International Development Challenges: Reclaiming Development through Agency, Collaboration, and Inclusion
Online course | Starts February 2, 2026
Course overview
As the world grapples with rising inequality, democratic backsliding, and global disillusionment with traditional development models, this course offers a space to rethink and reclaim the meaning of “development.”
Offered jointly by the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and the Governance Action Hub, this hybrid course reframes development not as a technical process, but as a collective pursuit grounded in agency, power, and collaboration. It will focus on issues of Democracy and Climate Action.
Each class will be recorded and shared on the Governance Action Hub’s YouTube channel and website, allowing participants to catch up or revisit content at their own pace.
Participants will explore:
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The historical and ideological roots of development thinking
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The political economy of reform, aid, and state capacity
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Alternative models emerging from local agency and civic innovation
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Tools and mindsets for collaborative, systems-oriented change
Who should join
The course is open to the public – all you need to do is register. Target audiences include:
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Public servants and policy professionals
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Civil society advocates and development practitioners
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Students and researchers
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Anyone interested in rethinking development and contributing to systemic change
Dates & Format
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Mondays, 4:45–6:45 PM ET
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February 2 – May 4, 2026
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Online format: Participants can interact live with students attending in person at the University of Maryland
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Sessions include lectures, facilitated discussions, practitioner interviews, and group work
Participants joining online will be able to engage fully—submitting reflections, joining breakout activities, and interacting with in-person students during live sessions.
| Date | Topic |
|---|---|
| Feb 2 | International Development Journey: Macro Theories of Change |
| Feb 9 | Reviewing Theories of Change & Biases |
| Feb 16 | No class – Federal Holiday |
| Feb 23 | (De)Colonization & Geopolitics |
| Mar 2 | Evidence, Learning & Adaptation |
| Mar 9 | Understanding Individual & Collective Behavior |
| Mar 16 | No class – Spring Break |
| Mar 23 | The Challenge of Understanding Individual & Collective Behavior |
| Mar 30 | Class Debate: Behavior & Development |
| Apr 6 | Corruption & State Capture |
| Apr 13 | The Challenge of Working with Governments |
| Apr 20 | Civil Society & Private Sector |
| Apr 27 | Collective Action & Collaboration |
| May 4 | Collective Leadership & Course Wrap-Up |
What you’ll gain
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A systems perspective on development challenges
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Experience working on real-world problems with international practitioners
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Opportunities to co-produce knowledge with the Hub’s global network
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Skills in facilitation, storytelling, and collaborative problem solving
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A chance to contribute to a collaborative publication on reclaiming development
Those who attend will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by the Governance Action Hub.
Additional offerings
✔️ An optional skills workshop on facilitation
✔️ Opportunities to connect with guest speakers and global practitioners
✔️ Project-based work focused on climate action or democratic governance
✔️ Access to Governance Action Hub platforms, tools, and opportunities
Apply now
Enrollment for external participants is limited. Save your seat and join a global community working to shape more inclusive, collaborative development futures.