Designing Development: Africa

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

How have technological innovations transformed the design and implementation of development projects in African states? Over the past two decades, new technologies have been touted as a means of “leapfrogging” older, legacy technologies in the quest to promote rapid and inclusive development. These innovations have significantly influenced development agendas both domestically and internationally. While some have viewed these technologies as panaceas, others see them as temporary “quick fixes” with little potential to generate transformative change. Focusing on specific case studies, this class will interrogate the process of technological adoption for development in sectors as diverse as education, health care, finance, water and sanitation, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. This class will provide students with a broad understanding of the role of technological innovation in recent development projects across the African continent. By the end of the semester, students will understand: (i) the opportunities and challenges of technological innovation in Africa, (ii) how technology is reshaping the ways “development” is imagined, designed and implemented by states and private industries, (iii) the dynamics of donor-client country relationships and challenges that emerge around accountability and development effectiveness, and (iv) the promises of innovations in sectors that are not encumbered by legacy technologies and practices.