Dear Conference Participant,

As we enter this new decade, the development landscape has changed significantly. New actors are gaining traction and influence, forming new partnerships, and transforming the ways we do development.

The 2011 International Development Conference “New Partnerships in Development,” held on April 2 on the Harvard Kennedy School campus, will explore the innovative and unconventional partnerships that are changing the face of development.

Each year the Conference brings together the world’s leading academics, practitioners, and policy makers to reflect on current trends in development and articulate the path forward. This year we are excited to welcome a host of global leaders, headlined by our Keynote Speaker, Bruce McNamer, CEO of TechnoServe.

The world’s richest men and women are touring the globe, converting their peers to venture philanthropy. New York City is replicating cash transfer programs first implemented in Mexico City and Brasilia. Mobile phones keep transforming the way health and financial services are delivered. And development observers have coined the term “Beijing Consensus” to describe China’s growing influence on the South.

At the turn of this decade, these are some of the new actors transforming development work. In partnership with more traditional development players, they are leveraging their unique set of skills and resources to produce unprecedented impact.

We hope you will join us as we explore the future of international development.

Best Regards,

Kaveh Azimi, Maribeth Black and Hala Hanna
The IDC Co-Chairs










Photos: Marion Doss and Aly Ramji