MSc Global Development (Development Management) / Course details

The unit aims to:

Introduce students to key actors and concepts in development management (DM).

Help students understand the context of development management (e.g. who ‘does’ development, what do they do, where/how does it happen).  

Help students understand how development management concepts link with tools in project planning and what function they have in the context of development project management (e.g. stakeholders, theory of change, monitoring). 

This course aims to introduce students to key actors and concepts in development management.  

The course is delivered through weekly lectures and tutorials that will include group discussions, micro-scenarios, case-study analysis, and debates based on the core readings and unit material. Students will also be expected to read and research around each lecture topic using databases and the reading list as relevant (both provided): 
Weekly lectures (2 hours) that provide an overview of the lecture topic and a starting point for analysing key issues within it. Some space set aside for small group discussions of cases, problems and questions to help students relate the lecture content to the readings and core themes of the unit 
 

Compare the different roles of key actors in DM  

Analyse and evaluate key concepts and tools used in DM  
 

Review, summarize, and analyse the role of key actors in DM

Formulating an argument drawing on key DM concepts based on evidence and reasoning 
 

Critique DM case studies  

Categorise actors and concepts in DM using case studies and/or micro-scenarios 
 

Demonstrate research skills, including building a bibliography and ranking  evidence and information from different sources.  
 

• Coursework based on case study (1,000 words)
• Essay (2,000 words)

Verbal feedback will help to identify misunderstandings before assessments are due. 

Aston, T., Roche, C., Schaaf, M., & Cant, S. (2022). Monitoring and evaluation for thinking and working politically. Evaluation, 28(1), 36-57. https://doi-org.manchester.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/13563890211053028 
Baguios A, King M, Martins A, Pinnington R. (2021). Are we there yet? Localisation as the journey towards locally led practice: models, approaches and challenges. ODI Report. ODI, London 
Baud, I., Mold, A., Goulart, P. (eds). EADI Global Development Series  https://link.springer.com/series/14955 
Gómez, G. and Knorringa, P. eds. (2016). Local governance, economic development and institutions. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. 
Herrera, E.W. (2016). Governance and Development: The Importance of Legitimacy and Institutional Change. In: Gómez, G.M., Knorringa, P. (eds) Local Governance, Economic Development and Institutions. EADI Global Development Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London.  
Hulme, D., Turner, M., & McCourt, W. (2013). Governance, Management and Development: Making the State Work (Second Edition). Palgrave Macmillan. 
Keating, V. C., & Thrandardottir, E. (2017). NGOs, trust, and the accountability agenda. British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 19(1), 134-151 
Laws, E. and H. Marquette (2018) ‘Thinking and working politically: Reviewing the evidence on the integration of politics into development practice over the past decade’. TWP Community of Practice. London: Department for International Development (DFID). 
Makuwira, J. (2018) Power and Development in Practice: NGOs and the Development Agenda Setting. Development in Practice 28:422-31.  
Melber, Henning. et al. (2023). Challenging Global Development: Towards Decoloniality and Justice. 1st ed. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. 
Mulder, F. (2023). The paradox of externally driven localisation: A case study on how local actors manage the contradictory legitimacy requirements of top-down bottom-up aid. Int J Humanitarian Action. 8 (7), p  
Mutsaers, H. J. W. (2007). Donors, Experts and Consultants. In: Peasants, Farmers and Scientists: A Chronicle of Tropical Agricultural Science in the Twentieth Century. Dordrecht: Springer. https://doi-org.manchester.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6166-0_10. Chapter 10. Pp. 319-381. 
Muza, Olivia, and Valerie M. Thomas. (2022). Cultural Norms to Support Gender Equity in Energy Development: Grounding the Productive Use Agenda in Rwanda. Energy Research & Social Science, 89:102543. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2022.102543.  
Ovaska, T. and Takashima, R. (2020). Caveat emptor: Foreign aid and entrepreneurship. Economies, 8(1), p.4–. 
Scott, C. (2023). The project in international development: theory and practice. Routledge. 
Souter, D. (2020). Inside the Digital Society: Lessons from little laptops. [online blogpost]. APC, 17 November. Available at: https://www.apc.org/en/blog/inside-digital-society-lessons-little-laptops  
Thrandardottir, E., & Mitra, S. G. (2019). Who does Greenpeace India represent? Placing effective limits on the power of INGOs. Global Governance, 25(4), 587-619. 
van Wessel, M., Kontinen, T., & Bawole, J.N. (eds). (2023). Reimagining Civil Society Collaborations in Development: Starting from the South (1st ed.). Routledge. 
Journals: Development in Practice; World Development; Development and Change