Bridging the Divide: Integrating Fragmented Supply Chains in Global Commodity Sectors
Too often, we leave the smallest producers out of the biggest conversations, and then wonder why systems fail. In the highlands of Latin America, a coffee grower harvests her beans without access to drying equipment or direct buyers. In West Africa, a smallholder cocoa farmer sells through four layers of intermediaries before his crop reaches […]
From Shadows to Spotlight: Formalizing Informal Markets in Global Commodity Sectors
In many countries, informal economic activity accounts for more than half of all employment, and nearly all of the risk. Walk through any mining town or rural trading post in the global South, and you’ll see the beating heart of the informal economy: women hauling produce without permits, youth selling minerals by weight on mobile […]
Environmental Security Course
Natural resources can be a source of both conflict and peace. This course explores the critical link between environmental management and global security, examining how land, water, minerals, and ecosystems shape the dynamics of war and peace. From the environmental impacts of armed conflict to the role of natural resources in peace agreements and post-conflict […]
Economic Development Foundations
How do nations build lasting prosperity? This course unpacks the foundational principles of economic development, tracing how political institutions, identity, power dynamics, and market structures evolve over time. From the emergence of centralized states to the rise of inclusive institutions, and from industrialization to the global flows that shape development today—this series helps professionals connect […]
Sustainability Frameworks
What does it take to build a truly sustainable future—and who’s responsible for getting us there? This course explores the global frameworks shaping our collective path forward, from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to emerging approaches in financing, digital governance, peacebuilding, and youth engagement. Designed for professionals navigating the intersection of global development and […]
Supply Chain Logistics Optimization
Behind every commodity is a complex, dynamic supply chain. This series breaks down the building blocks of effective supply chain management—from foundational concepts to cutting-edge tools. You’ll learn how to analyze supply chains, design them for efficiency, navigate disruptions, and leverage technology to improve performance. Whether you’re managing operations, evaluating risk, or just trying to […]
Evaluating Quality
What makes a coffee great—and how can you tell? This series explores the full journey of coffee quality, from farm to cupping table. You’ll learn how each stage of production—from pests and diseases on the farm to fermentation, drying, and even sample roasting—can impact a coffee’s final profile. We also walk through the physical grading […]
Sustainable Sourcing
Direct Trade has become a buzzword in the coffee industry—but what does it actually mean in practice? This in-depth video series unpacks the fundamentals, challenges, and opportunities of building direct trade relationships with coffee producers. From the basics of how the model works to the technical steps of analyzing quality, negotiating pricing, and managing year-over-year […]
Post-Harvest Quality Best Practices
Ever wondered what it really takes to get a coffee cherry from the farm to export-ready parchment? This 6-part video series walks you through the essential steps of origin operations, designed for professionals looking to better understand the production side of the coffee supply chain. From the life cycle of the coffee cherry to the […]
The international (in)security order and the climate-conflict-security nexus
Abstract Much existing research on climate, conflict, and security asks a relatively narrow question: how does climate change trigger or exacerbate violent conflict in ways that threaten stability within the current international system? Far less attention has been paid to how the properties of that system contribute to climate-related risks of violence, conflict, and instability. […]