“Development’s means and ends are jumbled. In part, development is trapped by its own chequered history. Yet, this past is not necessarily a liability, it could even provide an opening to improve the development process.”

David Ekbladh, a research fellow with the Belfer Center’s International Security Program, wrote “Muddling Through: How Development’s Past Shapes Its Future,” which the Belfer Center published on November 4, 2009.

For the full oped, go to: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/19674/

“It’s essentially creating a multimedia center because one of the reason why kids move to urban areas is because they go there to acquire technical skills.  So the idea is to bring technical skills to the community rather than get kids to leave the community.”

Calestous Juma, director of the Belfer Center’s Science, Technology, and Globalization Project and a member of the Center’s board of directors, was interviewed in “Digital Planet,” which the BBC aired on September 21, 2009.

For the full interview, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0049k4w/Digital_Planet_22_09_2009/

“The new [high-speed broadband] cables are the most important investment in Africa since the construction of the colonial railroads.”
- Calestous Juma, director of the Belfer Center’s Science, Technology, and Globalization Project and member of the Center’s board of directors
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“By improving economic performance of countries, you also provide a basis for stability which contributes to security. And on the other hand, by supporting security, you also provide a basis upon which economic activities can take place.”

Calestous Juma, a member of the Belfer Center’s board of directors and director of the Center’s Science, Technology, and Globalization project, gave a presentation on “Security and Development in a Turbulent World; Safeguarding Africa’s Prosperity” to the U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany on May 21, 2009.

For more on his presentation, go to: http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=3104&lang=0

“Some regions of the United States have infrastructure challenges that are similar to those of developing countries. The lessons learned from these regions will offer additional opportunities for global learning. Development needs more than money, it needs skilled and experienced people. Right now, this is what so much international development lacks.”

Calestous Juma, director of the Belfer Center’s Science, Technology, and Globalization project and a member of the Center’s Board of Directors, contributed to “Your inbox, Mr. President,” which Nature published on January 15, 2009.

For the full oped, go to: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v457/n7227/full/457258a.html

Liquidity injection into financial system not enough
The Hindu
October 30
Quoted: Calestous Juma, Belfer Center
Topic: World economy

Developed countries have still not recognised the onset of a market crash and are proceeding instead on the assumption that injection of liquidity into the system is all that is needed, an Indian economist has warned. …

Practice of International Development at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs of the Harvard Kennedy School Professor Calestous Juma said the UN should play a key role in fostering the creation of a new financial diplomacy regime and share best practices in managing the relationships linking finance, innovation and development.

It could bring to New York experts from finance ministries to connect with the diplomatic community and engage with central banks, something that historically had not been done.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200810311411.htm