To NHH to Fight Against Poverty

How can we achieve development in countries which have a great deal of corruption and under developed institutions? 15 international doctorate students participated in NHH's summer course Development from Below: Empowering the Poor to take a closer look at such questions.

01.09.2008 - Kristian T. Marthinsen (translated by Jessica Hartenberger)

Central services, like health and education, in developing countries are often very poorly developed. One problem is that doctors and teachers simply do not show up for work.

Focus on Research

Professor Bjorvatn stresses that aid members do not necessarily help fight such problems. "We must inform the population about their rights and how they can organize themselves to generate press about service providers."

He also draws upon micro finance as a good tool to achieve development from the very beginning. With the help of small loans as start-up capital, small entrepreneurs can lift others up out of poverty. Also, micro finance has the potential to provide positive after effects for the local economy, such as creating jobs.

"We studied many projects in detail, and instructed the doctorate students in the area of research methodology. We focused a great deal on how one can evaluate the effect of different efforts, something that is often methodologically very difficult," explains professor Bjorvatn.

Abel Mucunguzi appreciated the course "Development from below".

Foto: Kristian T. Marthinsen

Global Possibilities from Bergen

One of those who appreciated the research based course at NHH is Abel Mucunguzi (pictured) from Uganda.

"This course covers many of the research areas that I am focusing on in my doctorate dissertation. It has great relevance for me, and I hope I can become a more effective researcher after this course," explains Mucunguzi who is a PhD student at the University of Antwerpen.

Among the 15 young researchers who participated in NHH's course, seven were from Africa, one from India, and the rest were from Europe and Norway.

The course at NHH is one of eight courses offered by Bergen Summer Research School which is arranged by the University of Bergen in collaboration with NHH and other educational and research institutions in Bergen.

Professor Bjorvatn explains that NHH has a distinguished research environment within developmental economics, and that the students were quite pleased with the course.

"They received a good introduction to research methodology, which I think many of them valued."

The students and lecturers had busy days in Bergen. The course lasted 11 days.

Foto: Kristian T. Marthinsen