MPA Capstone
Provided economic and social impact analysis and strategic guidance to assist the Near East Foundation (NEF) in scaling up economic resilience programming through livelihood hubs known as Siraj Centers.
Through Siraj Centers, NEF works with local organizations in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq to strengthen livelihoods of refugees, internally displaced persons and members of their host communities. The centers are one-stop shops to help vulnerable people start small businesses, develop demand-driven work skills, access financial resources to start income-generating activities, and gain skills and information to cope with displacement. Since 2014, NEF has helped more than 25,000 displaced and vulnerable people rebuild their livelihoods through 20 Siraj Centers in 4 countries. NEF aims to sustainably expand the Siraj model in current countries and across the MENA region over the next 5 years.
Strategic Plan & Analysis
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Leadership & Public Policy
Learned aspects of different leadership styles as applied to multiple public service challenges. Identified strengths and weaknesses of our own styles, areas for improvement, and practiced and self-evaluated leadership technique in various scenarios.
International Management
Analyzed different aspects of management styles and techniques, including human resource management, personality types and leadership styles, group dynamics, and organizational structure.
Developed program proposal using problem analysis, idea generation, and implementation techniques, including problem mapping, logic models, stakeholder analysis, risk analysis, and Gaant charts.
Managing Interpersonal, Group, & Systemic Conflict
Learned and engaged with different methods of conflict management, including individual interest analysis, group dynamics, negotiation, facilitation, and participatory decision-making.
Developed facilitation guide for multi-stakeholder Quality of Life Commission
Quantitative Analysis
Learned quantitative techniques for data analysis, including randomized control trials, multiple regression analysis, non-linear regression analysis, and other quasi-experimental methods using Stata.
Quasi-experimental analyses
Regression Discontinuity
Program Evaluation
Learned implementation evaluation techniques, such as process mapping, interviewing, surveying, focus groups, and participant observation.
Learned outcome evaluation techniques using quantitative methods for data analytics.
Implementation evaluation design
Outcome evaluation analysis
Fundamentals of Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Studied basic components necessary for post-conflict reconstruction, such as institutional capacity building, humanitarian aid, security sector reform, and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration.
Evaluated case studies of failed and successful post-conflict reconstruction efforts.
Facilitated debate-style discussion to demonstrate conflict of approach between the United Nations, African Union, and the “failed state” receiving intervention.
Public Administration & Law
Learned about the major paths of turning policy into law in the U.S. federal government, including constitutional amendment, legislative action, administrative agency action, executive order, and judicial review.
Analyzed the most effective way for the U.S. President to federally legalize marijuana
Social Welfare Policy
Learned about major areas of social policy in the U.S., including welfare programs, food security, transportation, affordable housing, healthcare access, and education.
Performed analysis of two current policy solutions to affordable housing access challenges
State and Local Government Finance
Learned basic skills of financial analysis for State and Local governments using Excel.
Learned major accounting principals that State and Local governments have to follow when preparing financial reports.
Performed financial analysis on the City of Rochester, NY
Public Budgeting
Learned basic principles of public budgeting using Excel.
Learned expense accounting and tax revenue strategies.
Developed sample budget for a public museum
Public Administration & Democracy
Analyzed different political theories and theories of governance and public administration
Participated in week-long negotiation simulation to solve education policy challenges in “Adlabad,” with each student representing different stakeholders.
Won the team policy proposal competition post-negotiations
Policy presentation can be provided upon request, but remains confidential for future class participants.
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