Transforming Markets, Business, and Society: Rwanda and Kenya 2024
Course description
East African countries Rwanda and Kenya are fascinatingly vibrant countries where the contrasts of wealth and poverty; historical legacy and cultural resilience; continue to shape business and society. Why do some countries grow and others decline? What innovations are entrepreneurs creating in the midst of constraints? Travel to East Africa requires emerging business leaders to assess their preconceptions of markets, the role of international companies in local context, and what innovations have the potential to scale to unlock economic growth and poverty reduction.
In preparing for your trip and experiencing Rwanda and Kenya firsthand, we will explore the following questions during our trip:
- What are the historical legacies of colonialism on institutions, infrastructure, and international supply chains?
- How have countries navigated relationships with international partners including Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and India?
- What are the opportunities and constraints for economic and private sector development?
- What innovations are scaling? Who are leading and financing the innovation ecosystem? How are international companies managing the “double bottom line” and sustainability concerns in Rwanda and Kenya?
Itinerary
Syllabus
Faculty and advisor bios
Faculty bio
Andrew Dillon is a development economist whose research focuses on how improving productivity increases welfare in LMIC countries and the methods and measures that establish these causal relationships. His current research focuses on market organization in developing countries and productivity-enhancing investments that households may make in health and nutrition, new agricultural technologies, and education. Ongoing projects are currently being implemented with government, private sector firms, and NGOs in Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria.
Advisor bio
Annie Reagan, Associate Director of Global Academic Experience - Bio coming soon!