Community Spotlights: Games for Development

November 4, 2019
Isabela Barriga
Stephan Hardeman
Blog Post
Children playing with mobile games photo
The growing popularity of platforms like mobile phones mean that games can be easily learned, readily accessed, and widely distributed.
Credit: Ed Owles, Worldview

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:

Isabela Barriga headshot

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.

 

Steve Hardeman Headshot
Stephan Hardeman is the Site and Community Manager for Climatelinks. He draws on more than three 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.