Global Social Development Innovations

06/07/2025

We spoke with Associate Dean for Global Engagement Gina Chowa and Global Engagement Program Coordinator Adam Milano to learn more about their collaborations with international partners, the impact of funding for the work of GSDI and more.

02/01/2025

A wide scope of topics — from reparations to environmental justice — will be explored during the fourth installment of the UNC School of Social Work’s Black History Month Research Series.

12/20/2024

Check out GSDI's recent publication, in collaboration with our colleagues at the Center for Studies in Rural Development, Institute for Social Work and Research in Ahmednagar, on COVID-19's socioeconomic impacts on the well-being of economically and socially disadvantaged households in Maharashtra, India and the supports they received.

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the world's most economically and socially disadvantaged groups. Responses to COVID-19's economic and social impacts differ between and within countries. Usin...

12/20/2024

Reducing poverty and increasing financial inclusion are the goals of a pair of international projects funded by the UNC School of Social Work’s C4C program.

12/04/2024

12/04/2024

Are there measurable actions that can counter the mental health effects that keep young people with HIV in Zambia from adhering to their treatment regimens? This , learn more about how the Kupambana Intervention is empowering young people in Zambia to overcome HIV and AIDS-related challenges.

Led by Associate Professor Rainier “Rain” Masa and a team including Joseph Zulu from the University of Zambia and Don Operario from Emory University, the study combines stigma reduction, peer support and economic tools to improve treatment adherence for youth living with HIV. In a country where stigma and poverty create barriers to care, Kupambana offers hope with vocational training, financial literacy training and tailored support.

“Some youth will find that stigmas around their health conditions inhibit their ability to adhere to treatment. In others, poverty may be more of a factor; and of course, the two forces can intertwine. Anything that interferes with one’s daily living and affects both whole functioning and well-being is what we want to combat,” said Masa.

Learn more about how this innovative pilot study could change lives in Zambia and beyond ➡️ https://ssw.unc.edu/2024/12/arming-youth-with-mental-health-support-in-the-fight-against-hiv-and-aids-stigma/

02/20/2024

📢 Join us for an insightful lecture!

The Centre for Social Development in Africa at the University of Johannesburg is delighted to host Prof Gina Chowa, Director of Global Social Development Innovations at the UNC School of Social Work, for an engaging discussion on:

🔍 Conducting community-engaged and rigorous intervention research: A pragmatic approach

Research within development interventions is pivotal in shaping programme design and assessing effectiveness. However, executing rigorous research in intervention settings presents challenges. Prof Gina Chowa, drawing from extensive experience, will share invaluable insights in navigating these complexities.

This seminar is essential for professionals in the development sector who are keen on research and researchers conducting intervention studies.

🗣️ Discussant: Prof Lauren Graham, Director at the Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, will offer reflections based on her involvement in the Basic Package of Support project.

📅 Date: February 29, 2024
⏰ Time: 14h30 - 16h00
📍 Venue: CSDA Offices (JBS Park)
🔗 RSVP here https://forms.office.com/r/Mfmtswi72Q

10/26/2023

Join the Global Social Development Innovations (GSDI) for our 2023 Michael Sherraden Lecture Series this November 13. This is a hybrid event. For In-Person attendees, food and networking start at 5:30pm. Lecture will begin at 6:30 pm.

How will the world's largest-ever generation of adolescents and young people thrive in an increasingly complex global landscape? To discuss potential pathways forward for the 1.8 billion youth globally, UNC Global Social Development Innovations (GSDI), housed in Carolina's School of Social Work, is....

02/04/2022

Rainier Masa has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in the School of Social Work! Rain is a lead researcher with the Global Social Development Innovations Center and a research fellow at the Centre for Social Development in Africa at the University of Johannesburg. He is also a faculty affiliate of the UNC African Studies Center and a member of the UNC Center for AIDS Research. Congratulations Rain!

02/04/2022

Mark your calendars now for this important research series next month. GSDI and INSPIRED Lab are cohosting the series, which will feature presentations from many of our faculty, students, and alumni. Please share with your networks.

01/28/2022

Screening questionnaire for the Intersectional Stigma and Resilience project to improve HIV testing and PrEP use among young Latino sexual minority men.