The Harvard Center for International Development (CID) is a research center working across the University and a global network of researchers and practitioners to build an international pool of talent, convene academic and practitioner networks, and deploy breakthrough research to address the world’s most pressing challenges. At CID, we believe that together we can design and implement policies that help everyone realize their full potential. CID is housed at Harvard Kennedy School.
Spotlight
Research Themes
Business, Firms, & Finance
Unlocking how inclusive business ecosystems and financial systems drive growth, innovation, and opportunity.
Climate & Energy
Exploring solutions to decouple growth from environmental harm and build resilient, low-carbon economies.
Conflict, Peace, & Security
Investigating the root causes of violence and pathways to peace, stability, and inclusive development.
Culture, Institutions, & History
Understanding how cultural norms, institutions, and historical legacies shape today’s development outcomes.
Education & Human Development
Advancing equitable, high-quality education and lifelong learning to unlock human potential around the world.
Gender & Inclusion
Generating insights into how identity-based inequalities form—and how policies can foster equity and representation.
Governance, Political Economy, & Public Management
Examining how political institutions, public policy, and civic engagement shape effective, accountable governance.
Health & Wellbeing
Designing evidence-based solutions to strengthen health systems and reduce global disparities in wellbeing.
Labor & Urban Economics
Analyzing labor markets, mobility, and urban growth to promote inclusive, equitable cities and employment systems.
Social Welfare & Public Finance
Studying how smart public spending, taxation, and welfare systems can reduce inequality and boost resilience.
Technology & Data Science
Harnessing AI, big data, and digital innovation to solve complex development challenges at scale.
Trade, Growth, & Regional Economics
Exploring how trade, regional integration, and globalization shape economic opportunity and inclusive progress.