This field course provides students with a firsthand understanding and experience of development and livelihood dynamics in East Africa. The program is organized around four primary livelihood systems and environments: urban and informal settlements/livelihoods, rural pastoralism and dryland ecologies, small-scale agriculture economies, and coastal environments and fishing livelihoods. Homestay experiences, guest lectures, field visits, and community engagements integrate students into communities and offer them a unique perspective on livelihood dynamics and development issues. The course includes a special focus on participatory research methods, preparing students for their internship experience. Students will engage with participant observation, semi-structured interviewing techniques, focus group methods, and participatory action research, among others.
 

Format
This course is a field course running for 4 weeks in June-July. It is a very intense period of exploration and study, demanding the full participation of students through the entire month. The teaching and learning approach is focused on engagement and immersion rather than conventional, classroom-based learning. Engagements with communities, development professionals, etc. is prioritized throughout the course. Formal classes are held, although they adopt a very dialogic approach, wherein students bring their knowledge from readings, experience with field engagements, and reflections to peer-directed discussions.