Global Development Professional Masters Projects
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Item The Effects of Climate Change on Sacred Sites in Dehradun, IndiaWagner, Phoebe Dailey (2024-08)This research examines the biocultural diversity of eleven sacred sites within the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand, India, and the socioecological impacts of climate change to the sacred landscape. These effects include how the sites are engaged with and cared for by local communities, how sacred knowledge is transmitted across generations, and how the ecology is shifting with extreme weather and climate events that are increasing in frequency and intensity. This research asks, how does a connection with sacred habitats inform biocultural diversity and resiliency? This qualitative research was conducted through interviews in English and Hindi in North India from 15 June through 25 July 2024, with preparations over the course of the academic year. The eleven examined sacred sites vary ecologically and culturally. In order of visitation, the sites are Kalu Sidh, Laxman Sidh, Mandu Sidh, Tapkeshwar Mahadev, Manak Sidh, Santala Mata Devi, Baba Bhure Shah, Lakha Mandal, Surkanda Mata Devi, the banks of the Ganga River in Rishikesh, and Paonta Sahib.
Item Selected Observations of Climate Change Adaptation Among Philippine Rice FarmersRavarra, Rhealynn (2024-08)Climate-related stressors, such as rising temperatures, unpredictable precipitation, and intense natural disasters, have severely hindered agricultural growth in the Philippines. Climate projections are predicted to exacerbate pre-existing vulnerabilities within the sector, and farmers are at the forefront of such impacts. This capstone examines how rice farmers in the Philippines are adapting to the threats of a changing environment by exploring how they view climate risks, what their coping strategies are, and how larger socioecological contexts influence their adaptation capacities. Data was collected from semi-structured interviews with individual farmers, farmer associations, and key informants from government and non-government organizations in the Philippines. The study found that farmers were experiencing the effect of climate change largely through extreme weather events, such as typhoons, floods, and drought. Moreover, they experienced socioeconomic stressors and institutional constraints that limited the scope of their adaptations. Farmers’ responses included the testing (and sometimes adoption) of new technologies and cropping systems, income diversification, and environmental restoration. Recommendations for improving the adaptive capacity of rice farmers to climate change suggest that multi-stakeholder collaboration is necessary for achieving equitable and effective change.Item Birds as Bioindicators in Agroecosystems: Evaluating the Impact of the Relationship Coffee Model on BiodiversityMaldonado, José Miguel (2024-08)[Excerpt from introduction] Colombia is one of the world's megadiverse nations, hosting nearly 10% of Earth's biodiversity. It holds the record for the highest diversity of bird species globally, with nearly 2,000 species, including over 200 migratory and more than 80 endemic species (Colombia | Audubon, s. f.). However, this megadiversity is threatened by habitat loss due to agricultural expansion; this issue is especially critical in tropical biodiversity hotspots like the Andes, where extensive land conversion to agriculture has led to significant declines in resident Andean species and migratory taxa (Gonzalez et al., in press).Item Last-Mile Fiber Optic Infrastructure for Rural Communities Connectivity in TanzaniaMejooli, Elirehema Obedi Simon (2024-08)In 2007 Tanzania Electric supply company limited (TANESCO) rolled out its optical communication systems network covering 2,962Km along high voltage pylons country-wide, aiming to enhance power systems operations. Ever since the Tanzanian Government through Tanzania Telecommunication Company (TTCL) has been utilizing and extending part of this network for ICT services provision to rural communities. Despite the government efforts to extend last mile connectivity, the pace does not meet the demand and services are not affordable for the rural population majority. The cost-effective solution is for TANESCO to invest more on construction of optical fiber infrastructure and commercialize the excess capacity. Since Telecommunication is not TANESCO’s core business, formation of a subsidiary company and submission of a business plan is a regulatory requirement. The development of this plan involves consultation with various stakeholders such as The Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA), The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and telecommunication companies that are interested in leasing the services. Upon successful formation, the subsidiary will bridge and complement existing government efforts while increasing revenue streams to the power utility company. This will in turn improve the quality and affordability of ICT Services to the rural communities in Tanzania.Item Navigating Market Dynamics and Nutritional Interventions: A Comprehensive Study of Biofortification, Markets and Price Trends in Northern GhanaKottayil, Naveen Sridhar (2024-08)This thesis explores agricultural practices, market dynamics, and nutritional interventions in Northern Ghana, anchoring on the GROWING project spearheaded by International Potato Center (CIP). It begins by reviewing biofortification, assessing its potential to combat micronutrient deficiencies in the Global South, though the health impacts remain mixed. The research then examines the relationships between rural communities in northern Ghana and traders, highlighting market access, commodity trade, and logistics, with a focus on farmers' experiences with orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP). Price trends for key agricultural products across the Northeast, Northern, and Savannah regions are also analysed, revealing significant volatility and challenges in accessing affordable Vitamin A-rich foods. The thesis also presents findings from a Rapid Sweet Potato Trader Survey, emphasizing the role of women in the sweet potato trade and the logistical hurdles they face. Overall, the study provides recommendations to enhance market access, support biofortified crop commercialization, and improve nutritional outcomes in Northern Ghana.Item Crossroads in Development: Kazakhstan, China, and RussiaLeahy, William (2024-08)Item Adapting to climate risks in the Sahel: Strategies for smallholder farmers in NigerIssoufou Adamou, Oumar (2024-08)This project discusses the impacts of climate change on agriculture in Niger, a country highly vulnerable to climate risks. Agriculture, which significantly contributes 40% to Niger’s GDP and employs over 80% of the population, faces severe challenges from recurring droughts, floods, and rising temperatures. These climate risks jeopardize crop yields, livestock productivity, and food security, exacerbating existing issues of malnutrition and poverty. The project reviews current adaptation practices, such as land restoration and crop diversification, and finds them insufficient for the scale of challenges. It proposes strategies including improving cropping systems with climate-resilient varieties, enhancing water management through rainwater harvesting and small-scale irrigation, and implementing conservation agriculture. The project also advocates adopting agroecological approaches and strengthening livestock systems through diversification, transhumance, breed improvement, and climate risk insurance. To build more climate-resilient agriculture, it highlights the need for increased investment, better climate information access, and stronger institutional support and partnerships.Item Hello Tractor: Using Sharing Economy to Drive Affordable Mechanization for Smallholder FarmersJehanzeb, Abdullah (2024-08)Amid rising climate vulnerability and a rapidly growing population, the under-utilization of land and labor in agriculture is aggravating food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Improving affordability and access to mechanization for smallholder farmers, who dominate production in the region, can improve livelihoods and food security. Hello Tractor, an innovative agritech startup founded in Nigeria in 2014 and now operational in 20 countries, offers a promising sharing economy solution to transform smallholder farmer productivity. Like an “Uber” for tractors, it connects tractor owners with farmers through its digital marketplace platform, enabling the former to utilize idle capacity and the latter to access affordable mechanization for increased profit margins. This case study explores how Hello Tractor identified a gap in the agricultural market, captured it, and then further developed it. The case is intended for students and professionals interested in understanding and developing growth and consolidation strategies at the intersection of agriculture and technology.Item Worker Cooperative Transitions: Pitfalls and Progress on The Road to Capital Without CapitalismDunn-Hindle, Owen (2024-08)Worker cooperatives are firms owned and operated by their workers. In a world of skyrocketing inequality, they present a possible alternative to traditional firm organizations under capitalism. Various businesses have transitioned from traditional ownership to worker cooperative ownership, and the “silver wave” of older business owners looking to retire and sell their businesses presents an opportunity for more such transitions to take place. This capstone thesis examines the transition from traditional to worker ownership through four case studies compiled from semi-structured interviews. It investigates what is substantively different between cooperatives and traditional firms from a worker perspective, as well as how the process of transition effects the nature of the resulting cooperative. Case studies were examined with a particular eye for the impetus of the transition and the political consciousness, level of democracy, and material conditions of the resulting worker cooperatives.Item Guatemalan Youth Migration, State Policies, and the Quest for a Better LifeArrazola, Elizabeth (2024-08)The influx of unaccompanied indigenous Guatemalan youth migrating to the United States has become a pressing humanitarian concern, with over 60,000 minors apprehended at the southern border in 2022 alone. This paper examines the complex interplay of factors driving this migration, focusing on the Western Highlands departments of Huehuetenango, Quiché, and San Marcos - regions that account for a disproportionate number of child migrants. Through a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of census and migration data with qualitative insights from literature and advocate interviews, this study reveals how poverty, limited educational access, gender-based violence, climate change impacts, and the enduring legacies of settler colonialism converge to propel young people on perilous journeys northward. The findings challenge simplistic narratives of migration, highlighting instead a complex web of push and pull factors rooted in historical inequities and contemporary socio-economic realities. The paper argues that current deterrence-focused policies fail to address the root causes of migration and may exacerbate vulnerabilities. Instead, I propose a rights-based framework for addressing this issue, emphasizing sustainable development, improved educational access, youth empowerment initiatives, and decolonial approaches to aid and policymaking. By situating the phenomenon of unaccompanied child migration within broader historical and socio-economic contexts, this research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of migration dynamics and advocates for holistic, long-term solutions to a complex and ongoing humanitarian challenge.