Guest blog by Melissa Velez, IPP ’23 Since early 2020, the City of Allentown, in Eastern Pennsylvania, has been working on a complete zoning code rewrite. The plan has been to go from a typical Euclidian type of code to more of a form-based code. The project was stalled for a couple of years due...Continue Reading Zoning in on the Problem: Using PDIA to Build Affordable Housing in Allentown, Pennsylvania| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Lobna Jeribi, IPP ’24 Discovering the Power of Small Steps Reflecting on my journey through the IPP program, I feel like I’ve been on a quest – not just for policy solutions but for clarity on how change actually happens. I’m no stranger to the messy realities of public policy. What the...Continue Reading Unpacking Complexity in Tunisia’s Waste Management: A Journey through PDIA| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Mekalia Paulos Aklilu, IPP ’24 The last 6 months have been truly insightful as I embarked on the ‘IPP journey’. I thought I knew sufficiently enough about public policy, but yet was keen on broadening my perspectives and reinforcing, fine-tuning and honing my expertise on the issue. IPP exceeded my expectations! It...Continue Reading Insufficient Financing for Energy Transition in Africa| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Melissa Velez, IPP ’24 The experiences and learning within the Implementing Public Policy course helped me to look deeper into the problems faced within my city, gave me a step-by-step process to work through those problems with my team, and encouraged me to reflect on my personal leadership and time management skills....Continue Reading Using Zoning to Reduce the Affordable Housing Crisis in Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Ellen Bonadio Benedetti, IPP ’24 For years, I have practiced the traditional approach of planning and control, which is crucial for supporting public agents in their daily responsibilities. However, public issues are often complex, marked by uncertainties and limited information, which can compromise the effectiveness of the planning process. The PDIA (Problem-Driven...Continue Reading Transitioning from a Planning and Control Approach to PDIA in Niteroi-RJ, Brazil| Building State Capability
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 State Capability
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 State Capability
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| Building State Capability
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| Building State Capability
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| Building State Capability
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| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Ruth Nguesap Ndifor-Fobisi, IPP ’24 Participating in the Implementing Public policy program was a maiden, invaluable and exciting experience that far exceeded my expectations! It was a perfect blend of theory and action learning, arduous yet rewarding! My key learnings from the insightful lectures, course material and wide range of shared experiences...Continue Reading Addressing Limited Access to Clean Water in Rural Communities of Cameroon| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Fatima Lipp D. Panontongan, IPP ’24 The on-campus session was extraordinary. Learning from both the professors and my classmates in my cohort was priceless. Everybody was warm and kind. I loved the study sessions before the classes because we got to discuss the readings on a more personal level. I enjoyed hearing...Continue Reading Improving the Learning Outcomes of Filipino Students One Small Win at a Time| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Benjamin Musungu, IPP ’24 My IPP implementation challenge was far from typical! When I first landed in Sahrawi Republic on April 2023, I was not sure of what to expect. I was half-excited and half-anxious to lead a high-stakes health diplomacy visit in a distant country fraught with geopolitical uncertainties and unknowns....Continue Reading Addressing the Increasing Spread of Chronic and Infectious Diseases in North Africa| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Lynette Etemesi, IPP ’24 I recently had the incredible opportunity to attend Harvard University’s Implementing Public Policy (IPP) Program. This intensive course brought together policy professionals, change-makers, and thought leaders from around the world, all focused on a singular mission: to create meaningful, lasting impact in our respective fields. As I reflect...Continue Reading Navigating Complexity with Clarity: Mental Health in Kenya| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Jeremy Flowers, IPP ’24 I was born and raised in New England, where Harvard University holds mythological levels of prestige. So, when I applied for the Kennedy School’s Implementing Public Policy program, I expected knowledge and skills that couldn’t be obtained anywhere else, and world-class presentations by dazzlingly brilliant professors. I was...Continue Reading Coordinating Workforce Development Services in Rural Arizona| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Seiji Isotani, IPP ’23 A summary of the activities carried out at UNIVESP – Virtual University of the State of Sao Paulo. UNIVESP is the largest online university in Brazil and it is responsible for graduating more than 10,000 teachers every year. We ran several workshops with at least 10 people each...Continue Reading PDIA to Support Teaching Training in Brazil| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Bruno Ávila Eça de Matos, IPP ’23 Embarking on the Implementing Public Policy (IPP) program offered by Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) marked the beginning of an eye-opening journey, shifting my perspective from traditional program management and the instruments of the Scrum framework to a new methodology that embraces uncertainty and the need...Continue Reading Agile Work Process for Urban Innovation in Amsterdam| Building State Capability
Guest blog by Ileana I. Ferber, IPP ’22 In the past seven years, I have been immersed and fascinated with local content policies related to the extractive sector (mining, oil, and gas). Once I became comfortable in analyzing and assessing the fitness of these policies to their specific country of origin, I started advocating for...Continue Reading Namibia’s Readiness to Support the Nascent Oil and Gas Industry| Building State Capability
