-‐aid/ Jacobo Quintanilla: Disaster communications: covering the ‘last mile’ http://www.theguardian.com/global-‐development-‐professionals-‐network/2013/apr/03/disaster-‐communications-‐ict-‐internews IRIN: Foreign aid workers and local NGOs – mending the relationship http://www.irinnews.org/report/99115/foreign-‐aid-‐workers-‐and-‐local-‐ngos-‐mending-‐the-‐relationship John McCarthy: Learning from disaster: why does food insecurity persist in post tsunami Aceh? http://devpolicy.org/learning-‐from-‐disaster-‐why-‐does-‐food-‐insecurity-‐persist-‐in-‐post-‐tsunami-‐aceh-‐20131106/ Jina Moore and Glenna Gordon: In journalism, when do you identify rape victims? http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/untold-‐stories/liberia-‐journalism-‐when-‐do-‐you-‐identify-‐rape-‐victims Guest Speaker: Tracy Reines, Director, International Disaster Response, American Red Cross, and Marco Yuri Jiménez, Crisis Communications Specialist, International Committee of the Red Cross (Article: Haiti: My child, for a day)

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WEEK 5 – Sept 25 – Representation, voice, and the charity/empowerment continuum Questions to be explored: In international development communications, generally what solutions are suggested and who suggests them? What assumptions are made about “poor” or “uneducated” people and why do these assumptions exist? How are people portrayed as victims and others as saviors in international development communications? What does the phrase, “give a man a fish…” really mean? How can you tell the difference between when a person is doing something for another, as opposed to with another person? What can communications and development professionals do to support the notion of “agency”? Required Reading & Watching: Remi Adekoya: Why Africans worry about how Africa is portrayed in western media http://mg.co.za/article/2013-‐11-‐28-‐why-‐africans-‐worry-‐about-‐how-‐africa-‐is-‐portrayed-‐in-‐western-‐media Glendora Meikle: Poverty porn: is sensationalism justified if it helps those in need? http://www.theguardian.com/global-‐development-‐professionals-‐network/2013/jul/05/poverty-‐porn-‐development-‐reporting-‐fistula Aneel Karnani: Romanticizing the Poor http://www.ssireview.org/pdf/RomaticizingthePoor.pdf James Estrin: The Real Story About the Wrong Photos in #BringBackOurGirls http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/the-‐real-‐story-‐about-‐the-‐wrong-‐photos-‐in-‐bringbackourgirls/ Governance and Social Development Resource Centre: Conceptualising empowerment and accountability http://www.gsdrc.org/go/topic-‐guides/empowerment-‐and-‐accountability/conceptualising-‐empowerment-‐and-‐accountability Rakesh Ranjani: Debate: Whose Business is Development? Experts in an Open Society http://wbi.worldbank.org/wbi/Data/wbi/wbicms/files/drupal-‐acquia/wbi/rajani.pdf

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Ruth Judge and Rachel De Plaen: ‘Courting the Diaspora’: Emerging roles of diaspora groups in the international development industry http://www.africa-‐uk.org/publications/‘courting-‐diaspora’-‐emerging-‐roles-‐diaspora-‐groups-‐international-‐development-‐industry Chimamanda Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html Supplemental: Duncan McNicholl: “Perspectives on Poverty” series http://waterwellness.wordpress.com/perspectives-‐of-‐poverty/ David Gonzalez: Photos that cross borders and challenge perceptions http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/16/photos-‐that-‐cross-‐borders-‐and-‐challenge-‐perceptions/ Tolu Ogunlesi: Oxfam’s new Africa campaign reveals a misguided messiah complex http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/07/oxfam-‐campaign-‐africa-‐aid Andrew Quinn: Is there any space in the development debate for African experts? http://www.theguardian.com/global-‐development-‐professionals-‐network/2013/aug/23/aspen-‐new-‐voices-‐africa-‐fellowship Jacob Holdt: Development aid and racism http://www.american-‐pictures.com/english/racism/articles/aid.htm CNN: ‘Africa is not a country’: Students’ photo campaign breaks down stereotypes http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/07/world/africa/africa-‐is-‐not-‐a-‐country-‐campaign/ The Africa Canada Accountability Coalition (ACAC) and the University of British Columbia: ‘So You Want To “Save” Africa?’ workshop See the PowerPoint and Facilitator’s Guide here: http://www.africacanada.org/so-‐you-‐want-‐to-‐save-‐africa Guest Speaker: Semhar Araia, Co-‐founder and Director, Diaspora Africa Women’s Network (Article: Defining the diaspora’s role and potential with Africa and TED-‐style talk: “Unlocking the Diaspora’s Potential, One Woman At a Time”) Assignment Due: Analysis #1 using “The Development Element”

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WEEK 6 – Oct 2 – Technology: The great hope for global development? Questions to be explored: How is the proliferation of mobile phones in the developing world changing international development? Is technology gender neutral? Are the supply and demand side for technology portrayed equally? How can technology enhance people’s ability to convey their own needs, initiatives, and stories?

Required Reading & Watching: Clara Tsao: 6 Ways Mobile Technology Has Transformed the World’s Poor http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clara-‐tsao/6-‐ways-‐mobile-‐techology-‐h_b_4054076.html Rockefeller Foundation: Scenarios for the Future of Technology and International Development http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/uploads/files/bba493f7-‐cc97-‐4da3-‐add6-‐3deb007cc719.pdf CauseArtist: 16 Technologies that are Transforming International Development http://causeartist.com/16-‐technologies-‐that-‐are-‐transforming-‐international-‐development/ Podcast: Jenny Aker: Mobile Phones for Development—Hope vs. Hype http://www.cgdev.org/blog/jenny-‐aker-‐mobile-‐phones-‐development—hope-‐vs-‐hype-‐0 Marije Geldof: Earphones Are Not for Women: Gendered ICT Use Among Youths in Ethiopia and Malawi http://itidjournal.org/itid/article/view/792 Maria Andersen: 7 Considerations for Mobile Money Cash Grants to Change Development http://www.ictworks.org/2013/12/02/7-‐consierations-‐for-‐mobile-‐money-‐cash-‐grants-‐to-‐change-‐development/ Emily Braucher: The blindest blind spot https://www.devex.com/en/news/the-‐blindest-‐blind-‐spot-‐what-‐effective/80248

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Supplemental: International Center for Journalists: India’s Tribal Citizens Use New Cell Phone Technology to Produce Local News http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCxj45Wi_mg Linda Raftree: Tapping networks: moto-‐taxis, SMS and violence reporting in Benin http://lindaraftree.com/2013/03/06/tapping-‐networks-‐moto-‐taxis-‐sms-‐and-‐violence-‐reporting-‐in-‐benin/ Alice Rawsthorn: A few stumbles on the road to connectivity http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/arts/design/a-‐few-‐stumbles-‐on-‐the-‐road-‐to-‐connectivity.html The Digital Divide and ICT4D http://www.internetworldstats.com/links10.htm Lindsay Poirier: Avoiding the Digital Divide Hype in Using Mobile Phones for Development http://www.ictworks.org/2011/12/23/avoiding-‐digital-‐divide-‐trap-‐m4d/ Erica Hagen: The Funding Conundrum: Why Funding for ICT for Development Needs to Change http://feedbacklabs.org/the-‐funding-‐conundrum-‐why-‐funding-‐for-‐ict-‐for-‐development-‐needs-‐to-‐change/ Guest Speaker: Lina Srivastava, Co-‐founder of ReHumanity and faculty at the School of Visual Arts (Article: 40 Years Later: Storytelling, Memory, and Justice)

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WEEK 7 – Oct 9 – Transparency and the open data revolution Questions to be explored: What role does open data and transparency play in international development? Who needs to know exactly what donors are funding in poor countries and what information do they need? How can enhanced transparency of US aid be of benefit to ordinary people in poor countries? What are the obstacles to releasing and utilizing aid data? What besides transparency is needed to deter corruption? What are the steps needed to fully use data in citizen engagement and accountability? What obligations do aid donors and agencies have to citizens in poor countries? Required Reading & Watching: Development Initiatives: Why information matters for the Post-‐2015 framework http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeMBQ7xX3oI Publish What You Fund: Make Aid Transparent http://vimeo.com/24621998 Gary Markus et al: Eight (No, Nine!) Problems With Big Data http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/07/opinion/eight-‐no-‐nine-‐problems-‐with-‐big-‐data.html Stephen Davenport: Engaged Citizens, Responsive Governments, Better Services for People? http://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/engaged-‐citizens-‐responsive-‐governments-‐better-‐services-‐people Varja Lipovsek and Rakesh Ranjani: Minister, there are 2,000 citizens on the line http://feedbacklabs.org/minister-‐there-‐are-‐2000-‐citizens-‐on-‐the-‐line/ Jenny Lei Ravelo: Aid transparency index 2013: Leaders and laggards https://www.devex.com/en/news/aid-‐transparency-‐index-‐2013-‐leaders-‐and-‐laggards/82162

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Degan Ali: Surprising ground truths on the release of US international aid data http://politicsofpoverty.oxfamamerica.org/2013/08/26/ground-‐truths-‐on-‐the-‐release-‐of-‐us-‐aid-‐data/ Duncan Edwards: The revolution will not be in open data http://www.impactandlearning.org/2013/10/the-‐revolution-‐will-‐not-‐be-‐in-‐open-‐data.html Supplemental: Elizabeth Missokia: Aid data could prevent all-‐nighters (and other uses) http://politicsofpoverty.oxfamamerica.org/2013/11/20/aid-‐data-‐could-‐prevent-‐all-‐nighters-‐and-‐other-‐uses/ USAID: Making all voices count http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfL2X-‐5yRKg Joshua Howegego: Africa: Is Open Data Improving Governance? http://allafrica.com/stories/201311040481.html Laia Grino: What we’re hoping to see in the next release of USAID data http://www.publishwhatyoufund.org/updates/by-‐country/us/what-‐were-‐hoping-‐see-‐next-‐release-‐usaid-‐data/ Ethan Zuckerman: What comes after election monitoring? Citizen monitoring of infrastructure http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2013/04/26/what-‐comes-‐after-‐election-‐monitoring-‐citizen-‐monitoring-‐of-‐infrastructure/ Brian Bergstein: The Problem with our Data Obsession http://www.technologyreview.com/review/511176/the-‐problem-‐with-‐our-‐data-‐obsession/ Guest Speaker: Blair Glencorse, founder and director of Accountability Lab (Check out his articles on HuffPo here.) Assignment Due: Blog post #1

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WEEK 8 – Oct 16 – Perceptions of poverty and development in poor countries Questions to be explored: Is it important for outsiders to be in touch and up-‐to-‐date with grassroots realities? How and why does “business as usual” in the social good sector exclude those at the receiving end of assistance? Why is gauging “customer satisfaction” an unexplored and un-‐prioritized aspect of international development work? How do we begin to understand how the viewpoints of those in the “core” and those in the “periphery” differ? Required Reading & Watching:

NPR: Can A New Generation Of Africans Fight Corruption? George Ayittey on the “cheetah generation” http://www.npr.org/2013/10/18/235812687/can-‐a-‐new-‐generation-‐of-‐africans-‐fight-‐corruption Firoze Manji: Development aid: Enemy of emancipation? http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/70978 World Bank: Voices of the Poor (Read excerpts) http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPOVERTY/0,,contentMDK:20622514~menuPK:336998~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:336992~isCURL:Y~isCURL:Y,00.html Read chapters 3,4 and 6 of Anderson, et al: Time to Listen: Hearing people on the receiving end of international aid http://www.cdacollaborative.org/publications/listening-‐program/lp-‐books-‐and-‐major-‐reports/time-‐to-‐listen-‐hearing-‐people-‐on-‐the-‐receiving-‐end-‐of-‐international-‐aid/ Jennifer Lentfer: Oxfam article on Feed the Future in Haiti causes a stir in Washington http://politicsofpoverty.oxfamamerica.org/2013/10/17/oxfam-‐article-‐on-‐feed-‐the-‐future-‐in-‐haiti-‐causes-‐a-‐stir-‐in-‐washington-‐dc/ Robert Chambers: Participation for Development: Why is this a good time to be alive? http://participationpower.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/participation-‐for-‐development-‐

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why-‐is-‐this-‐a-‐good-‐time-‐to-‐be-‐alive/ Supplemental:

Rio+20: Voices from around the world http://www.theguardian.com/global-‐development/interactive/2012/jun/15/rio20-‐voices-‐around-‐world Owen Scott: The Playpump – A Review from teachers http://barefooteconomics.ca/2010/08/18/the-‐playpump-‐a-‐review-‐from-‐teachers/ Keystone NGO Partner Survey 2010 http://ngoperformance.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/keystone-‐partner-‐survey-‐jan2011.pdf MA’AN Development Center: Matrix of Control: The Impact of Conditional Funding on Palestinian NGOs http://www.maan-‐ctr.org/pdfs/FSReport/PositionPaper.pdf Claire Melamed: Does development give poor people what they want? http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/5360-‐poor-‐people-‐poverty-‐development-‐qaly-‐value-‐money Nicholas van Praag: Supply and Demands in Humanitarian Aid http://feedbacklabs.org/supply-‐and-‐demands/ Alex Jacobs and Robyn Wilford: Putting new approaches to NGO accountability into action http://www.nuigalway.ie/dern/documents/19__alex_jacobs_and_robyn_wilford.pdf Varja Lipovsek and Rakesh Ranjani: Your Phone Won’t Ring Just Because You Gave Out Your Number: Why Citizens May Not Be Too Keen To Give Feedback http://feedbacklabs.org/your-‐phone-‐wont-‐ring-‐just-‐because-‐you-‐gave-‐out-‐your-‐number/ Guest Speaker: Dennis Whittle, co-‐founder and former CEO of GlobalGiving, Executive Chairman of Ashoka Changemakers and co-‐founder of Feedback Labs (Article: How feedback loops can improve aid – and maybe governance)

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WEEK 9 – Oct 23 – “Making a difference”: The do-‐gooder journey Questions to be explored: Why is the idea of “making a difference” so pervasive in the U.S.? Why do you think people’s interest in volunteer tourism and travel has risen so much over the past decade? How do our ideas about “helping” manifest themselves? Which is a more powerful force: compassion, guilt, inspiration, or cynicism? What happens when people feel called to action? What are the pros and cons of international volunteerism? What are the ideal roles foreigners should play in international development? Required Reading & Watching: Peter Devereux: International volunteering for development and sustainability: outdated paternalism or a radical response to 19rganizations?

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09614520802030409?journalCode=cdip20#preview Teddy Ruge: On Poverty Tourism http://projectdiaspora.org/wp-‐content/2010/08/11/on-‐poverty-‐tourism/ Pippa Biddle: The problem with little white girls (and boys): Why I stopped being a voluntourist http://pippabiddle.com/2014/02/18/the-‐problem-‐with-‐little-‐white-‐girls-‐and-‐boys/ Aaron Ausland: Poverty Tourism: A Debate in Need of Typological Nuance http://stayingfortea.org/2010/08/17/poverty-‐tourism-‐a-‐debate-‐in-‐need-‐of-‐typological-‐nuance/ Max Chafkin: A Save-‐the-‐World Field Trip for Millionaire Tech Moguls http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/11/magazine/a-‐save-‐the-‐world-‐field-‐trip-‐for-‐millionaire-‐tech-‐moguls.html?pagewanted=all Megan Garber: To the Humanitarians of Tinder http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/02/to-‐the-‐humanitarians-‐of-‐tinder/284068/

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Monsignor Ivan Illich: To Hell With Good Intentions – a speech to the Conference on InterAmerican Student Projects in 1968 http://www.swaraj.org/illich_hell.htm Frances Moore Lappé: Sharing good news helps break down the myth of our own powerlessness http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-‐a-‐difference/Change-‐Agent/2013/0515/Sharing-‐good-‐news-‐helps-‐break-‐down-‐the-‐myth-‐of-‐our-‐own-‐powerlessness

Supplemental:

Nora Schenkel: I Came to Haiti to Do Good http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/opinion/global/i-‐came-‐to-‐haiti-‐to-‐do-‐good.html J.B. MacKinnon: The Dark Side of Volunteer Tourism http://www.utne.com/Politics/The-‐Dark-‐Side-‐of-‐Volunteer-‐Tourism-‐Voluntourism.aspx Shawn Humphrey: My Do-‐Gooder Adolescence http://shawnhumphrey.com/2014/02/27/my-‐do-‐gooder-‐adolescence/ Ravi Kanbur: Poverty Professionals and Poverty http://www.kanbur.aem.cornell.edu/papers/ChambersFestschrift.pdf Jeffrey Sachs: The man who failed to end global poverty http://www.humanosphere.org/2013/10/jeffrey-‐sachs-‐the-‐man-‐who-‐failed-‐to-‐end-‐global-‐poverty/ Gary Adams: Barefoot in Church http://www.how-‐matters.org/2011/05/03/barefoot-‐in-‐church/ Ed Bastista: Don’t inflict help. Provide it. http://blogs.hbr.org/2013/09/that’s-‐inflict-‐help-‐provide-‐it/ FastCoExist: 4 principles for creating change, and 4 barriers that make it harder http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679609/4-‐principles-‐for-‐creating-‐change-‐and-‐4-‐barriers-‐that-‐make-‐it-‐harder Guest Speakers: Kate Otto, Founder and Director of Everyday Ambassador and Tori Hogan, author of Beyond Good Intentions Assignment Due: Analysis #2 using “The Development Element”

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WEEK 10 – Oct 30 – Trade, not aid: Is the private sector the true engine of development? Questions to be explored: Are innovation and pro-‐poor growth more possible with private sector involvement in international development? How does treating people as “clients” instead of “beneficiaries” different from traditional approaches to aid? What do the new fields of corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, impact investing, and philanthrocapitalism have to offer international development and what are their limitations? How is the rise of the private sector as a new player in international development viewed by humanitarian organizations? Required Reading & Watching:

Group Discussion: Developing countries need trade, not aid http://www.indiabix.com/group-‐discussion/developing-‐countries-‐need-‐trade-‐not-‐aid/ Dan Pallotta: Why can’t we sell charity like we sell perfume? http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10000872396390444017504577647502309260064 The shirt on your back: the human cost of the Bangladeshi garment industry http://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-‐interactive/2014/apr/bangladesh-‐shirt-‐on-‐your-‐back The Economist: The hopeful continent: Africa rising http://www.economist.com/node/21541015 Alexis Akwagyiram: Africa rising – but who benefits? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-‐africa-‐22847118 Philippa Garson: Development work and the private sector – open for business? http://www.irinnews.org/report/99250/development-‐work-‐and-‐the-‐private-‐sector-‐open-‐for-‐business

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Fredrik Andersson: Social Entrepreneurship as Fetish https://nonprofitquarterly.org/management/20140-‐social-‐entrepreneurship-‐as-‐fetish.html Christopher Marquis & Andrew Park: Inside the Buy-‐One Give-‐One Model http://www.ssireview.org/pdf/Inside_the_Buy_One_Give_One_Model.pdf Kevin Starr: The Trouble wit Impact Investing http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/the_trouble_with_impact_investing_part_1 Supplemental:

World Resources Institute: The Private Sector and International Development: A Love Affair, or Cold Feet? http://www.wri.org/blog/private-‐sector-‐and-‐international-‐development-‐love-‐affair-‐or-‐cold-‐feet Winnie Byanyima: ‘Excited but skeptical’ on private sector’s role in development http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjInlCeDa9Q Beyond Good Intentions: For Profit Approaches and Social Entrepreneurship http://vimeo.com/50149237 and http://vimeo.com/51478849 Rich Tafel: Social Entrepreneurs Must Stop Throwing Starfish http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/social_entrepreneurs_must_stop_throwing_starfish Mike Miesen: Good African Coffee and the false choice of “trade not aid” http://www.aviewfromthecave.com/2013/02/good-‐african-‐coffee-‐and-‐false-‐choice-‐of.html Tiny Spark: TOMS Shoes Listens to its Critics http://www.tinyspark.org/blog/critics/ Julie Battilana, et al: In search of the hybrid ideal http://community-‐wealth.org/content/search-‐hybrid-‐ideal William Burckart: It’s time to cut through the hype of impact investing http://philanthropy.com/article/It-‐s-‐Time-‐to-‐Cut-‐Through-‐the/141185/ Guest Speaker: Deborah Willig, Director of Communications and Outreach, InterAction and former head of CSR at FedEx

Assignment Due: Blog post #2

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WEEK 11 – Nov 6 – So what? Results, impact, and evidence Questions to be explored: How can organizations measure if what they are doing is making a difference? What are some traditional and innovative ways of evidence gathering and knowledge management in the social good sector? How much time is needed to change people’s lives for the better in the long-‐term? What is more important? Values or evidence? How do people deal with ambiguity and uncertainty?

Required Reading & Watching: Jessica Benko: The Hyper-‐Efficient, Highly Scientific Scheme to Help the World’s Poor http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/11/jpal-‐randomized-‐trials/ DFID How to note: Assessing the strength of evidence https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/158000/HtN_-‐_Strength_of_Evidence.pdf Dan Honig: Re-‐conceptualizing How We Evaluate Aid: Be Wary of Managing by the Numbers http://aiddata.org/blog/re-‐conceptualizing-‐how-‐we-‐evaluate-‐aid-‐be-‐wary-‐of-‐managing-‐by-‐the-‐numbers Alex Evans: Let’s measure everything! http://www.globaldashboard.org/2013/02/13/lets-‐measure-‐everything/ Dean Karlan & Caroline Fiennes: Development Controversy a Sign of Sophistication http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/development_controversy_a_sign_of_sophistication Mike McCreless: When measuring social impact, we need to move beyond counting http://www.forbes.com/sites/skollworldforum/2013/07/15/when-‐measuring-‐social-‐

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impact-‐we-‐need-‐to-‐move-‐beyond-‐counting/ Ian Thorpe: Communicating Results http://kmonadollaraday.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/communicating-‐results/ Supplemental:

Brian Bergstein: The Problem with our Data Obsession http://www.technologyreview.com/review/511176/the-‐problem-‐with-‐our-‐data-‐obsession/ Andrew Natios: The Clash of the Counter-‐bureaucracy and Development http://www.cgdev.org/files/1424271_file_Natsios_Counterbureaucracy.pdf Erik Solheim: To end poverty, we also need to ensure equality and sustainability http://www.theguardian.com/global-‐development/poverty-‐matters/2013/dec/05/end-‐poverty-‐ensure-‐equality-‐sustainability Wesley, F., B. Zimmerman, and M. Q. Patton. (2006). Getting to Maybe: How the World is Changed. Random House Canada. Steve Davenport: Prioritise citizen feedback to improve aid effectiveness http://www.theguardian.com/global-‐development-‐professionals-‐network/2013/jul/22/feedback-‐loops-‐citizen-‐development Jennifer Lentfer: Got ‘Em: An Evaluation Story http://www.how-‐matters.org/2011/04/17/got-‐em-‐an-‐evaluation-‐story/ Society for International Development-‐Washington/Charney Survey: The State of Development Evaluation 2013 http://www.charneyresearch.com/2013Dec15_Charney_Insights_Series2No1_SID-‐W_CR_Report.htm

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WEEK 12 – Nov 13 – GROUP PRESENTATIONS Guest: Alison Carlman, Senior Unmarketing Manager for GlobalGiving WEEK 13 – Nov 20 – “Failure”, Innovation, and Scaling Up Questions to be explored: Is it possible to learn from others’ previous mistakes and failures in international development? Or do people have to learn what works and what doesn’t work through their own trial and error? How can we learn and innovate faster? From where do new ideas usually emerge? What is the emerging role of designers in innovating to solve the world’s big problems? How is innovation taken to scale? Required Reading & Watching: Sirika Bansal: The Power of Failure

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/the-‐power-‐of-‐failure-‐2/ David Damberger of Engineers Without Borders Canada at TEDxYYC: Learning from Failure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgiHU-‐agsGY&feature=context-‐gal IRIN: Researcher calls for aid to embrace chaos http://www.irinnews.org/report/99109/researcher-‐calls-‐for-‐aid-‐to-‐embrace-‐chaos UNDP: Scaling Up Local Development Innovations http://www.ifad.org/events/scalingup/local.pdf Sklar, Aaron, & Madsen, Sally (2010). Design for Social Impact. Ergonomics in Design, 18(2), 4–5, 31. http://www.ideo.com/images/uploads/news/pdfs/EID_Spring_2010_Sklar.pdf Rajani Ved: Successful Scaling Up http://www.coffey.com/international-‐development/news/scaling-‐up-‐the-‐innovative-‐work-‐of-‐local-‐organisations

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Supplemental: Mary Fifield: Finding Room for Error http://www.how-‐matters.org/2012/08/28/finding-‐room-‐for-‐error/ Ben Simon: Tanked! And that’s a good thing http://www.mobilisationlab.org/tanked-‐and-‐that’s-‐a-‐good-‐thing/ Bond: An Innovation Approach http://www.bond.org.uk/an-‐innovative-‐approach Krista Donaldson: Why to be Wary of “Design for Developing Countries” http://www.stanford.edu/~kmd/donaldson_wary_2008.pdf Nyonator, et al: The Ghana Community-‐based Health Planning and Services Initiative for scaling up service delivery innovation http://www.ghanachps.org/wp-‐content/uploads/2008/05/hp25.pdf SciDevNet: UK-‐US collaboration to scale up development innovations http://www.scidev.net/global/funding/news/uk-‐us-‐collaboration-‐to-‐scale-‐up-‐development-‐innovations.html Guest Speaker: Wayan Vota, Senior Mobile Advisor, FHI360 (Articles: Time for a Moon Shot and Please stop using the term beneficiaries in ICT4D) Assignment Due: Analysis #3 using “The Development Element”

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WEEK 14 – Dec 4 – Our changing world and the future of international organizations Questions to be explored: Is the “democratization of aid” pending? What would this look like? What is affecting the way international organizations think and operate today? What are alternative models of providing international assistance? How are international organizations preparing for changes ahead? What criteria do people use when deciding how to donate their money or time to international causes – how may this change in the future? Required Reading & Watching: Bellagio Institute: Human Wellbeing in the 21st Century: Meeting Challenges, Seizing Opportunities http://www.bellagioinitiative.org/wp-‐content/uploads/2012/09/BELLAGIO_WELLBEING_SPREADS.pdf Jon Moris: Reimagining Development 3.0 for a Changing Planet https://www.ids.ac.uk/publication/reimagining-‐development-‐3-‐0-‐for-‐a-‐changing-‐planet International Civil Society Centre: International NGOs must embrace disruption to succeed http://www.icscentre.org/downloads/RidingTheWave_web_spreads.pdf Chris Roche and Andrew Hewett: The end of the Golden Age of NGOs? http://devpolicy.org/the-‐end-‐of-‐the-‐golden-‐age-‐of-‐ngos-‐20131122/ Liz Carlile: Three things that stop development 27rganizations being agents of change http://www.impactandlearning.org/2012/11/three-‐things-‐that-‐stop-‐development.html Brookings Institute: Aiding Development: Assistance Reform for the 21st Century http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/reports/2011/2/02%20aiding%20development/02_aiding_development.pdf Ian Thorpe: Wag the dog – the perils of fundraising

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http://kmonadollaraday.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/wag-‐the-‐dog-‐the-‐perils-‐of-‐fundraising/ Peter Buffett: The Charitable Industrial Complex http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/opinion/the-‐charitable-‐industrial-‐complex.html Supplemental: Tim Smedley: Shifting sands: The changing landscape for international NGOs http://www.theguardian.com/global-‐development-‐professionals-‐network/2014/mar/28/internaitonal-‐ngos-‐funding-‐network Trocaire: Leading edge 2020: critical thinking on the future of international development http://www.trocaire.ie/resources/policyandadvocacy/leading-‐edge-‐2020-‐critical-‐thinking-‐future-‐international-‐development John Hilary: UK charities have lost their radical soul http://www.theguardian.com/global-‐development/2013/nov/22/john-‐hilary-‐uk-‐charities-‐lost-‐radical-‐soul USAID: Local Systems: A Framework for Supporting Sustained Development (DRAFT) http://www.usaid.gov/local-‐systems-‐draft David Wheeler: Tailored Aid for a Tailored Age? http://www.cgdev.org/publication/tailored-‐aid-‐tailored-‐age Ed Breslin: Rethinking Hydro-‐Philanthropy: Smart Money for Transformative Impact http://www.waterforpeople.org/assets/pdfs/rethinking-‐hydrophilantropy.pdf David Wallis interview with Jen Shang: Understanding Donor Behavior to Increase Contributions http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/giving/understanding-‐donor-‐behavior-‐to-‐increase-‐contributions.html?_r=0 Guest Speakers: Eric Porterfield, Director of Global Health Communications, UN Foundation and Laura Rusu, Policy & Campaigns Media Manager at Oxfam America

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WEEK 15 – Dec 11 – Wrap Up and Next Steps Questions to be explored: What the heck did we do all semester? How do we take this knowledge and these skills forward? What career options are possible in international development communications? How do we share our learning from the semester with the wider international development community? Required Reading & Watching: Film TBD to be viewed in class

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Overview of Key Projects/Assignments NOTE: A google drive for the class has been created, where students will have access to readings/links, as well as share their assignments. 1) Consultation with local NGOs (Group Assignment, 80 points, 40% of total grade) Background: Every local organization, however small, has its own story to tell. This is its voice…its brand identity. But local non-‐profits in the developing world often rely heavily on funding from international donors, giving pause about how organizations can generate sustainable support for their work. A strong profile and professional communications can help local nonprofit organizations to reach out on their own, create new partnerships, and diversify their funding base. Can your group help empower your client organization through branding, communications and marketing support? Directions: Your assignment is to consult with a local organization in Africa (five organizations in Africa have been pre-‐selected and have indicated their interest in participating). As your group’s client, these organizations will share with you their history, their work, and their current communications products. Your task is to learn more about their external communications needs and provide them with ideas for a new strategy and creative suite (suggestions for new or revised logo/tagline, website, blog, brochure, publications, photography, swag, etc.), based on their available staff and resources. It is expected that your group will have at least two phone or Skype interviews with the organization’s leadership, as well as significant online/email correspondence. Your group will share a 30-‐minute presentation about the organization, its work and context, and its communications needs, as well as your group’s pitch/recommendations for the organization and the rationale behind them. Your group will deliver the two products for the organization’s use (equivalent of 500 words/1 pager with graphics and 3,000 words/4-‐6 pager with graphics) to the lecturer and the client organization. Grading:

Core components of the presentation/products (45 points) The presentation should include: • A description of the client organization (history, programs, size, country/local

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context, etc.); • An explanation of external communications needs of the organization and

available resources; • The targeted audiences for external communications and their

needs/perspectives and messages to be delivered; • A description of the proposed strategy and recommendations for the creative

suite; and • An explanation of the two products created and how they will serve the

organization.

Quality criteria of the presentation/products (35 points) • Strength/plausibility: Are recommendations realistic given the level of capacity

and resources available in the organization? • Do the products incorporate nuanced understandings of the organization’s work

in the context of international development, while still providing clarity and inspiring engagement with the reader?

• Client-‐ready look and feel? • Clarity of writing and editing? • Creativity? • Have best practices in online and print communications been shared effectively

with the organization? • Client satisfaction?

2) Two Blog Posts (Individual Assignments, 30 points, 15% of total grade) Background: Why would one bother blogging about international development? • To gain greater attention and currency for the issues on which a person or

organization is working. • To provide informed, relevant, and provocative commentary/analysis on issues and

events in the development sector. • To sharpen our analysis and advocacy skills. The practice of writing “non-‐formal”

communications allows people to think aloud. Perhaps posts will ultimately illuminate one’s own intellectual shortcomings, but this is useful because risk can be embraced more easily and bloggers can float new ideas.

• To feature individuals as “thought leaders.” Thought leadership is probably best defined as proprietary command over a challenging industry issue.” This differs from more traditional notions of expertise in that people see thought leaders as those creating new knowledge and understandings. People stay tuned in to what these individuals (and accordingly their organizations) have to say, so that they can stay current as well.

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Directions: Select two of the 13 topics covered in the class to write a blog post (500-‐800 words). Share your personal viewpoints on an international development issue of interest to you and/or your organization. Upload blog posts on the class google drive. Grading: (15 points per each post)

• Can people clearly see and understand the thought process that brought you to your conclusions? Are the arguments made persuasive?

• Has “self-‐promotion” and objectivity been balanced? • Is a personal story, experience, or perspective included to engage the reader? Is

the author’s voice obvious? • Is the blog readable, engaging, and thoughtful? • Has jargon been kept to a minimum, or at least, explained well?

3) Three Analyses using “The Development Element” criteria (Individual Assignments, 30 points, 15% of total grade) Background: Prior to last semester, no comprehensive reference of the fundamentals of “International Development Communications” existed. That is, until the Spring 2014 class created “The Development Element: Guidelines for the future of communicating about the end of global poverty.” Students will now apply and test these guidelines on the communications products of organizations (websites, annual reports, etc) involved in international development. Students will then determine if elements can and should be added to provide clarity and guidance to create a “standard” for professionals engaged in producing international development communications. The publications will be updated by the lecturer based on this semester’s additional insights. Directions: Prior to Each Class: As part of their participation grade, students will search for and select examples of communications throughout the international aid/philanthropy/social enterprise sector each week based on the class topic. (Note that analyses of journalistic pieces will not be accepted for this assignment.) Each student will bring in one example each week, either in electronic or print form, which will serve as a basis for discussion for the class and in groups. During Each Class: Students will individually consider the set of 11 approaches in “The Development Element” each week, as examples are discussed and insights are shared in the class. After Each Class: Following the lectures and discussion of class readings and product examples brought by students each week, students apply “The Development Element” approaches/criteria to the communications products they brought to class. Students will your rationale for how the example brought to class did or did not meet the standard. Written analyses should be as brief as possible, no longer than 500 words/1 page, and if

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necessary include specific recommendations for how the product could be improved. Post finalized analyses on the google drive with the title as: WEEK X/Last Name/Topic/Date. Grading: (5 points per each analysis)

• Does the analysis reflect and utilize the approaches in “The Development Element”?

• Is the analysis readable, engaging, and thoughtful? • Does the analysis reflect understanding of the issues/context of international

development? • Has jargon been kept to a minimum, or at least, explained well? • If included, are recommendations for improvement clear and specific? • Clarity of writing/presentation?

4) Pitch “The Development Element Online” (Group Assignment, 40 points, 20% of total grade) Background: Groups will work together to develop and present an online strategy/website for “The Development Element: Guidelines for the future of communicating about the end of global poverty.” Can the publication become a well-‐known, dynamic, “go-‐to” resource for communicators, journalists, and development practitioners? Directions: Your group will prepare a 5-‐minute pitch for the class “selling” the recommended online strategy and the rationale behind it, as well as a 2-‐page description of the same. Grading: Core components of the proposed presentation/online products should include:

• The targeted audiences and their needs/perspectives on international development communications;

• A description of the proposed online strategy and content production approach; • Recommended design elements/features of the website itself; • A mapping of where target audiences currently obtain their information/training

and how to publicize/route them to the website; and • Creativity – What’s the cool factor? What will encourage people to engage?

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Grading Summary of Course Assignments/Components and Point Values

Assignments/ Activity

Expectation/ Requirements

Type of Assignment

Due Date

Grade Point Value

Quiz Complete in class Individual Sept 11 10 Analysis #1 using “The Development Element”

1 of 3 separate analyses of a piece of international development communications, no more than one page each

Individual Sept 25

10

Blog Post #1 500-‐800 words on a weekly topic (1 of 2)

Individual Oct 9

15

Analysis #2 using “The Development Element”

2 of 3 (see above) Individual Oct 23

10

Blog Post #2 500-‐800 words on a weekly topic (2 of 2)

Individual Oct 30 15

Consultation with a local non-‐profit in the developing world (40%)

Class presentation on organizations’ external communication needs and pitch for new strategy. Propose creative suite and provide 2 products for organization’s use (500 and 3,000 words or 1 and 4 pagers with graphics).

Group Nov 13 80

Analysis #3 using “The Development Element”

3 of 3 (see above) Individual Nov 20

10

Pitch for “The Development Element Online” (20%)

5-‐minute class presentation and 2-‐page summary

Group Dec 4 40

Participation (5%)

Survey, examples of communications products found and brought to class, positive, analytical and active in-‐class contributions

Individual Throughout semester

10

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Numeric Breakdown for Final Grades

A 200 -‐ 186 A-‐ 185 -‐ 181

B+ 180 -‐ 176 B 175 -‐ 171 B-‐ 170 -‐ 166

C 165 -‐ 141 F 140 -‐ 0

Additional Information/Resources • Georgetown University Writing Center: Please contact the Writing Center for

support in preparing your written assignments. The Writing Center staff can be reached in Lauinger Library, 217A or at 202-‐687-‐4246 or http://writingcenter.georgetown.edu/.

• Academic Resource Center: If you believe you have a disability, please contact the Academic Resource Center (Leavey Center, Suite 335; 202-‐687-‐8354; [email protected]; http://ldss.georgetown.edu/index.cfm before the start of classes to allow their office time to review the documentation and make recommendations for appropriate accommodations. If accommodations are recommended, you will be given a letter from ARC to share with your professors. You are personally responsible for completing this process officially and in a timely manner. Neither accommodations nor exceptions to policies can be permitted to students who have not completed this process in advance.

• Counseling and Psychiatric Services 202-‐687-‐6985 http://caps.georgetown.edu

• Georgetown University Honor Pledge: In the pursuit of the high ideals and rigorous standards of academic life, I commit myself to respect and uphold the Georgetown University Honor System: To be honest in any academic endeavor, and to conduct myself honorably, as a responsible member of the Georgetown community, as we live and work together.

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