Year: 2021

Time, Teams and Tenacity

Guest blog by Pamela Byrne Reflecting back on my implementing public policy learning journey, three elements stand out. Implementing public policy takes time; it requires a highly functional team and; tenacity is essential for success. So let me explain these “T”s in some more detail. Time…. When presented with a complex problem, your automatic reflex could…Continue Reading Time, Teams and Tenacity

Agri inputs market reform in Liberia through the PDIA lens

Guest blog by Darkina Sie Cooper I was super excited signing up for the Implementing Public Policy (IPP) Online Program, especially haven completed the Leading Economic Growth (LEG) program and being introduced to the PDIA concept and meeting already Prof. Matt Andrews and seeing how amazing he is; I was also eager to dive deeper into…Continue Reading Agri inputs market reform in Liberia through the PDIA lens

An insightful journey to self-discovery and public policy effectiveness in Haiti

Guest blog by John Miller Beauvoir As a field-tested international development professional who crisscrossed 15 countries in Africa and in the Americas to support policy implementation, I carry my fair share of disillusion, cynicism and frustration regarding the slow pace of change and the lack of effectiveness of foreign aid. This is a matter of significant…Continue Reading An insightful journey to self-discovery and public policy effectiveness in Haiti

Navigating innovations in U.S. emergency services with PDIA

Guest blog by Ken Bailey I have been privy to the legislative and public policy process for well over 10 years, mostly with an amateurish understanding and certainly lacking the tools to be consistently effective. Having muddled in this space for a number of years, I have been successful on many fronts, again more through tenacity…Continue Reading Navigating innovations in U.S. emergency services with PDIA

How PDIA helped me build Nigeria’s poverty alleviation plan

Guest blog by Tayo Aduloju The HKS Implementing Public Policy Executive Program appealed to me because I was looking for an alternative to planning and control styled approaches which I had learnt, known and practised for most of my career and considering the challenging problems I faced daily at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, I needed…Continue Reading How PDIA helped me build Nigeria’s poverty alleviation plan

‘Don’t be so invested in the solution that you’re unwilling to change course’

Guest blog by Alexandra Bhatti What an exciting, challenging, eye-opening learning and growing experience this has been for me. When I first explored the course, I was skeptical about the ratio of theoretical learning versus practice-based learning I would experience as I have spent many years studying “policy” and related fields. Listening to alumni feedback encouraged…Continue Reading ‘Don’t be so invested in the solution that you’re unwilling to change course’

A half-empty glass and the joy of “failing forward”

Person refusing money

Guest blog by Silverio Zebral Filho I’ve started my PDIA journey 6 months ago, interested in gaining a deeper learning about alternative approaches to tackle a wicked (ill-defined, multi-sourced, technically complex and politically sensitive) problem in the context of large institutional divergence (weak rules, strong social norms), lack of state capacity, declining interpersonal trust and…Continue Reading A half-empty glass and the joy of “failing forward”

Anticipatory Government

Guest blog by Urkhan Seyidov Urkhan Seyidov is an expert in the field of innovation and strategic communication, a senior fellow of the Center for Political Psychology in Azerbaijan, and the author of two books: Innovation – Implementation Guidelines and Soft power and Public Diplomacy of Azerbaijan in the Digital Age.  Imagine a gleaming government office tower in…Continue Reading Anticipatory Government

Fast-tracking Nigeria’s economic recovery

Guest blog by Member Feese When I registered for the course my conception of public policy was the public definition – a course of action developed by a government in response to public problems. However, I was pleasantly surprised when the course began. I realised that public policy is not only for government but for all…Continue Reading Fast-tracking Nigeria’s economic recovery

To Increase Girls’ Schooling, Improve Girls’ Learning

written by Michelle Kaffenberger, Danielle Sobol, Deborah Spindelman, Marla Spivack A new paper shows that girls who are learning are more likely to stay in school. Improving learning could be key to achieving both schooling and learning goals. The G7 recently agreed to two new education objectives: ensure that 40 million more girls attend school and that…Continue Reading To Increase Girls’ Schooling, Improve Girls’ Learning