The growing popularity of platforms like mobile phones mean that games can be easily learned, readily accessed, and widely distributed.
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Community Spotlights: Games for Development

By Stephan Hardeman, Isabela Barriga

This month, Climatelinks focused on games for development. Games, usually seen as a leisure activity, are also useful learning tools. In general, games used in the context of international development are simplified versions of complex real-world experiences. They offer players a low-risk and engaging opportunity to make decisions, as well as experience the effects of those decisions. Gamification of development challenges can provide players with a clear sense of both the problem and potential solutions, as well as increasing their understanding of how their choices affect outcomes.

Explore the many resources, including blogs, websites, and research on the topic of games for development, shared by Climatelinks community members. The resources below range from pieces exploring the utility of games in the international development space, to web-based or printable games that can be played by anyone.

News and Blogs:

Publications:

Websites:

Games:

Sectors
Adaptation
Strategic Objective
Adaptation, Integration
Topics
Adaptation, Climate Change, Climate Change Integration, Disaster Risk Management, Economic Growth, Food Security and Agriculture, Gender and Social Inclusion, Resilience, Training
Region
Global

Stephan Hardeman

Stephan Hardeman is the Site and Community Manager for Climatelinks. He draws on more than five years of experience in communications for international environmental trust funds to support Climatelinks through USAID’s Sharing Environment and Energy Knowledge (SEEK) initiative by engaging the Climatelinks community and featuring its work. Stephan has MAs in International Affairs (American University) and Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (United Nations University for Peace) and BAs in English and Anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Isabela Barriga

Isabela Barriga serves as the social media manager, content entry and work flow coordinator for Climatelinks. She assists with knowledge management, research and writing blogs. Previously, Isabela provided communication and content management support to organizations such as the United Nations Volunteers programme in Ecuador and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance in Washington, DC. Isabela holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Maryland, College Park and a minor in International Development & Conflict Management.

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