Course program for professionals working in international development cooperation

2017

For over 20 years, the NADEL Center for Development and Cooperation at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich) has been offering specialized courses to professionals working in NGOs, bilateral organizations, international organizations, foundations, and the private sector. In our curriculum we offer both courses on methods and policies for development cooperation; with the aim to contribute to the solution of both local and global development challenges. In order to enable more international participants to join these courses, we have de-signed a selection of courses that will be taught in English starting in 2017. We invite you to register for these courses, where you will have a unique opportunity to engage with other practitioners and policy makers, and in particular with the Swiss development cooperation community. Further details about our continuing education program can be found in this brochure. Do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you in Zurich in 2017!

Prof. Dr. Isabel GüntherChair of Development Economics

Welcome to NADEL

Overview

AudienceThe NADEL postgraduate program is de-signed to equip graduates with modern methodological expertise as well as prac-tical knowledge in the field of development cooperation. The courses are aimed at professionals from international organ-izations including NGOs, governmental entities, and private companies who would like to acquire additional methods and knowledge to become more accomplished in their daily work.

Aim of the coursesThrough these courses, professionals are able to:• apply methods for the effective man-

agement of development projects and programs,

• integrate the current state of knowl-edge on selected topics of development cooperation into their professional work, and

• actively participate, based on deeper and broader knowledge, in the dis-course of strategic issues of interna-tional development policies.

Course Dates 2017

M4P - Making Markets Work for the PoorVET between Poverty Alleviation and Economic DevelopmentFood SecurityCorporate Responsibility and Development

27.03. - 31.03.24.04. - 28.04.08.05. - 12.05.16.05. - 19.05.

Urbanization Challenges in the 21st Century - The Role of Development & CooperationTools and Techniques for Community ParticipationPolicy Making: Institutions and ProcessesOil, Gas, Minerals: Fueling Development or Undermining the Future?

03.10. - 06.10.

30.10. - 03.11.06.11. - 10.11.27.11. - 01.12.

M4P – Making Markets Work for the Poor

Duration: 27.03. – 31.03.2017Course Coordinators: Peter Bissegger, Swisscontact Matthias Herr, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Prof. Dr. Rolf Kappel, NADEL Markus Kupper, Swisscontact Maja Rüegg, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation

Course ObjectiveThe training course provides a basic introduction into the concept and methods of the M4P approach. M4P is a systemic approach that attempts to understand and overcome the failure of systems to serve the needs of the poor. Contrary to traditional project approaches, where implementing agencies provide or support services directly to the poor, within M4P an agency acts as a facilitator who aligns key players and key functions of a system to produce sustainable benefits for the poor. As the term M4P indicates, the approach was originally developed to analyze and strengthen market systems and private sector development. Today the approach is also applied for non-market systems and public sector activities.

Key Topics• Enabling environment for private sector development• Strategic framework of the M4P approach• Analyzing and understanding systems and system change• Sustainability of system change• Facilitation of system change• Measurement of M4P interventions• Management of M4P interventions

Course fee: CHF 950.-

VET between Poverty Alleviation and Economic Development Duration: 24.04. – 28.04.2017Course Coordinators: Dr. Rudolf Batliner, NADEL Franz Kehl, KEK-Consultants

Course ObjectiveRooted in Switzerland’s own unique and strong system, vocational education and training (VET) has been one of the key pillars in Swiss international cooperation ever since its beginnings. After a slack period, VET is back on the agenda of international cooperation. The aim of the training course is to strengthen the capacity of the participants in portfolio management for VET, skills development and active labor market policies.

Key Topics• Basic concepts and terms, both in the German-speaking and Anglo-American traditions• Differences and commonalities between VET and neighboring systems• Planning, assessment and counseling of VET interventions and projects

with VET elements regarding distinctive purposes: economic development, poverty alleviation through insertion into the labor market or the creation of self-employ-ment and systems development

• Analysis of VET as a cooperation system of stakeholders with different duties, interests and competencies

• Swissness and specific Swiss strengths in VET: potentials and limitations of trans-ferring the dual VET system to other socio-cultural and economic contexts

• Background, the potential use and the limitations of (national) qualification frameworks

• Half-day visit to important “players” of the Swiss VET landscape

Course fee: CHF 950.-

Corporate Responsibility and Development

Duration: 16.05. - 19.05.2017Course Coordinator: Dr. Fritz Brugger, NADEL Guest lecturers from Government, NGOs, firms

Course ObjectiveMany developed-country governments see a fundamental role for the private sector in advancing the sustainable development agenda (SDGs). Others are more skeptical about the role of corporations and development partnerships with private businesses remain controversial. The private sector post-2015 carries both potential and risks. As Ban Ki-moon has framed it when addressing business executives about their role in promoting the SDG: “First, companies need to do business responsibly and then pursue new opportunities.” This course seeks to increase the participants’ understanding of the multifaceted and dialectic relationships between civil society, governments and private sector. It equips participants with knowledge and tools required for a strategic interaction between private sector organizations and development agencies. The course enables participants to effectively contribute to policy debates on the role of private sector actors and development.

Key Topics• The political economy of the Corporate Responsibility discourse• Potential and limits of voluntary governance regimes (labels, codes, guidelines)• Public Private Partnerships: introducing concepts and taking stock of experience • Impact investing and social enterprises • Private sector strategies of selected development organizations• Engaging with the private sector: how to design and manage partnerships

Course fee: CHF 760.-

Food Security

Duration: 08.05. - 12.05.2017Course Coordinator: Linn Borgen Nilsen, NADEL Guest lecturers from ETH, the Swiss Government, NGOs

Course ObjectiveFood security has been on top of the policy agenda for decades, but still a considerable proportion of the world’s population remain hungry and malnourished. Ensuring food security for a growing global population is a significant challenge which requires a fundamental shift in the way we understand and manage food production, distribution and consumption. In this course we will examine the various aspects of food security, and explore ways and means in which the availability, accessibility and utilization of safe and nutritious food can be improved, especially in developing countries. The objective of the course is to develop the participants’ knowledge and understanding of the challenges facing food security at global and local levels and enable them to analyse, discuss and compare options for how food security objectives can be met in various contexts.

Key Topics• Hunger and food insecurity: status, concepts and measurements• The implication of food security for sustainable development• Food availability: agriculture and food production around the world • Food accessibility: social, political and economic factors• Food utilization: nutrition, health and feeding practices• Policies and interventions promoting food security • The future of food: food and feeding in 2030 - and the road to get there

Course fee: CHF 950.-

Urbanization Challenges in the 21st Century - The Role of Development & Cooperation

Duration: 03.10. – 06.10. 2017Course Coordinator: Marie-Laure Müller, Lic. phil I, NADEL Guest lecturers

Course ObjectivePresently, more people around the world live in cities than in rural areas, and their number is increasing. Cities have always been focal points for economic growth, in-novation, and employment. Well-managed, they offer opportunities for economic and socio-cultural development. However, the speed and scale of the urbanization process present serious challenges. Of particular concern are the risks to the immediate and surrounding environment, to natural resources, to health conditions, to social cohesion, and to individual rights. The course focuses on strategies and the current situation of urbanization in developing countries, using concrete examples to discuss future trends.

Key Topics• Drivers, dynamics and challenges of urbanization: population growth, access to public services, urban poverty, environmental issues• Spatial Planning: pitfalls, challenges and potentials illustrated with examples of various urban regions in South East Asia• Urban upgrading: lessons learned from the rehabilitation of informal settlements• Urban agriculture• Urban-rural continuum: differences and similarities between “urban” and “rural” settings, linkages between the two

Course fee: CHF 760.-

Tools and Techniques for Community Participation

Duration: 30.10. - 03.11.2017Course Coordinators: Linn Borgen Nilsen, NADEL Dr. Rudolf Batliner, NADEL Guest lecturers

Course ObjectiveThe course focuses on the use of participatory approaches and practices that are es-pecially relevant for field work and interventions in developing countries. The course has a practical focus, where the participants will explore and put into practice tools and techniques that are aimed at easing communication and cooperation with and within different groups. Theories, case studies, as well as ethical considerations and effectiveness of participation will also be discussed. The aim of the course is to develop the participants’ knowledge and understanding of why and how participation may be promoted, and enable them to facilitate participatory tools at various stages of the project cycle.

Key Topics• Participation, ownership and development• Basics of effective communication and facilitation in groups• Qualitative interviewing and storytelling • Participatory games• Participatory tools for mapping and diagramming • Participatory tools for ranking, comparing and prioritizing • Participatory tools for analysing linkages and relationships • Creating and presenting data generated with participative methods • Participation throughout the project cycle

Course fee: CHF 950.-

Oil, Gas, Minerals: Fueling Development or Undermining the Future?Duration: 27.11. - 01.12.2017Course Coordinator: Dr. Fritz Brugger, NADEL Guest lecturers from Government, NGOs, extractive sector.

Course ObjectiveThe number of resource-dependent developing countries is growing fast. While this pre-sents an opportunity to boost development, weak governance can exacerbate inequality, damage the environment and foster social tensions and conflicts. The course gives an introduction into the development challenges of resource-dependent economies from regulating extraction and extractive companies to promoting local linkages and man-aging revenues. It explores the consequences of resource extraction for international cooperation and how development agencies can support resource-dependent countries in achieving sustainable development outcomes from resource extraction.

Key Topics• Resources, development and the resource curse theory• Governance challenges and the political economy of the rentier state• Social, environmental and health impacts of resource extraction• Creating local linkages and the role of development institutions• The responsibility of extractive companies• Revenue collection, management• Investing revenues to promote development• International (and Swiss) policy responses and the role of civil society

Course fee: CHF 950.-

Policy Making: Institutions and Processes

Duration: 06.11. - 10.11.2017Course Coordinators: Dr. Fritz Brugger, NADEL Dr. Rudolf Batliner, NADEL Guest lecturers

Course ObjectiveThe training course aims at strengthening the capacity to understand political processes and the significance and implication of the engagement of civil society organizations in these processes in order to foster voice and inclusion. The course provides a nuanced understanding of different strategic options and approaches and offers tools that have proven to be effective in practical cooperation work. It provides the opportunity to apply concepts of civil society strengthening to cases of the participants.

Key Topics• Institutions and actors in policy making at macro, meso and micro level• Power distribution and inequalities of access to rights and resources• Exclusive and fragile institutions and influence of dominant coalitions• Policy in terms of rules and norms emerging from a negotiation process among interdependent actors• Role of civil society and NGOs in policy development• Actor-oriented approaches and perspectives of civil society participation, such as: stakeholder analysis, participation and empowerment, rights-based development and advocacy

Course fee: CHF 950.-

What former participants have to say

Heinz Dünser, Project coordinator Eastern Europe/West AfricaLiechtenstein Development Service (LED)“The training courses at NADEL were ideal to enhance my knowledge in development cooperation tools especially for participatory project planning and impact measure-ment. I still like to attend the versatile and practical courses to stay informed about the current trends and future challenges of development cooperation. I find par-ticularly valuable the exchange of experiences with other participants, all professionals who are also dealing with various strategies to combat poverty.”

Arjeta Lleshi, Senior National Program OfficerSwiss Cooperation Office Kosovo“As a development worker, being able to respond to differ-ent and challenging new trends requires you to have the adequate know how. I have attended the NADEL courses several times, first because the topics they offer are al-ways addressing the issues and concerns from the devel-oping world and are up to date, and second because they bring interesting examples from different contexts, and the division between lecturing and group work is always very well balanced. I hope to get back to NADEL again.”

The postgraduate courses at NADEL are taught by our staff, professors from ETH, and by renowned guest lecturers from various international, governmental and non-gov-ernmental development organizations, as well as from the private sector.

Lectures contributing to our courses are associated with:• Agridea• Alliance Sud• Brot für Alle• Caritas• ETH Center for Security Studies (CSS)• ETH Chair of Development Economics (DEC)• ETH Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS)• ETH World Food System Centre (WFSC)• EAWAG Department of Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (SANDEC), • Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation• Hilfswerk der Evangelischen Kirchen Schweiz (HEKS)• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)• Solidar Suisse• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)• Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)• Swisscontact• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)• World Health Organization (WHO)

Lectures

General information about the courses

RegistrationTo register for the courses, please visit the website http://www.nadel.ethz.ch/education.html.Applications for spring semester courses (February to May) will be accepted as of October 31, 2016.Applications for fall semester courses (September to December) will be accepted as of May 29, 2017.

Class participationThe courses are designed to be participatory, requiring students to be actively engaged in class. Students are also expected to complete course preparation and follow-up materials on the online learning platform. Attendance is mandatory. Class sizes are restricted to 24 participants. Participants receive a confirmation of course attendance.

Admission requirementsParticipants are expected to have at least 24 months of professional experience in topics related to the course they seek admittance to.

CostsThe course fees are CHF 190 per course day attended (i.e., a five day course costs CHF 950). This does not include costs of living in Zurich.

Cancellation termsCancellations occuring two to four weeks before the start of the course will be subject to a cancellation charge equal to 50% of the overall course fee. Any cancellation made later than 2 weeks before the start of the course will be subject to a cancellation charge equal to the full course fee.

ZürichZurich, with approximately 390’000 inhab-itants, is known as a safe and attractive city. The city has an international metro-politan flair, is considered the business capital of Switzerland, and is also a center of cultural importance. Its location on Lake Zurich and its proximity to the Alps and other places of scenic interest make Zurich a pleasant place to live.

Public transportationWithin the metropolitan area, there is a convenient and efficient network of trains, buses, and trams. Different types of trav-el passes can be purchased. Timetables and prices within Zurich city can be found here. Information about travelling in Switzerland and abroad can be found here.

ClimateZurich has a temperate climate, with occasional snow in the winter months.

Summer lasts from June to September, with average temperatures between 16°C and 30°C. Winter weather in Zurich is cold, with average maximum tempera-tures just above 0°C.

Visa requirementsInformation about visa requirements for Switzerland can be found here.

AccomodationWe are happy to provide you with a list of possible short term accommodations in Zürich.

Further detailsIf you require further information about the logistics of attending a course in Zurich, Switzerland, please contact the NADEL office at info@nadel.ethz.ch. We are happy to help.

Living in Switzerland

© ETH Zürich, Oktober 2016

Contact

ETH ZurichNADELClausiusstrasse 37, CLD8092 ZurichSwitzerland

Phone +41 44 632 42 40info@nadel.ethz.chwww.nadel.ethz.ch