F1ID 5105 - Unpacking Philanthropy for Development (NEW)
F1ID 5105 · Spring semester 2025-2026
- Language of tuition
- English
- Course type
- Cours séminaire
- Number of hours
- 24
- Credits
- 6
Information
Description
This course will aim to:
- Provide an overview of how ‘’new’’ development actors like philanthropists contribute to development, also in comparison with ODA and in a context of shrinking ODA budgets
- Explore the policy implications of increasing engagement of philanthropic organisations in support development
- Explore which strategies can be developed, to collaborate and co-fund projects with philanthropic foundations
- Discuss the value added, strengths and weaknesses of philanthropic giving (compared to ODA) in specific sectors, such as health, education and climate
- Identify trends of philanthropy in emerging markets, and how philanthropy has been responding to global crises (COVID-19, climate, humanitarian)
- Discuss how to evaluate the impact of philanthropy on development – and the limitations of existing evaluation approaches
Learning Outcomes
- Provide an overview of how ‘’new’’ actors like philanthropists contribute to development
- Explore themes/sectors of interest to foundations (with a specific focus on education, gender and climate)
- Discuss the value added, modalities, strengths and weaknesses of philanthropic giving (compared to ODA)
- Identify trends of philanthropy in emerging markets and in contexts of crises
Professional Skills
- Drafting a Policy Brief
- Presenting/pitching to a group of peers
- Writing an op-ed
Prerequisites
Fluency in English (oral and written), a fair understanding of development dynamics
Teaching format
Feedback will be provided in writing for individual Policy Briefs while Exposes/Pitches will be debriefed with all students and then by the instructor. Possibility to book time for individual feedback too.
Assessment
- In-class participation and preparedness 10%
- Individual policy brief + op-ed 45%
- Collective oral pitch + exposé 45 %
Policy Briefs will be due 1st half of the semester OR 2nd half (students can take them a 2nd time and we retain the best grade
Workload
- In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Reading and Preparation for Class: 30 hours a semester
- Research and Preparation for expose: 26 hours a semester
- Research and Preparation for Group pitch: 25 hours a semester
- Research and Writing for Individual Assessment (policy brief): 25 hours a semester
- Research and Writing of an Op-ed (2 page) on the future of development and the role of philanthropy for a major think-tank (i.e. CDG, ODI): 20 hours a semester
Readings
Main readings 5
-
Bishop, M., & Green, M. (2008). Philanthrocapitalism: How Giving Can Save the World. Bloomsbury.
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Kramer, M. R. (2009). “Catalytic Philanthropy.” Stanford Social Innovation Review. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/catalytic_philanthropy
-
OECD (2018). Private Philanthropy for Development, Volume 2. The Development Dimension. OECD Publishing. Paris. Online: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/private-philanthropy-for-development-second-edition_cdf37f1e-en.html
-
Reich, Rob (2013). What Are Foundations For? Boston Review, March/April. http://www.bostonreview.net/BR38.2/ndf_rob_reich_foundations_philanthropy_democracy.php
-
Vallely, Paul. Philanthropy: From Aristotle to Zuckerberg. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020. Introduction, Chapter 11, 13 and 17
Further readings 4
-
Giridharadas, A. (2018). Winners Take All. Knopf.
-
McGoey, L. (2015). No Such Thing as a Free Gift. Verso.
-
OECD (2010), Quality Standards for Development Evaluation, DAC Guidelines and Reference Series, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264083905-en.
-
OECD (2021), Applying Evaluation Criteria Thoughtfully, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/543e84ed-en.
Teaching units
| Unit no. | Unit type | Teaching units | Teachers | Number of hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58696 | Cours séminaire | Unpacking Philanthropy for Development (NEW) | Bathylle MISSIKA, Priscilla BOIARDI | 24 | 6 |
Teachers
- Bathylle MISSIKA
- Priscilla BOIARDI
In the curricula
- Master in International Development, Semester 4 - Spring 2026ÉCOLE DES AFFAIRES INTERNATIONALES (PSIA)
Contacts and resources
- Contact
- DERETZ Melissa