Sector – Building State Capability

Strengthening Early Childhood Education Implementation in Papua New Guinea

Publication date January 23, 2026

Children in Papua New Guinea looking at a phone

Guest blog by Joyce Kafuo, Hilton Kapial, Elisheba Musia, Priscilla Vuvu, Regil Wanwanji Why is Early Childhood Education (ECE) still struggling in Papua New Guinea despite policy reforms? Over 12 weeks, our team applied the Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) approach to understand why Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Papua New Guinea continues to struggle despite…Continue Reading Strengthening Early Childhood Education Implementation in Papua New Guinea

Digital Financial Inclusion in India: The Gender Gap Challenge

Publication date January 22, 2026

Guest blog by Richa Mukherjee, IPP ’25 After practicing public policy as a professional for 15 years, I decided to pursue it more formally as a subject from the Harvard Kennedy School’s IPP Class of 2025. This turned out to be a very insightful and an experience full of learning. The learning journey at HKS gave me comprehensive insights into addressing…Continue Reading Digital Financial Inclusion in India: The Gender Gap Challenge

What Healthcare Complaints in Bahrain Really Tell Us — If We’re Willing to Listen

Publication date January 19, 2026

Guest blog by Nada Ebrahim, IPP ’25 The learnings from Implementing Public Policy were endless but if I could summarize my top three: …Continue Reading What Healthcare Complaints in Bahrain Really Tell Us — If We’re Willing to Listen

Addressing Gender‑Based Violence in Baiyer District, Papua New Guinea

Publication date January 16, 2026

Guest blog by Kevin Gou, Dorothy Jack, Carolyn Kuk Kop, Shadrick Paraka, Mark Paroa, Johnson Trepi, and Yangga Treppe, Over the last 12 weeks, Team Baiyer Range has been working on the problem of gender-based violence (GBV) in our district. After we identified this problem, we used PDIA to identify ideas we can use to…Continue Reading Addressing Gender‑Based Violence in Baiyer District, Papua New Guinea

A Journey Toward Solving Mobility Challenges in Lowell, Massachusetts

Publication date January 14, 2026

A cityscape with busy highways on both sides of an elevated metro track under construction, surrounded by tall buildings at sunset.

Guest blog by Camilo Espitia, IPP ’25 Throughout this course, I’ve come to appreciate the power of taking a wholistic perspective when tackling complex problems. What initially seemed like a straightforward issue quickly revealed multiple dimensions—shaped not only by data, but by how others perceive the problem, how we present it, and how we interact with the people affected by…Continue Reading A Journey Toward Solving Mobility Challenges in Lowell, Massachusetts

Continuing Professional Development in Saudi Arabia’s Sports Sector

Publication date January 12, 2026

Aerial image of soccer fields with players

Guest blog by Mazna AlMarzooqi, IPP ’25 When I began the Implementing Public Policy (IPP) course, I expected tools, frameworks, and case studies. What I gained went far beyond that: I learned how to reframe problems, work iteratively, and see “progress” not as final results but as a series of learnings and leads that build…Continue Reading Continuing Professional Development in Saudi Arabia’s Sports Sector

Tackling Student Drop‑out in Simbu Province, Papua New Guinea

Publication date January 9, 2026

Overhead view of two people sitting at a desk and collaborating on handwritten notes in a grid-lined notebook, with one person pointing using a pen and the other holding a pencil; colorful notebooks are stacked nearby.

Guest blog by Mirriam Dii, Isaac George, Bernadette Tania Goye, Issac Kuine, Maree Wai Tombe In Simbu Province, more of our students are dropping out or leaving school early each year, and it is becoming the norm. At the beginning of every school year, we enroll more students, but by the end of the academic…Continue Reading Tackling Student Drop‑out in Simbu Province, Papua New Guinea

Addressing the Challenge of Brain Drain and Supporting Returnees in Azerbaijan

Publication date January 7, 2026

A magnifying glass and two passports rest on a colorful world map, symbolizing travel.

Guest blog by Vugar Aliyev, IPP ’25 First of all, I came to realize just how much quality education Harvard University provides to learners of public policy. The program went beyond theory and delivered practical tools that can be applied immediately in real-world contexts. I not only learned new knowledge but also gained frameworks that…Continue Reading Addressing the Challenge of Brain Drain and Supporting Returnees in Azerbaijan

Public Services Delivery in Mali: A Manageable Problem

Publication date January 5, 2026

Guest blog by Fatim Haby Mariko, IPP ’25 When I first embarked on the Implementing Public Policy (IPP) program, my problem statement for Mali was ambitious and, as I would soon discover, far too broad to tackle directly. I started with the challenge of Mali’s low public trust and government accountability, which hindered civic engagement. It…Continue Reading Public Services Delivery in Mali: A Manageable Problem

Reducing Workforce Shortages in Maine Through Policy and Partnership

Publication date December 18, 2025

Woman seated in waiting room for interview

Guest blog by Ekhlas Ahmed, IPP ’25 One of the biggest lessons I learned through the IPP course is that policy is about people. The technical aspects of problem-solving are important, but what truly moves work forward is building relationships, engaging stakeholders, and creating coalitions that keep momentum alive. I also learned the importance of finding my…Continue Reading Reducing Workforce Shortages in Maine Through Policy and Partnership