Year: 2021

Lack of diversity in Mongolian exports: Effects on employment & productivity

Guest blog by Suzanna Sumkhuu Over the past 4 years, I have been working at the country’s development policy planning reform, streamlining legislative, institutional and policy mechanisms. On this journey, I have encountered two contrasting views: necessity for strong central planning systems vs abolish the government and leave everything to the market economy. Because Mongolia has…Continue Reading Lack of diversity in Mongolian exports: Effects on employment & productivity

Developing Economic Complexity in Western Australia’s remote, sparsely populated regional centres

Guest blog by Giles Tuffin 1. Some of the key insights I have learnt include: Just because your region produces raw goods (like iron ore) doesn’t mean that you should be making downstream goods from it (like steel). The raw goods are available on the open market, and can be easily shipped to your nearest port….Continue Reading Developing Economic Complexity in Western Australia’s remote, sparsely populated regional centres

Keys to Unlocking Policy Locks: Legal Education in Ukraine

Words "Legal Education" with magnifying glass

Guest blog by Artem Shaipov Having earned in 2018 a certificate for successful completion of the online series “The Practice of PDIA: Building capability by delivering results” offered by Building State Capability at the Harvard Center for International Development, I learned about the Implementing Public Policy Program (IPP) from the PDIA Community’s first newsletter. I jumped…Continue Reading Keys to Unlocking Policy Locks: Legal Education in Ukraine

The case for a New Development Strategic plan in Cameroon

Guest blog by Boris Owona, Senior Civil Administrator at the Cameroon Prime Minister’s Office I started this IPP program after completing the Emerging Leaders and Public Financial Management programs with a solid foundation of what public policies can look like in a bureaucratic setting. In fact, coming into the course, I felt quite satisfied with my…Continue Reading The case for a New Development Strategic plan in Cameroon

Tackling limited diversification and decreasing exports in Ethiopia

Guest blog by Yilma Nati Tefsu I want to start my answer to the final week of this amazing course by saying something different, something that has nothing to do with the question above but a reflection of the many positives I have gotten from this course and the great people I have met along the…Continue Reading Tackling limited diversification and decreasing exports in Ethiopia

Helping Current and Future Adolescent Girls Requires Bailing Out the Boat but Also Fixing the Hole

Guest blog written by Michelle Kaffenberger, Kirsty Newman, Marla Spivack Guaranteeing quality education for every girl requires a two-pronged approach: bailing out the boat and fixing the hole in its hull. We need to invest in today’s primary school girls—who are future adolescents—to ensure that they gain the foundational skills they need to start and…Continue Reading Helping Current and Future Adolescent Girls Requires Bailing Out the Boat but Also Fixing the Hole

Panama Embassy official writes about promoting US-Panama trade ties

Guest blog by Franklin Morales, Head of Commercial and Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Panama in the United States. A few years ago, I became a diplomat of my country in the United States.  Over time, I gained more responsibility until I became the Head of the Commercial and Economic Section. I am responsible…Continue Reading Panama Embassy official writes about promoting US-Panama trade ties

Resiliency amidst adversity: Applying PDIA in the Philippines

Guest blog by Florida P. Robes Enrolling in Harvard Executive Education, specifically availing the “Implementing Public Policy Online” certificate course is one of the best decisions I have made in my entire life for three main reasons. First, it made me strong amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, being able to virtually interact with like-minded people interested in…Continue Reading Resiliency amidst adversity: Applying PDIA in the Philippines

“Knowledge can be global, but solutions must be local” lessons from my conversation with Dzingai Mutumbuka

Written by Marla Spivack Earlier this year I had the opportunity to sit down for an in-depth conversation with Dr. Dzingai Mutumbuka, the first Minister of education of Zimbabwe after its independence, a global education leader and (to our great fortune) the chair of the RISE Delivery Board.  I had already been fortunate enough to benefit…Continue Reading “Knowledge can be global, but solutions must be local” lessons from my conversation with Dzingai Mutumbuka

Food security in Burien, WA during COVID-19 pandemic

Guest blog by Kevin Schilling COVID spread within three months of my first term on Burien City Council.  When I ran for the office a few months prior to that, my expectations for policies to implement focused primarily on improving coordination between our city’s robust social service providers and the city’s administrative capabilities.  However, these priorities…Continue Reading Food security in Burien, WA during COVID-19 pandemic