Blog

Strengthening Early Childhood Education Implementation in Papua New Guinea

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 

Hands holding rupees

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 

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

Team photo

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

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

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

Addressing the Challenge of Brain Drain and Supporting Returnees in Azerbaijan 

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

Aerial view of Bamako, Mali

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

Using PDIA to Address Confidentiality Risks in Papua New Guinea

Group photo of team North Star

Guest blog by Elly Toimbo, Joyce Maru, Rose Walen, Renat Muruket, Delwyn Dau and Dellah Maiak We addressed the issue of confidential information being disclosed to perpetrators, which created serious risks. This breach compromised client trust, organizational integrity, and compliance with policy, while also endangering the safety and security of clients, staff, and the organization….Continue Reading Using PDIA to Address Confidentiality Risks in Papua New Guinea