Building State Capability Podcast

Building State Capability at Harvard University

The Building State Capability (BSC) program researches strategies and tactics to build the capability of public organizations to implement policies and programs.

BSC has developed the Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) approach, a process of facilitated emergence which focuses on problems (not solutions) and follows a step by step process (not a rigid plan) that allows for flexible learning and adaptation. PDIA is a learning by doing approach that helps organizations develop the capability to solve complex problems while they are actually solving such problems.

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20 episodes
Updated Jan 17, 2025

Episodes20

Newest first

Jan 17, 2025 · 43 min
Episode 6: Structure (6 of 6)
In this 6-part podcast series, Marshall Ganz walks you through the five key practices of people, power, and change. Each podcast episode provides practical strategies to learn the leadership and organizing craft. As Rita E. Hauser Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Organizing and Civil Society at the Kennedy School of Government, Marshall Ganz teaches, researches, and writes on leadership, narrative, strategy and organization in social movements, civic associations, and politics. He grew up in Bake
Dec 17, 2024 · 26 min
Episode 5: Action (5 of 6)
In this 6-part podcast series, Marshall Ganz walks you through the five key practices of people, power, and change. Each podcast episode provides practical strategies to learn the leadership and organizing craft. As Rita E. Hauser Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Organizing and Civil Society at the Kennedy School of Government, Marshall Ganz teaches, researches, and writes on leadership, narrative, strategy and organization in social movements, civic associations, and politics. He grew up in Bake
Dec 5, 2024 · 41 min
Episode 4: Strategy (4 of 6)
In this 6-part podcast series, Marshall Ganz walks you through the five key practices of people, power, and change. Each podcast episode provides practical strategies to learn the leadership and organizing craft. As Rita E. Hauser Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Organizing and Civil Society at the Kennedy School of Government, Marshall Ganz teaches, researches, and writes on leadership, narrative, strategy and organization in social movements, civic associations, and politics. He grew up in Bake
Nov 20, 2024 · 17 min
Episode 3: Storytelling (3 of 6)
In this 6-part podcast series, Marshall Ganz walks you through the five key practices of people, power, and change. Each podcast episode provides practical strategies to learn the leadership and organizing craft. As Rita E. Hauser Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Organizing and Civil Society at the Kennedy School of Government, Marshall Ganz teaches, researches, and writes on leadership, narrative, strategy and organization in social movements, civic associations, and politics. He grew up in Bake
Nov 19, 2024 · 36 min
Episode 2: Building Relationships (2 of 6)
In this 6-part podcast series, Marshall Ganz walks you through the five key practices of people, power, and change. Each podcast episode provides practical strategies to learn the leadership and organizing craft. As Rita E. Hauser Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Organizing and Civil Society at the Kennedy School of Government, Marshall Ganz teaches, researches, and writes on leadership, narrative, strategy and organization in social movements, civic associations, and politics. He grew up in Bake
Sep 25, 2024 · 1 hr 23 min
Episode 1: Intro to Leadership and Organizing (1 of 6)
In this 6-part podcast series, Marshall Ganz walks you through the five key practices of people, power, and change. Each podcast episode provides practical strategies to learn the leadership and organizing craft. As Rita E. Hauser Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Organizing and Civil Society at the Kennedy School of Government, Marshall Ganz teaches, researches, and writes on leadership, narrative, strategy and organization in social movements, civic associations, and politics. He grew up in Bake
Jul 9, 2024 · 19 min
A Decade of Building State Capability - Kirk Gibson
The “Decade of Building State Capability” podcast series features interviews with practitioners who reflect on their experience using the PDIA approach and their engagement with Building State Capability over the past 10 years. On today's episode, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews Kirk Gibson. Kirk is an international development practitioner working in the Pacific, Timor-Leste and Australia for over 15 years. He has worked on education, governance, leadership, workforce development, TVET a
May 24, 2024 · 38 min
A Decade of Building State Capability - Joana Bento and Danielle Serebro
The “Decade of Building State Capability” podcast series features interviews with practitioners who reflect on their experience using the PDIA approach and their engagement with Building State Capability over the past 10 years. On today's episode, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews Joana Bento and Danielle Serebro. Joana is a Programme Manager at CABRI leading their capacity building programmes in support of institutional capabilities across Africa. After a short time working for the Europ
Jan 18, 2024 · 35 min
A Decade of Building State Capability - Sampath Kumar
The “Decade of Building State Capability” podcast series features interviews with practitioners who reflect on their experience using the PDIA approach and their engagement with Building State Capability over the past 10 years. On today's episode, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews Sampath Kumar. Sampath is presently the Health Secretary and the Development Commissioner of the government of Meghalaya in northeast India. Over a career addressing rural poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, n
Dec 7, 2023 · 18 min
A Decade of Building State Capability - Ricardo Hausmann
The “Decade of Building State Capability” podcast series features interviews with practitioners who reflect on their experience using the PDIA approach and their engagement with Building State Capability over the past 10 years. On today's episode, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews Ricardo Hausmann. Ricardo is the founder and Director of Harvard’s Growth Lab and the Rafik Hariri Professor of the Practice of International Political Economy at Harvard Kennedy School. Under his leadership, the
Dec 6, 2023 · 57 min
A Decade of Building State Capability - Rebecca Trupin and Prateek Mittal
The “Decade of Building State Capability” podcast series features interviews with practitioners who reflect on their experience using the PDIA approach and their engagement with Building State Capability over the past 10 years. On today's episode, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews Rebecca Trupin and Prateek Mittal.
Nov 21, 2023 · 23 min
A Decade of Building State Capability - Cara Myers
The “Decade of Building State Capability” podcast series features interviews with practitioners who reflect on their experience using the PDIA approach and their engagement with Building State Capability over the past 10 years. On today's episode, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews Cara Myers. Cara is Co-founder and Director of Development and Innovation at the Mozambique School Lunch Initiative (MSLI). She is passionate about systems change to address complex problems, particularly among ch
Nov 8, 2023 · 27 min
A Decade of Building State Capability - Michael Woolcock
The “Decade of Building State Capability” podcast series features interviews with practitioners who reflect on their experience using the PDIA approach and their engagement with Building State Capability over the past 10 years. On today's episode, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews Michael Woolcock, a co-author of the Building State Capability book. Michael Woolcock is Lead Social Development Specialist with the World Bank’s Development Research Group in Washington, D.C. His current work foc
Nov 2, 2023 · 35 min
A Decade of Building State Capability - Andrew Lawson
The “Decade of Building State Capability” podcast series features interviews with practitioners who reflect on their experience using the PDIA approach and their engagement with Building State Capability over the past 10 years. On today's episode, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews Andrew Lawson. Andrew is an economist and public finance specialist, who has spent his career working in Developing and Transition countries, helping to improve public policies and public finance management (PFM)
Oct 30, 2023 · 24 min
A Decade of Building State Capability - Awa Touray
The “Decade of Building State Capability” podcast series features interviews with practitioners who reflect on their experience using the PDIA approach and their engagement with Building State Capability over the past 10 years. Today, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews Awa Touray to hear more about how she is utilizing the PDIA approach as she works to resolve public problems. Awa is the Deputy Chief of Party for USAID’s Education Systems Strengthening Activity (ESSA) in Liberia, a project t
May 5, 2022 · 9 min
The Practice of Resolving Public Problems - Doran Moreland
“The Practice of Resolving Public Problems” series features interviews with alums of our Implementing Public Policy (IPP) executive program at the Harvard Kennedy School. The episodes focus on how our alums are using the PDIA tools and approach in designing and implementing public policy. Today, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews IPP alum, Doran Moreland, to hear more about how he is utilizing what he learned in the program as he works to resolve public problems. Doran has held numerous rol
Apr 27, 2022 · 15 min
The Practice of Resolving Public Problems - Chinenye Uwanaka
“The Practice of Resolving Public Problems” series features interviews with alums of our Implementing Public Policy (IPP) executive program at the Harvard Kennedy School. The episodes focus on how our alums are using the PDIA tools and approach in designing and implementing public policy. Today, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews IPP alum, Chinenye Uwanaka, to hear more about how she is utilizing what she learned in the program as she works to resolve public problems. Chinenye Uwanaka is a
Apr 21, 2022 · 34 min
Episode 16: Nangamso Mtsatse on helping kids to read for meaning and calculate with confidence in South Africa
In this episode produced jointly between RISE and the Building State Capability (BSC) at Harvard University’s Podcast Series, BSC Director Salimah Samji speaks to Nangamso Mtsatse, CEO of Funda Wande, an NGO that works to catalyse improvements in foundational literacy and numeracy for children in South Africa. They talk about building local teams; creating a culture of measurement, reflection and learning; being intentional; and working within the constraints and opportunities of the system you
Apr 20, 2022 · 11 min
The Practice of Resolving Public Problems - Urkhan Seyidov
“The Practice of Resolving Public Problems” series features interviews with alums of our Implementing Public Policy (IPP) executive program at the Harvard Kennedy School. The episodes focus on how our alums are using the PDIA tools and approach in designing and implementing public policy. Today, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews IPP alum, Urkhan Seyidov, to hear more about how he is utilizing what he learned in the program as he works to resolve public problems. Urkhan serves as Senior Adv
Apr 12, 2022 · 12 min
The Practice of Resolving Public Problems - Maggie MacDonald
“The Practice of Resolving Public Problems” series features interviews with alums of our Implementing Public Policy (IPP) executive program at the Harvard Kennedy School. The episodes focus on how our alums are using the PDIA tools and approach in designing and implementing public policy. Today, BSC Director Salimah Samji interviews IPP alum, Maggie MacDonald, to hear more about how she is utilizing what she learned in the program as she works to resolve public problems. Maggie has close to 20