We are delighted to release The DDD Manifesto as an outcome of the 2014 Doing Development Differently (DDD) workshop. In late October, a group of about 40 development professionals, implementers and funders from around the world attended the DDD workshop, to share examples where real change has been achieved. These examples employ different tools but…Continue Reading Introducing The DDD Manifesto
BSC website gets a makeover
As you may have noticed, our website was antiquated, to say the least. The task of giving it a makeover has been on the back burner for a while now. We are proud to finally announce that our new website is live! The site provides an overview of PDIA, links to our blog and lists…Continue Reading BSC website gets a makeover
Follow “Getting Things Done” at the Harvard Kennedy School
Matt Andrews teaches a course entitled “Getting Things Done: Management in the Development Context,” at the Harvard Kennedy School. He often gets asked about what he teaches in his course. So, he has decided to experiment with blogging about his course after every class. Each blog entry will include his powerpoint presentation, his syllabus, required…Continue Reading Follow “Getting Things Done” at the Harvard Kennedy School
The role of PDIA in fragile states
The coherence and effectiveness of engagement with the world’s ‘fragile and conflict-affected states’—beyond ethical imperatives and geo-strategic considerations—turns on answers to two vexing questions. First, on what defensible basis is any given country, at any given historical moment, deemed to be (or not to be) ‘fragile’? Second, if a defining characteristic of state fragility is…Continue Reading The role of PDIA in fragile states
BSC Paper wins ASA award
We are proud to announce that Looking Like a State: Techniques of Persistent Failure in State Capability for Implementation co-authored by Matt Andrews, Lant Pritchett and Michael Woolcock won the Faculty Article Award from the Sociology of Development Section of the American Sociological Association (ASA). The award ceremony was held in San Francisco on August…Continue Reading BSC Paper wins ASA award
World Cup Lessons: Is it the team or is it the star?
Amy Bass in an article in today’s CNN opinion section entitled, four key takeaways from World Cup 2014, asks the question of all sports – Is it the team, or is it the star? In development circles, many people believe the answer to this question is ‘the star.’ Leaders are seen as heroic figures that…Continue Reading World Cup Lessons: Is it the team or is it the star?
Introducing the BSC Video series
written by Salimah Samji Since the inception of the Building State Capability (BSC) program, the team has made over 50 presentations around the globe at places like the World Bank, IDB, ODI, SIDA, DANIDA, OECD, DFID, UNDP, USAID, and at several think tanks and universities. The positive feedback that we have received has encouraged us…Continue Reading Introducing the BSC Video series
New Year, New Logo
Happy New Year! Building State Capability is the Center for International Development at Harvard University’s newest program. Since the inception, the team has published 13 UNU-WIDER working papers and made over 50 presentations around the globe. As we head into the second year, we are pleased to share our new logo with you – see…Continue Reading New Year, New Logo
The Studley Tool Chest
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share the story of the image we chose for this blog – the Studley Tool Chest. Designed by piano maker Henry O. Studley (1838-1925), this toolbox is about 40 inches by 20 inches when closed, and holds approximately 300 tools. Apparently, it is so heavy that it…Continue Reading The Studley Tool Chest
Aid and Fragility: PDIA at the UN
Earlier today, Lant Pritchett, Michael Woolcock, and Frauke de Weijer were on a panel for the Fragility and Aid: What Works? event held by the UNU-WIDER at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN. They discussed how even well-meaning attempts to “build capacity” could serve as techniques of persistent failure because of isomorphic mimicry (emphasis…Continue Reading Aid and Fragility: PDIA at the UN