In many nations today, the state has little capability to carry out basic functions like security, regulation or even core service delivery (health, education, water, etc). Enhancing this capability, especially in fragile states, is a long-term task. In this video, Lant Pritchett uses the example of Haiti and India to highlight administrative capability trapped in…Continue Reading BSC Video 2: Capability Trapped in a Big Stuck
BSC Video 1: Development as Four Fold Transformation
In order to better understand and respond to implementation failure, it is instructive to start with a big picture summary of what we think most people believe “development” to be. In this introduction video, Michael Woolcock discusses how a society undergoes a four fold transformation in its functional capacity to manage its economy, polity (political…Continue Reading BSC Video 1: Development as Four Fold Transformation
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
PDIA: is not about perpetual muddling (Part 4/4)
written by Matt Andrews This is the last of the four common excuses that I hear about why PDIA cannot be done in development. If you are interested, you can read the first, second and third one. Excuse 4: International development experts often tell me that PDIA is not possible because it implies that we…Continue Reading PDIA: is not about perpetual muddling (Part 4/4)
PDIA: does not necessarily take too long (Part 3/4)
written by Matt Andrews This is the third of the four common excuses that I hear about why PDIA cannot be done in development. If you are interested, you can read the first and second one. Excuse 3: International development experts often tell me that PDIA is not possible because it takes too long. This…Continue Reading PDIA: does not necessarily take too long (Part 3/4)
PDIA: One can find or build political support (Part 2/4)
written by Matt Andrews This is the second of the four common excuses that I hear about why PDIA cannot be done in development. If you are interested, you can read the first one. Excuse 2: International development experts often tell me that PDIA is not possible because politicians will never support it. Again, simply…Continue Reading PDIA: One can find or build political support (Part 2/4)
PDIA: International organizations have flexible instruments (Part 1/4)
written by Matt Andrews Almost every time I give a presentation on PDIA (and I have given many), I hear excuses about why PDIA cannot be done in development. So, I’ve decided to set the record straight. I am writing a blog post and drawing a picture for each of the four most common excuses…Continue Reading PDIA: International organizations have flexible instruments (Part 1/4)
Untying Development
Yesterday, we hosted a one-day workshop entitled, Untying Development: Promoting Governance and Government with Impact. The day brought together different voices to discuss the challenge of creating a governance agenda that focuses on solving country-specific problems, involves local people through flexible and context-fitted processes, and emphasizes learning in the reform process. In the first session,…Continue Reading Untying Development