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DIPLOMA IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

This programme is a multi-disciplinary programme that runs for one academic year, from October to July. It prepares participants for an integrated approach to development issues. The main objective is to equip participants with the skills needed to handle problems more effectively in rural and urban communities. Participants graduate with either a Diploma in Development Studies (DDS) or a Certificate in Specialised Development Studies (CSDS). The programme is run in three phases, as described below:
 

Phase One: Rural Systems Analysis and Planning (RSAP)

This phase examines the theories and concepts underlying rural development so participants can understand the complexities of issues in rural areas. The core disciplines covered in this course include topics such as agricultural development, sociology and participatory rural appraisal.

Phase Two: Action Oriented Research (AOR)

This phase  equips participants with a powerful methodology for rural development research. Participants acquire knowledge and skills in Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA), which features an interdisciplinary team assessment that combines multiple techniques for data acquisition and analysis.
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Phase Three: Specialized Development Studies (SDS)

This phase runs for eight weeks, from May to June, with the aim of enabling participants to acquire knowledge and skills in one of five areas of specialisation. Each of these courses can be separately taken as a certificate course to earn a CSDS. Also, participants who enrol on the DDS programme may decide to start at this phase and proceed with the rest of the programme later, to earn a DDS only.

I) Human Resource Management and Development (HRMD)

It is now generally accepted that man (i.e. the human being) constitutes the most precious resource of a nation, an agency, or a business enterprise. There may be raw materials, machines and techniques, but in the end it is man that must, in the first place, define development and business goals and objectives and then use the materials, machines and techniques to achieve the desired ends. It is, therefore, obvious that the human resource is the most important factor in the success or development of any organisation, firm or enterprise deserves special attention.

This course equips participants with knowledge and skills necessary for their effective management and development of human resources. Specifically, the course presents proven methods and techniques for identifying and fulfilling the human resource needs of an organisation, and developing the organisation’s human resources effectively and efficiently, with a view to maximising their productivity.

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II) Project Design Planning and Management (PDPM) 

The success with which any development project achieves its objectives is determined by the skills, abilities and motivations of its managerial staff. Project Design, Planning and Management helps project managers and would-be managers ensure that development projects achieve their objectives. Specifically, this course presents methodologies for identifying, formulating, appraising, selecting, monitoring and evaluating projects. This specialisation also explores ways of fundraising and managing such funds for project implementation and sustainability.

III) Gender Policy Analysis, Planning and Development (GPAPD)   

An awareness of the importance of gender is increasingly critical to the success of development projects. Acquiring analytical skills in gender makes a difference in the strategic thinking and perspectives of those charged with gender policy analysis and mainstreaming. The purpose of this course, therefore, is to equip participants with skills that will enable them to integrate gender issues in the formulation and implement of development projects.

At the end of the course, participants should be able to gain a good understanding of the main concepts of gender in development and the need for gender-sensitive planning, identify gender related issues in development systems and formulate strategies to address them, acquire gender analytical skills for planning, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and for sectoral analysis, use participatory gender-sensitive appraisal tools in data collection and analysis, and integrate gender perspectives into policy and organisational systems..

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IV) Marketing Management Project (MMP)                                            

Marketing has emerged as one of those specialist areas where a lot of career opportunities exist but which, unfortunately, has been grossly neglected by educational and training institutions.

The purpose of this course is to enable the students to    acquire in-depth knowledge and practical skills in marketing      management and marketing research techniques necessary for them to be effective in today’s turbulent business environment.

At the end of the course, participants should be able to demonstrate the ability to formulate and implement marketing plans, understand the dynamic business environment and how it affects marketing activities, master the techniques of marketing research and apply them to various marketing situations.

V) Micro-finance Management and Governance (MMG)  

Leading experts in Microfinance agree that insufficient management and relative scarcity of technically skilled human resources are among the key constraints to growth and outreach of the global microfinance sector. Achieving efficiency, effectiveness and significant outreach in this sector requires skilled, ambitious managerial leaders who can manage the growth of microfinance services and institutions efficiently. 

This intensive training course is designed to equip senior and middle level managers of microfinance institutions and other persons interested in microfinance with new perspectives, practical knowledge and strategic capabilities necessary services they offer. The course will address issues like effective governance and strategic management of microfinance institutions, credit delivery methodology and channels, loan analysis and delivery, accounting and financial management for microfinance, and microfinance and gender.

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