About the Program

Mission

Through teaching, research and outreach, the Ford Program aspires to address the challenges of human development confronted by those living in extreme poverty, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Informed by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, the program encourages an interdisciplinary approach to the study and practice of human development that emphasizes the inherent dignity of the human person. In addition to economic, political, social, and environmental considerations, the program recognizes the relevance of cultural and religious factors in the context of human development.

The Ford Program seeks to build a community of solidarity across cultures and borders, advance knowledge and promote innovation that makes a positive difference in people's lives, and inaugurate a transnational and interdisciplinary alliance of scholars, researchers, public servants, and conscientious citizens that will be devoted to alleviating extreme poverty for many years to come.