1.             PURPOSE OF PROGRAMME

The purpose of the programme is to expose candidates to the technical side of development work. Whilst the parent programme, Development Studies is geared towards exposing candidates to the theoretical and philosophical realms of development discourse; this programme is centred on equipping students with the tangible technical skills to undertake projects and programmes that lead to the realisation of development of the ground. Essentially this programme aims to sharpen and polish the skills needed to drive development initiatives practically in the field. It is therefore a practice -centred programme which is more premised on putting into action the theoretical elements and aspects of development.

 

2.             ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

2.1.  Normal Entry

Candidates must have obtained 5 ‘O’ Level passes including Geography, English Language and Mathematics passed with at least a grade C and two passes in ‘A’ Level subjects or their recognised equivalents;

2.2.  Special Entry

A candidate must have obtained a Diploma in Development related discipline or a recognisable relevant qualification from an acceptable institution in which development and/or geosciences issues were involved.

2.3.  Mature Entry

A candidate must have 25 years of age with relevant working experience and have passed 5 ‘O’ level subjects including Geography, English Language and Mathematics passed with at least a grade C. Must also have relevant experience for at least two years. May be required to pass a written/ oral entrance examination set by the University. University General Regulations apply to other issues.

3.             CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION

3.1 The degree programme prepares students for technical programming positions (project and programme design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation) within the arena of development practice namely;

3.2 International and regional organisations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the African Union (AU), or Southern African Development Community (SADC).

3.3 Government ministries, particularly those in charge of issues relating to labour, rural development, gender, children and the youth, agriculture, development finance, development planning and other economic and social services.

3.4 Non-Governmental Organisations that focus on the political, social, economic and environmental realms of development.

3.5 It is the major desire of the programme to equip candidates with the skills to start their own NGOs and development practice entities like consultancies and social entrepreneurship entities.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

 

Level 1 Semester 1

Code                  Module                                                                                              Credits

DPH 111           Introduction to the Concept of Development                               12

DPH 123           Gender Isues in Development Practice                                         12

DPH 113           Fundamentals of Project Management                                          12

DPH 114           Research Methods for Development Practice                              12

HCS 135            Introduction to IT                                                                              12

CS 131               Basic Communication Skills                                                          12

Level 1 Semester 2

DPH 121           NGO and Civil Society                                                                   12

DPH 122           Development Communication                                                      12

DPH 124           Agricultural Practice and Development                                        12

DPH 125           ICT for Development Practice                                                       12

DPH 126           Economics for Development                                                         12

CS 132               Extended Communication Skills                                                   12

 

Level 2 Semester 1

DPH 211           Famines and Food Security                                                            12

DPH 212           Disaster Management Practice                                                       12

DPH 213           Urban Development                                                                        12

DPH 214           Managing Displacement and Migration for Development         12

DPH 215           Children and Development                                                            12

DPH 216           Governance and Development                                                      12

ENT 131            Entrepreneurship                                                                              12

 

Level 2 Semester 2

DPH 221           Human Rights and Development Practice                                    12

DPH 222           Community Health                                                                          12

DPH 223           Rural Development                                                                         12

DPH 224           Water and Energy Security                                                             12

DPH 225           Report Writing, Monitoring and Evaluation of Development

Initiatives                                                                                           12

DPH 226           Basic Financial Management for Development Practitioners    12

 

Level 3 Semester 1

DPH 300           Work- Related Placement Report                                                 15

 

Level 3 Semester 2

DPH 301           Work- Related Learning Report                                                     30

DPH 302           Academic Supervisor’s Report                                                      30

DPH 303           Employer’s Assessment Report                                                     30

 

Level 4 Semester 1

DPH 411           Conflict Management and Transformation                                  12

DPH 412           Environmental Management and Development                         12

DPH 413           Research methods                                                                            12

DPH 414           Resource Mobilisation for Development Processes                    12

 

Level 4  Semester 2

DPH 421           NGO Management                                                                      12

DPH 422           Strategic Management                                                                     12

DPH 423           Development Policy Analysis, Design and Formulation            12

DPH 511           Project Report Paper                                                                        24

 

13.           MODULE SYNOPSES

 

DPH 11 Introduction to the Concept of Development

This module aims to come up with a technical definition of development. It exposes students to the theoretical inferences of development with the hope of then ending with the production Topics to be covered include the mercantilist doctrine, the “invisible hand” of Adam Smith, the inexorable world of Karl Marx, the Malthusian demography theory, and Keynesian economics. It also covers neo-classical theories by Modernisation/Diffusionist theory of Western scholars led by Alexander Gorchenkron and Walt Rostow; the Underdevelopment Theory by ‘dependentistas’ led by Gunder Frank, Fernando Cardosso, Wallerstein, Walter Rodney and Kwame Nkrumah; and the de-linking thesis of Samir Amin. Coloniality and decoloniality will also be discussed with the aim of producing an organic African definition of development. International frameworks for defining development like the Sustainable Development Goals will also be looked at. International indicators of measuring development like the human development index and the aspect of Gross National Happiness will be touched on. By the end of the module, students should be able to come up with a workable and relevant definition of development with a particular focus being on the construction of indicators of development.

 

DPH 123 Gender Issues in Development Practice

The focus of the module is to teach candidates how to mainstream gender in development programming as well as to deal with critical stand-alone gender issues in Africa. The module will teach students how to use the various gender analytical frameworks as a basis for development programming. The thinking is that gender must be mainstreamed from the institutional level being the development entity itself to the community level. Hence students will be exposed to various gender analytical frameworks like the Harvard, Sarah Longwe, Mosser Gender Planning Framework and others. Critical gender issues in Africa like gender- based violence, gender economics, gender and politics and LGBTI rights will be touched on in depth. By the end of the module, candidates must be able to come up with gender mainstreaming strategies for various development projects as well as come up with context -based solutions to gender problems being experienced in Africa.

DPH 113 Fundamentals of Project Management

The module introduces students to the project cycle. The module takes students through the project cycle from problem identification to project evaluation and learning. Every stage of the cycle will be conversed with practical examples being proffered. The focus will be to equip students with the critical skills required to manage projects and produce imperative project documents required at various stages of the project cycle. By the end of the module, students must be able to design, implement, monitor and evaluate a tangible development project.

DPH 114 Research Methods for Development Practice

The module introduces students to the practical skills required for research for development practice. The module deviates from being an aptly academic research methods rendition to being a practical research methods module. The idea is to expose students to research techniques they would need to undertake astute development project management. Critical areas like how to undertake baseline surveys, participatory research approaches, setting up of community focus group discussions, most significant change approaches to research and other important aspects will be touched on. The aim of the module is to help the candidates attain research skills that will aid their practical development project management.

DPH 121 Non – Governmental Organisations and Civil Society

This module is based on the acknowledgement that NGOs are considered the cutting-edge vehicle for development programming in Africa. Hence, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of NGO management. The module will take students from the processes involved in starting an NGO down to the processes of developing various operational policies for NGOs. By the end of the module, students must be able to formulate an NGO and design management strategies required for the sustainability of such NGOs.

DPH 122 Development Communication

This module is based on the understanding that critical development processes are ignited through communication. Communication is the basis for development. Hence this module will introduce students to Development Communication Theories like Modernisation, diffusion and participatory models of development communication. The aim is to ensure that students will be able to design effective development communication strategies by following the process of needs assessment, strategy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. By the end of the module, students must be able to design, formulate and implement development communication strategies for various development aims and sectors.

DPH 124 Agricultural Practice and Development

The module exposes candidates to the basic skills of agricultural practice. The module will focus on imparting basic technical agricultural skills on crop cultivation and livestock production to candidates. The desire is to ensure that candidates have basic knowledge of agricultural practices which they will then combine with a development lens to ensure the construction of sustainable livelihoods. This module is premised on the realisation that African livelihoods are largely agricultural. Hence, development practitioners must have a fair understanding of agriculture to be able to support and elevate agricultural practice for the attainment of development. By the end of the module, candidates must have basic practical knowledge of crop and livestock husbandry.

DPH 125 Information Communication Technology for Development Practice

The module aims to introduce candidates to mainstream information communication technology (ICT) packages that have become imperative in development programming. Such packages help development practitioners to undertake their work to levels par excellence. Examples of such ICT packages include; Microsoft Office, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Kobo Tool Box, Nvivo, Scope and film and editing software packages. Students will also be taught camera skills. By the end of the module, students must have basic to intermediate proficiency of the packages mentioned above.

DPH 126 Economic for Development

The module examines dominant classical and neo-classical economic theories and models and the extent to which these theories and models influence economic growth and development. Particular focus in this module is on the less developed economies of Africa, Latin America and Asia.

DPH 211 Famines and Food Security

This module seeks to assist students to come up with practical ways of solving and mitigating hunger and food insecurity challenges faced by communities at household, national, regional and international levels. The module discusses early food insecurity warning systems based on forecasting using both scientific and indigenous knowledge-based methods. After acquiring knowledge of early warning systems, students will be encouraged to come up with early hunger mitigation response systems. The hunger and food insecurity mitigation planning should be deeply embedded in the knowledge of the causative agents of famine, hunger and food insecurity, theories of famine, global warming and climatic variations, poverty, trade liberalisation, historical legacies, population growth, health factors, democracy, conflicts etc. Gender issues and disability among other demographic variables with regards to food security are discussed as major issues considered in food insecurity and hunger mitigation planning. 

 

DPH 212 Disaster Management Practice

This module maps the trajectory of humanitarian response to disasters within the framework of an understanding of development, with vulnerability and disaster risk reduction as an integral part of development. The module recognises the vulnerabilities faced by the poor and marginalized and the disproportionate impact of disasters endured by them in the developing world. In this module, the study of disaster risk reduction, disaster response and post-disaster recovery is grounded in the values of justice, equity and social inclusion. The module addresses all stages of disaster management in a comprehensive and holistic mannerincludingpre- disaster preparedness and mitigation, rescue and relief in the context of disaster and post -disaster rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery. Students will be equipped with hands- on disaster management experiences based on local predicaments. By the end of the module, students should have acquired the critical programming skills needed to foster and implement disaster management interventions at all stages of the disaster management cycle.

DPH 213 Urban Development

Worldwide, more people live today in cities than in rural settings. This trend is catching up in Africa where more people are becoming urban dwellers through the process of urbanisation and urban growth. The challenges such as earning money, getting transport, dealing with waste and sanitation, water,  finding housing, access to public amenities, and offsite infrastructure development which the urban environment confronts its residents, and by extension planners, development practitioners, public decision-makers and academics, are often different in nature and scale from those encountered in the rural milieu. Urban decay has become rampant in the 21st century and urban renewal is crucial for the survival of the ever -increasing population of residents in urban centers. This module prepares students to be able to test and come up with urban development and management approaches for the betterment of the local urban communities.

DPH 214 Managing Displacement and Migration for Development

Millions of people around the world have been forced from their homes by interlinked factors including persecution, armed conflict, natural disasters, development projects and socio-economic deprivation. These displacements and migrations have resulted in challenges that include human rights abuses and xenophobia. Managing large-scale displacement represents a critical challenge for contemporary development processes. This module will examine international, regional, national and local responses to the problem of forced migration; investigate the obstacles to effective protection and assistance for refugees and displaced persons; explore the challenge of resolving displacement crises, and discuss some of the moral dilemmas raised by forced migration. In an endeavour to comprehend displacement and migration, students will examine various historical and contemporary cases of forced displacement, integrating diverse disciplinary approaches, including legal, political and moral analysis. In the end, students will be encouraged to come up with practical displacement and migration management techniques that will benefit communities.

DPH 214 Community Health Practice

This module aims at producing development practitioners who are capable of addressing community health and developmental issues using a bottom- top approach from the community level. The students are encouraged to critically analyse community health problems with a view to suggesting and helping to implement solutions. The module prepares students to effectively plan, develop, implement and evaluate community health programmes. Community health development practitioners work to improve the health and well-being of entire communities. Students will be exposed to the material in health behaviour, community health research, biostatistics, epidemiology and health communication.

DPH 215 Children and Development

Across the world, children are at risk of violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Conflict and natural disasters have forced millions to flee their homes and confront the dangers of migration and displacement. Commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking, child labour, and child marriage are problems in many countries. At-risk children and adolescents need their rights enforced to protect them from harm and to ensure they develop to their full potential. In this course, students will learn about the causes and consequences of child protection failures. Students will consider the strategies, international laws, standards, and resources required to protect all children. Learners will be able to link legal frameworks and child rights approaches to the work of policymakers, lawyers, health workers, educators, law enforcement, and social workers. Learners will understand how they can ensure the protection of children and apply child protection strategies to their work. The module will prepare students to use the principles of children’s rights to plan, implement and monitor programmes with the overall goal of improving the position of children so that all children – no matter who they are – can fully enjoy their rights and live in societies that acknowledge and respect children’s rights.

DPH 216 Governance and Development

The module explores different governance systems and their impact on developmental outcomes, with a special focus on Africa. Topics covered include definition of governance, the relationship between governance and development, the definition of democracy and the controversies surrounding the definition, ‘universal’ characteristics or features of democracy  (separation and balance of power, accountability and transparency, freedom of association, freedom of speech and freedom of the media, rule of law, pluralist party system, respect for minority groups, public participation, free and credible elections); different democracies/political systems/regimes or governments and how they impact on development. The module also covers issues of corruption and anti-corruption strategies, transparency, accountability, participation, and decentralisation, among many other issues.

DPH 221 Human Rights and Development Practice

This module provides students with contemporary understanding and a strong grounding on the linkage between human rights, social, economic issues and (human) development. In this module, students will learn the meaning of development based on human rights and social justice perspectives. Learners will understand how development is practice based on the needs, rights and capabilities of individuals; and critically explore the strengths and shortcomings of these approaches. Students will uncover human rights abuses, economic issues and challenges to colonialist unjust development, all of which still have an effect to this day. At the end of the module, students must be able to hypothesise human right based development frameworks and concepts that can be adopted for the betterment of communities.

DPH 222 Community Health

This module offers students a broad exposure to the historical and developmental milestones of the Public Health discipline. Students gain expertise in the development, implementation and evaluation of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Students are also given an insight into factors related to gender and health, community participation in health programmes, and cultural and environmental factors that affect global health. Specific topics covered include definition of public health, public health and development, health promotion, primary health care, socio-economic determinants of public health, health and culture, HIV/AIDS and public health, climate change and health, child and maternal health, adolescent health, principles of epidemiology, communicable and non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

DPH 223 Rural Development

Rural development has been a topical subject in Africa since the attainment of independence of these nations. Colonial policies created a dual economy in African countries wherein a well-developed capitalist urban space economy existed side by side with an underdeveloped, pre-capitalist and largely peasantry rural space economy. This scenario of striking inequality is the major reason for focusing on rural development. To this end, the module attempts to give students a holistic perspective and an in-depth analysis of the problems and processes of sustainable rural development. With the ever- rising population in Africa, sustainability becomes crucial in the rural development processes. Major issues to be explored include approaches to rural development, poverty trends in the rural regions of Africa and land reform as well as agrarian change. Other pertinent issues also include the role of rural off- farm activities, issues of natural resources and the environment, women and gender, traditional leadership, integrated rural development management, decentralisation and devolution of power. Students won’t be armchair analysists of the rural development processes but will get to have practical experiences in tackling the rural development challenge in Zimbabwe through engagement with rural communities.

 

DPH 224 Water and Energy Security

Water and energy are basic components of life, economic growth and human progress. For the poor securing access to both water and energy is still the cornerstone of alleviation of poverty. For those states already on the road towards development, water and energy are needed to spur economic growth. Energy and water are intricately connected. All sources of energy including electricity require water in the production processes, the extraction of raw materials, cooling thermal process, cultivation of crops for biofuels and powering turbines.  Energy itself is required to make water resources available for human use and consumption including irrigation, through pumping, transportation, treatment and desalination. Responses to both water and energy challenges need to be coordinated into an integral response.

 

DPH 225 Report Writing, Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Projects

This module covers the basic concepts, principles and major issues that arise in the monitoring and evaluation of development projects. It covers the rational, stakeholders in M&E, application, tools in M&E, Methodology, M&E designs, and E processes, RBM, Evaluation procedure and global best standards in evaluation

DPH 226 Basic Financial Management for Development Practitioners

The module introduces candidates to key accounting and financial concepts required to facilitate the process of practical development programming. The focus will be placed on dissecting accounting and financial issues that are enshrined in the financial policies of development entities like NGOs. The focus will be on budget formulation, budget tracking, procurement processes, accountability procedures and financial and accounting report writing.

 

DPH 300 Work- Related Placement Report

This is a preliminary report that a student compiles demonstrating his or her knowledge and understanding of the organisation to which he or she is attached. The student should be able to identify and describe the organisation where they have been placed for their work-related learning. The student should also be able to justify the relevance of the placement or organisation in relation to his or her programme of study. The student must understand and outline the organisation’s history, organogram, mandate, mission, vision and objectives.

Students are also assessed for their understanding of work challenges and the sustainability of solutions they suggest.

 

DPH 301:  Student’s Work-Related Learning Report

DPH 302:  Academic Supervisor’s Assessment Report

DPH 303:  Employer’s Assessment Report

                                            

DPH 411 Conflict Management and Transformation

The module aims at making students get acquainted with conflict management and transformation programme plans that have been implemented in different countries around the globe and how they have assisted in resolving conflict. The major thrust of conflict transformation is to enable relationships of respect, cooperation and consent, and constructive means and norms for dealing with conflict. Students will be exposed to people- centred approaches to conflict management and transformation. Key driving factors of conflict are going to be studied alongside actions meant to transform institutions that justify and reproduce direct, cultural and structural violence at the global, national and local levels. The module will aim to show how conflict management takes a pragmatic approach to conflict by constructing agreements and practices that allow people to effectively cooperate despite their differences. Instead of focusing on how a specific conflict can be resolved or transformed the module will aim at teaching students to rather offer strategies to mitigate a conflict’s negative effects. Students will be expected to stay abreast of conflict management programmes that have been implemented in different countries as a way of resolving conflicts. At the end of the module, students will have learnt the importance of transforming cultures of violence into cultures of peace.  

DPH 412 Environmental Management and Development

Environmental management is a requirement for development to take place without destruction or overuse of natural resources and to reduce pollution and degradation of nature. The module will enable students to understand the importance of the environment and how it requires proper management. The module aims to address the growing sustainability pressure and create innovative solutions towards a resilient environment and society. The earth’s natural resources, the way in which human societies interact with them and ways in which they can be sustainably managed will be studied. Relevant policy frameworks will be used to address global environmental challenges and how to address them. Students will look into complex relationships between economic, social and environmental systems and learn how local actions can have global effects. Students will also become familiar with environmental and natural resource management objectives at different scales in different sectors and the management practices relevant to achieving them. Students will recognise the importance of preserving biodiversity and that healthy ecosystems are the foundation of economic and societal well-being. The course is centrally concerned with understanding deliberate efforts to translate environmental knowledge into action to achieve particular outcomes in the way landscapes and natural ecosystems are used and managed. Contemporary approaches to environmental policy- making, planning and management will be used. By the end of the module, the students will have a great understanding of environmental systems and processes and the policies and practices involved in their management.

 

DPH 413 Research Methods 2

The module seeks to equip students with research skills. The course deals with the formulation of research-based topics, how to gather data and how to present the data. The module also guides students on dissertation writing skills that refer to the formats used by the department.

 

DPH 414 Resource Mobilisation for Development Processes

Resource mobilisation refers to all activities undertaken by an organisation to secure new and additional financial, human and material resources to advance its mission. Students will learn how efforts to mobilise resources is the drive for organisational sustainability and how this positively impacts development initiatives. Students will learn the importance of identifying people who share values as the organisation or institution they are involved in and taking steps to manage that relationship. Resource mobilisation is a team effort, and involves the institution’s commitment to resource mobilisation; acceptance of the need to raise resources; and institutionalising resource mobilisation priorities, policies and budget allocation. By the end of the module, students should be able to understand different ways of resource mobilisation and strategies that can be used.

DPH 421 NGO Management

Managing a non-governmental organisation requires several skills. It is important to understand the key factors in establishing an NGO and how to keep the NGO in operation. The NGO management course will equip students with skills on how to mobilise resources, innovation in programme or project design and how to design a strategic plan for an NGO. The course will also deal with how NGOs and states can better improve relations.

DPH 422 Strategic Management

Strategic management is the ongoing planning, monitoring, analysis and assessment of all necessities an organisation or institution needs to meet its goals and objectives. The module will prepare students for careers in managing organisational resources in government, profit and non-profit organisations. The Strategic Management course is designed to explore an organisation’s vision, mission, examine principles, techniques and models of organisational and environmental analysis, and discuss the theory and practice of strategy formulation and implementation such as corporate governance and business ethics for the development of effective strategic leadership.

DPH 423 Development Policy Analysis, Design and Formulation

Students will be expected to understand policy development and policy analysis which will include problem identification, policy response and policy implementation. Government policies such as those that deal with poverty will be looked into. Students will be expected to highlight problems in communities and then identify potential policy options that could address the problem and then compare their options to choose the most effective, efficient and feasible one.  Tools for policy analysis such as qualitative and quantitative research methodologies will be studied.  Policy formulation and policy design will also be studied. Factors that also affect the positive outcome of policies will be discussed. Comparisons of development policy analysis, design and formulation from different countries will be done.

 

DPH 511 Project Green Paper

This document involves the production of a project profile of at least 3 projects started by a candidate during their studies in selected communities. Using the project cycle as a framework (from problem identification, appraisal, implementation, monitoring and evaluation) the project green paper is a thorough description and assessment of the projects with a particular focus on the impact achieved by such projects. The desire is to deepen and sharpen the project management and practice prowess of students beyond reasonable doubt. Quality project green papers are premised on the ability to produce lamp lighting project ideas that aim to tackle critical development problems in communities; quality implementation methodologies and project sustainability strategies. Students will work with a supervisor who will be helping them formulate and implement cutting -edge development projects in given communities.