Proper Use of Pesticides 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 common issue in agricultural practices across the country. The use of hazardous pesticides not only affects crop yields but also poses significant risks to human health and the environment. 

Agricultural Reform in Karabakh

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 that often what seems to be the problem is only a symptom, and finding the real issue is crucial for effective policymaking. 

Tackling the Institutionalization of Fostering Services

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 over the nine days we spent on campus. This program wasn’t about flashy, immediate wins; it was about building lasting change through small, meaningful victories that compound over time. Sometimes it felt like we were making significant strides forward, while other times, it felt like we were taking steps backward. Yet, with each step, we worked toward creating a system as resilient and supportive as the families we serve. 

Diversification and Rise of Exports for Acceleration of Economic Growth in Azerbaijan 

Guest blog by Jalal Baghishov, LEG ’24

The Leading Economic Growth course helped me understand the complex and dynamic nature of economic growth, and how to develop effective strategies to drive growth in today’s knowledge-driven world. I found almost all covered areas, including the connection between knowledge, growth, and complexity, rethinking growth strategy, PDIA approach, high-bandwidth policymaking, building high-bandwidth organizations, green and inclusive growth and others, for rethinking the growth challenge in the case of my country. 

City Infrastructure Projects in South Africa are not Being Delivered on Time or Budget

Guest blog by Kayla Brown, IPP ’24 

The Implementing Public Policy course at the Harvard Kennedy School has taught me many things, particularly pertaining to the three aspects of my work: research, implementation and facilitation. Beyond, that it has given me tools that can be applied to my personal life too, particularly for my relationships. 

Economic Diversification through the Agriculture and Food Sector

Guest blog by Woody Ang, LEG ’24

First, some context. I have spent the good part of the past decade supporting various countries in the developing world on their economic challenges. In many ways, the approach I have adopted has been one of attempting indigenous solutions which promoted pragmatic problem-solving anchored on pilot projects, rather than trying to solve complex policy problems. The commonalities across most of the developing world that I’ve had the privilege to have worked in are primarily around the lack of political will, a lack of resources, and an incredibly ambitious strategy that doesn’t ground on any form of tangible implementation. I now find myself in a location which theoretically does not suffer from a lack of political will nor does it have a resource mobilization issue similar to much of the developing world, yet I find many practical ideas that will still apply. 

Addressing Limited Access to Clean Water in Rural Communities of Cameroon

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 were: 

Bridging Gaps by Unlocking Potential: The Case of Northern Córdoba

Guest blog by Andrés Michel, LEG ’24  

Understanding Córdoba’s Regional Disparities 

The province of Córdoba is located in the heart of Argentina. It spans an area of 165,000 square kilometers and is home to nearly 4 million people. Córdoba stands out for its exceptionally fertile lands, contributing almost 30% of the nation’s soybean and corn production and an impressive 90% of its peanut output¹. Building on this foundation, the province has diversified its productive structure into related industries such as agricultural machinery manufacturing and biofuels production, among others. However, Córdoba’s economic wealth extends beyond the agri-food value chains. In the metropolitan area of the provincial capital—home to 2 million people—prominent industrial clusters thrive, including the automotive sector and others linked to the knowledge economy, such as the pharmaceutical, aerospace, and software industries. 

Despite these economic strengths, Córdoba’s per capita GDP remains aligned with the national average, standing at approximately USD 13,000. Why does a province with such high-productivity sectors exhibit such modest differentiation from the national average? Our policy hypothesis attributes this to regional disparities within Córdoba. 

Improving the Learning Outcomes of Filipino Students One Small Win at a Time

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 stories from my group and realizing that, even with our different backgrounds, we shared the same struggles and helped each other frame our implementation challenges and make sense of our individual fishbones.  

Sustained and Inclusive Economic Growth and Governance in Colombia

Guest blog by Ernesto Correa Valderrama, LEG ’24 

In Colombia, armed conflict, poverty, illicit crops and, although it may seem strange, even deforestation are located where there are no good quality roads. 

That was the basis on which the Transport Infrastructure Program Roads for Equity¹ was structured and awarded transparently in 2015 for more than USD 2 Billion, building hundreds of kilometers of paved roads with bridges and tunnels in regions with low political representation and traditionally separated from the national productive apparatus. That was the adaptive challenge presented in Professor Jorrit de Jong’s class at the Emerging Leaders 2014 Course at the Harvard Kennedy School (1). However, many more kilometers are needed to improve.