Apply to Implementing Public Policy! | Building State Capability

If you work in public policy, you’ve likely experienced a familiar frustration: promising ideas that never quite translate into real-world impact. Policies are drafted with ambition and optimism, yet many stall during implementation or fail to deliver meaningful results. It’s a challenge shared by policymakers around the world—and one that’s becoming increasingly urgent as public problems grow more complex.

That’s exactly the gap we aim to address with the executive program, Implementing Public Policy. Designed for working professionals, the program focuses not just on crafting policy, but on making it work in practice. Led by Faculty Chair Matthew Andrews, the five-month program combines flexibility with hands-on learning. Participants engage in 10 live online sessions, followed by an immersive week on campus. Throughout the experience, the emphasis is on applying new tools directly to your own policy challenge—so you’re not just learning concepts, but actively making progress.

What sets this program apart is its practical orientation. Rather than stopping at theory, it equips participants with actionable strategies to navigate real-world constraints, adapt to changing conditions, and deliver results that matter.

By the end of the program, participants earn an Executive Education certificate from Harvard Kennedy School—a credential that reflects both rigorous training and demonstrated progress on a live policy issue.

For policymakers looking to move from ideas to impact, this program offers a structured, supportive path forward. If you’re ready to rethink how policy gets implemented—and to see tangible results from your efforts—it’s worth exploring.

For more information, you can reach out to Program Director Jessie DeLano at jessiedelano@hks.harvard.edu.