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Cesar Lopez

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Graduate Student Research Funding | 2023–2024 Academic Year

Social network structure for agricultural development: Evidence from the irrigation sector in Bolivia

The intersection of environmental change, governance, and finance shapes critical social-ecological systems. However, these systems face escalating disruptions, such as natural disasters, pandemics, and political conflicts. This study employs social network theory to analyze the dynamics of irrigation organizations in Bolivia, focusing on the implications of irrigation development interventions funded by foreign aid. By integrating real network data with theoretical frameworks, we assess changes in network structure and their effects on sustainable development. Our analysis underscores the vulnerability of marginalized groups and advocates for resilient strategies. This interdisciplinary research offers actionable recommendations to enhance economic development interventions' sustainability and global development. Specifically, we evaluate the efficacy of a globally funded agricultural digital extension services program in fostering resilience and adaptation.

 


Cesar Lopez, Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER)

headshot of Cesar Lopez

Cesar Augusto Lopez is a PhD candidate in the Emmet Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER) at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. Lopez's dissertation research integrates development economics, social network theory, and remote sensing to assess the effectiveness of development interventions in low- and middle-income countries. Prior to joining Stanford, Lopez was a research fellow at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, D.C., where he helped design and evaluate agricultural programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cesar holds a BA in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

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