International Growth Centre

20/08/2026

🎓 Applications are now open for the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗-𝗜𝗚𝗖 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗵𝗗-𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 on political economy!
Join leading development economists for 12 online lectures exploring the latest research on in low- and middle-income countries, from state capacity and political agency to conflict, crime, autocracy and the media.

Designed for PhD students and early-career researchers worldwide, the course is free to attend and offers the opportunity to:
◾ Learn from leading experts in development economics
◾ Explore the latest research and evidence in political economy
◾ Develop new perspectives and ideas for your own research
◾ Connect with an international community of researchers

Previous participants have highlighted the course’s breadth, accessibility and intellectual value, with one participant describing it as a valuable experience for “𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦”.

📅 8 September – 24 November 2026
💻 Online | Free to attend

Register here: https://www.theigc.org/events/bread-igc-virtual-phd-courses/bread-igc-virtual-phd-course-political-economy-2026

20/08/2026

Bangladesh’s RMG sector remains highly vulnerable to global economic shocks, such as US trade tariffs, demanding diversification.

20/08/2026

What does responsible AI adoption look like from the perspective of governments in low- and middle-income countries?
Our latest blog draws on discussions from the IGC–The World Bank Group–LSE Data Science Institute event to explore a key tension: governments want greater control over the AI systems they use, but greater sovereignty can come with trade-offs in capability.

The authors consider what governments can do to retain agency, from avoiding vendor lock-in to strengthening their ability to adapt and switch systems over time.

Read the full blog 👇
https://www.theigc.org/blogs/lmic-governments-govern-ai

19/08/2026

Join us for a public lecture with Professor Christopher Adam, Professor of Development Economics at the University of Oxford, hosted by the Bank of Tanzania in collaboration with the IGC’s Tax for Growth initiative.

The lecture will explore debt and monetary stability in Tanzania, bringing together policymakers, researchers and practitioners for a discussion on the macroeconomic choices that can support long-term stability and growth.

Professor Adam’s work focuses on the macroeconomics of low-income countries, particularly in Africa, with expertise in monetary economics, public finance, growth and structural change.

🟧 In person: Bank of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam
🟧 Online: livestream link to follow

If you would like to attend in person, please email [email protected] to request to be added to the invitation list.

Aerial view taken by drone of Stone Town port, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa. Photo credit: Carlo Alberto Conti / Moment via Getty Images. Domestic Debt, Monetary Policy, and Stabilisation: A Public Lecture with Professor Christopher Adam Upcoming Event Bank of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 27 Aug....

14/08/2026

What does it take for governments in low- and middle-income countries to govern with AI effectively?

Following our recent IGC–World Bank conference on Governing with AI, this new blog by Shahrukh Wani, Sharif Kazemi and Jeremy Ng shares five key reflections from the discussions.

From building state capacity and protecting sovereignty to embedding human rights and trust, the authors explore what responsible AI adoption could look like, and why governments need to prepare not only for today’s applications, but for what comes next.

Read the full blog: https://shahwani.substack.com/p/how-can-lmic-governments-govern-with?r=cjoxr&utm_medium=ios
World Bank Group, LSE Data Science Institute

12/08/2026

New resource: the IGC 𝗔𝗜 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 is live.

has the potential to help governments deliver better public services and strengthen public institutions. But realising that potential requires clear thinking, strong governance and a focus on solving real policy challenges.

💻 We are excited to share the IGC AI Playbook for Government: an open-source resource designed to help policymakers adopt AI responsibly and effectively. It provides frameworks to help 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, ask the right questions, and think through trade-offs while incorporating their own local expertise.

The playbook takes users through the key questions governments should consider, including:

💡 Identifying high-value policy use cases
💡 Assessing whether AI is the right tool for the problem
💡 Building the data and institutional foundations for success
💡 Deploying AI responsibly, with risk assessments and mitigation plans
💡 Building for successful adoption and measurable impact, combining best practices from the technology sector with real-world public sector considerations

We hope this practical guide helps policymakers make better-informed decisions that improve people's lives.

Five steps to identify and pilot an AI solution in your government.

11/08/2026

Our new 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 looks at IGC’s long-term work to strengthen local revenue through property tax reform in Sierra Leone.

IGC has worked alongside the International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD), the Local Government Revenue Initiative (LoGRI), the Government of Sierra Leone and local councils, combining rigorous research, piloting, implementation support and policy engagement.

The results are significant. In , the number of registered properties nearly doubled, from 57,000 to more than 109,000, while potential property tax revenue increased nearly fivefold💰. In 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗮, the property roll also nearly doubled, with estimated annual revenue potential increasing nearly threefold.

The case study shows that beyond a successful pilot, transformational change requires building coalitions, adapting reforms to local contexts, strengthening institutions and sustaining political and administrative commitment.

✒️ The reform is now being implemented across Freetown, Kenema and Makeni, with plans for further expansion to Bo and Koidu New Sembehun.

https://www.theigc.org/publications/transformational-change-case-strengthening-local-revenue-through-property-tax-reform

11/08/2026

What holds back 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 in Zambia’s retail sector?

🔍 New IGC-funded research finds that the answer may differ from firm to firm.

Looking at single-establishment retailers in Lusaka, researchers identify three distinct dimensions of productivity: attracting customers, managing logistics, and choosing the right mix of products.

The findings suggest that one-size-fits-all approaches to supporting small businesses can miss the mark.

Diagnosing where individual face constraints could help policymakers design more targeted – and effective – interventions.

📄 Read the blog by Ajay Shenoy, Heather Huntington, and Brenda Samaniego de la Parra to explore the findings and their implications for supporting entrepreneurs.
https://www.theigc.org/blogs/retail-sector-productivity-zambia

New statistical tools identify whether firms in Zambia face marketing, logistics, or inventory management constraints, helping target productivity improvements.

11/08/2026

06/08/2026

We're hiring! 📢

We are looking for a Digital Communications Manager (Maternity Cover) to help shape how we share research, evidence and policy impact across Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

If you're an experienced digital communicator with expertise in websites, social media, AI-enabled communications and content strategy, we'd love to hear from you.

📅 Apply by 1 September 2026 (23:59 UK time): https://www.theigc.org/about/careers