Debating Poverty and Vulnerability: Policy and Programming (961M9)

30 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Spring teaching

The module provides a practical guide to different policy and programmatic approaches to poverty and vulnerability reduction.

The first part of the module provides an overview of different programmatic interventions and policy process and considers their relevance for poverty.

The second part uses a case study approach to understand social protection as a policy and programmatic framework to address poverty.

Different social protection instruments are outlined, and their relative poverty and vulnerability reduction effectiveness is examined. Different evaluation methods are identified and the political and financial sustainability of interventions are considered.

The third part of the module looks at the underlying causes and drivers of poverty and considers how broader social policy can respond. This includes examining the vulnerability of workers through migration, and informality and how politics effects and shapes poverty programmes and social policy.

Teaching

100%: Lecture

Assessment

100%: Coursework (Essay)

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 300 hours of work. This breaks down into about 44 hours of contact time and about 256 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.