Innovative Program Design

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Juris Doctor

Innovative Financing & Program Design for Development. In this course, students will learn methods for designing programs using Results-Based Financing and other innovative program design approaches. Throughout the semester, students will take the perspective of funders in the program design process – be it governments, donors, development banks, or foundations. Students will learn how to diagnose problems, design incentive schemes (metrics, verification, targets, and prices), and develop innovative financing and funding modalities. The course covers specific RBF instruments with diverse applications such as Results-Based Loans by the World Bank, incentives for frontline workers, Impact Bonds for NGOs, Prize-Based Challenges, and Advanced Market Commitments. The course also covers program design alternatives to RBF: fostering community-driven accountability, venture capitalist-like grant-making, as well as adaptive performance management. All the approaches strive to enhance the impact of public resources on the lives of intended beneficiaries using the course’s core concepts. The course’s cases are predominately drawn from social sectors such as health and education in developing countries; however, many of its techniques also apply to developed countries and other disparate topics issues as climate change mitigation or vaccine development.