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Stories of Impact and Change
At the Blum Center for Developing Economies, we are driven by a shared mission: to innovate, inspire, and empower solutions that tackle global poverty. Explore our latest stories, ground-breaking research, and impactful programs that bridge the gap between theory and action.
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Development Engineering
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Every summer, UC Berkeley’s Development Engineering students create global social impact. The 2024 DevEng Photography Contest showcased their work, highlighting projects from digital education in Kenya to climate justice in Nigeria. Winning submissions emphasized human-centered technology, community-driven financial practices, and sustainable development, capturing innovation and resilience through powerful visual storytelling.
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George Moore, an InFEWS Fellow and Development and Mechanical Engineering PhD student, has been awarded the Birgeneau Recognition Award for Service to Underrepresented Students.
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Around the UC Berkeley campus, there has been a plethora of COVID-19 responses that will help developing and developed countries alike.
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The Blum Center welcomes Michelle Nunn, CEO of CARE USA, and Afsaneh Mashayekhi Beschloss, CEO of RockCreek, to its board. Both bring extensive experience in humanitarian and sustainable investments, supporting the Center’s mission to advance interdisciplinary research and global citizenship through initiatives like Development Engineering and the Big Ideas Contest.
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Erica Stone, president of the American Himalayan Foundation (AHF) for nearly 30 years, transformed the nonprofit from a small startup to an impactful organization distributing $4 million annually. From empowering women through STOP Girl Trafficking to supporting healthcare for children, Stone’s dedication to Nepal and its people has driven AHF’s success and resilience.
Faculty
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The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation today unveiled that the LoaScope Project for Removing the Greatest Obstacle to the Elimination of River Blindness was one of the highest-scoring proposals, designated as the Top 100, in its 100&Change competition for a single $100 million grant to help solve one of the world's most critical social challenges.
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Global poverty has dramatically declined, with the share of people living on $2 a day or less dropping by over 75% since 1981. Yet many Americans remain unaware of these gains. At UC Berkeley’s Blum Center, students are tackling global poverty and inequality through innovation, education, and impactful fieldwork, fostering hope for progress.
Big Ideas
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With all of the excitement and funding directed at artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and gene editing, it is hard to remember that one of the most consistently innovative and financially robust sectors in the United States is the “creative industry.”
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For Aboubacar Komara, a combination of cultural values inspired the mission behind Kaloum Bankhi--a registered NGO in Guinea that maximizes existing and limited housing space for people in the slums of Kaloum.
Faculty
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How can we meet increasing human demands from the land while protecting natural systems? This is the question that Matthew Potts, UC Berkeley’s S. J. Hall Chair in Forestry Economics and the Vice Chair of the Graduate Group in Development Engineering, asks in his scholarship.
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Amy Liu, founder of Junior Hearts and Hands, was inspired to support pregnant women after assisting a Haitian refugee during a challenging 35-hour delivery. With mentorship from UC Berkeley’s Big Ideas Contest, Liu advanced her mission, becoming an Innovation Ambassador and continuing to empower mothers through her organization, Partners in Life.
Development Engineering
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The Blum Center celebrates the Nobel Prize in Economics winners for pioneering randomized control trials in poverty interventions. Building on these insights, development engineering integrates economics, technology, and social sciences to address global challenges. The center aims to advance this interdisciplinary field by hiring professors in health, energy, and entrepreneurship.
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Joe Leitmann, a World Bank expert in disaster resilience, highlights the shift from response to prevention in managing natural disasters. Advances in digital forecasting, catastrophe financing, and risk planning have significantly reduced fatalities and economic losses. Leitmann emphasizes cross-sector collaboration and innovative solutions to protect development gains and foster global resilience.
Global Poverty & Practice
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For 12 years, UC Berkeley’s Global Poverty & Practice Minor has enabled students to engage in impactful fieldwork across 72 countries. The annual photo contest showcases their experiences, with this year’s winners capturing moments of resilience and community—from Oaxacan weaving traditions to Tanzanian water distribution and Mayan fire ceremonies in Guatemala.
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In just five years, SOMO has transformed from a Big Ideas Contest proposal into a thriving nonprofit. Receiving nearly 2,000 applications annually, it has supported 58 Kenyan entrepreneurs in launching businesses through a two-year acceleration program, empowering communities and fostering sustainable economic growth.
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Titled “Innovations and Collaboration at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems: Toward Sustainability in the Middle East,” Halasah’s talk covered his role as founder and co-director of JICCER, his solar water pumping project with Palestinian and Jordanian farmers, and the lessons he has learned about community development and environmental peacebuilding.
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Emily Huynh, a UC Berkeley bioengineering senior, developed Fractal, a medical device addressing the lack of affordable orthopedic care in developing regions. Recognized with third place in Big Ideas' Hardware for Good category, Fractal aims to improve fracture diagnosis and treatment, reducing chronic pain and disability for underserved populations.
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The Blum Center continues to champion women entrepreneurs and innovators, highlighting their transformative impact. This month, stories feature Maria Artundauga’s Respira Labs, Vicentia Gyau’s Education Redefined for All, and Alice Agogino’s award-winning Squishy Robotics. By fostering networks, mentorship, and education, the center empowers women to break barriers and lead in entrepreneurship and STEM.