Year: 2025

Addressing Imbalanced Sectoral Credit Growth and High Inflation in the Lao PDR

A temple in Laos

Guest blog by Phengphaivanh (Susan) Sitpraxay, IPP ’24  I attended the IPP course during one of the toughest periods over 14 years of my work life as a policy maker in the central bank of Laos-the Bank of the Lao PDR. This is my first course at Harvard University, a place I have long aspired…Continue Reading Addressing Imbalanced Sectoral Credit Growth and High Inflation in the Lao PDR

Building Momentum Among PDIA Practitioners in the MENA Region

IPP participants and BSC staff in Bahrain

written by Mannat Singh Over the past six years BSC has trained 382 practitioners in 81 countries through its flagship 6-month Implementing Public Policy (IPP) executive program. The program was created to equip policymakers around the world with multiple tools to solve today’s complex public problems. A key component of the program is the IPP…Continue Reading Building Momentum Among PDIA Practitioners in the MENA Region

Building Resiliency and Sustainability in Providence’s Arts and Cultural Sector

Providence crowds walking through street with vendors

Guest blog by Joseph Wilson Jr, IPP ’24  I have spent 30 years of my professional life working as an artist.  After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Government/Political Science, I had every intention of going to law school and some day running for political office. That was the plan,…Continue Reading Building Resiliency and Sustainability in Providence’s Arts and Cultural Sector

Scrabble, Fishbones, and Positive Deviance: A Perspective from New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand waterfront at dusk

Guest blog by Mark Lea, LEG ’24 I have really enjoyed participating in the Harvard Kennedy School’s Leading Economic Growth 2024 programme, led by Professors Ricardo Hausmann and Matt Andrews, and supported by their wider faculty team. Both Professors shared the theories, tools and frameworks they have developed to help us think about our economic…Continue Reading Scrabble, Fishbones, and Positive Deviance: A Perspective from New Zealand

Trade and Labor Policy in South Africa: Shaping Policy Design and Implementation from the Outside

Shipping containers in Durban, South Africa

Guest blog by Vuyiswa Mkhabela, IPP ’24  Embracing my Role as an Outsider  Joining Harvard Kennedy School’s Implementing Public Policy (IPP) program was not just an academic pursuit for me—it was a professional and personal commitment to becoming more effective in my role as a consulting economist. For years, I have supported South African government…Continue Reading Trade and Labor Policy in South Africa: Shaping Policy Design and Implementation from the Outside

Solar Generation in New Mexico

Solar panels in New Mexico

Guest blog by Melissa Banks, LEG ’24  The greatest learnings I’m taking away from this course are related to identifying achievable, incremental, and specific solutions that address binding constraints relevant to nearly any challenge (beyond development challenges). The idea of evolving solutions that build upon one another over time alleviates the pressure taking on significant…Continue Reading Solar Generation in New Mexico

Proper Use of Pesticides in Ethiopia

Aerial image of agriculture fields in Ethiopia

Guest blog by Akalu Teshome Firew, IPP ’24 Crop production and productivity in Ethiopia remain very low. One of the major reasons for this low productivity is the damage caused by both regular and migratory pests. Pesticides are critical inputs for enhancing agricultural productivity within Ethiopia’s food system. However, the misuse of pesticides is a…Continue Reading Proper Use of Pesticides in Ethiopia

Agricultural Reform in Karabakh

Wheat harvest at sunset

Guest blog by Vahid Hajiyev, LEG ’24   One of the most important lessons from this course is that addressing complex growth challenges requires a problem-driven approach. Tools such as the Toyota “6 Whys” and the fishbone diagram were particularly useful in helping me understand the underlying causes and identify binding constraints. These tools taught me…Continue Reading Agricultural Reform in Karabakh

Tackling the Institutionalization of Fostering Services

Paper cut-out of family

Guest blog by Hiba Qutub, IPP ’24  Reflecting on my journey to enhance and institutionalize fostering services through the PDIA (Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation) framework fills me with a deep sense of discovery, growth, and above all, possibility. I think back to the initial online sessions, the emotions they stirred, and the knowledge—and friendships—that blossomed…Continue Reading Tackling the Institutionalization of Fostering Services