Who Can Apply?

  • Current HKS students working on gender equity-related research projects are eligible for funding.
  • Former WAPPP summer fellows and interns are strongly encouraged to apply for additional funding to extend their summer experience into a gender-focused Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) or Second Year Policy Analysis (SYPA).
  • Funding recipients are required to share their published PAE/SYPA with the WAPPP team and will be invited to participate in meetings to discuss their experiences with other students.

Cultural Bridge Fellowships

Students are eligible for winter funding through the Cultural Bridge program if they are working on a gender-focused research project in countries or contexts where they have not previously lived or worked.

Gender Equity Internships/Projects

Students whose PAEs/SYPAs do not fit the Cultural Bridge description are eligible for winter funding through WAPPP through various other sources.

Recent Student Research Papers

These PAEs and SYPAs are examples of the student work WAPPP funds each year.

Past PAE/SYPA Projects Support by WAPPP

Sasha Dierauf MPA/ID 2026 and Katharina Meyer MPA/ID 2026 

"Female Labor Force Participation in Morocco: An Analysis of Firm-Side Drivers"
Client: The World Bank
Faculty Advisor: Eliana La Ferrara

Gustavo Faúndez MPP 2026

"Reserved Seats as an Instrument for Closing the STEM Gender Gap: The case of the Más Mujeres Científicas Policy in Chile" [PDF]
Client: UNESCO IIEP
Faculty Advisor: Christopher Avery

Dhanush Girish MPP 2026 with Dana Yoo MPP 2026

"Enhancing Rural Women’s Livelihoods in Meghalaya, India" [PDF]
Client: Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS)
Faculty Advisor: Asim Khwaja and Juan Jiménez

Anna Klingensmith MPP 2026, with McKenzie Swain MPP 2026

"Stronger Together: Organizing for Feminist Peace in a Fragmenting World Order" [PDF]
Client: Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Faculty Advisor: Kathryn Sikkink

Mahi Lal MPP 2026

"Toward Inclusive Employment: Diagnosing Barriers to Women’s Economic Participation in Türkiye" [PDF]
Client: The World Bank Group (Social Protection and Jobs)
Faculty Advisor: Michela Carlana

Xiwen Liu MPA/ID 2026

"The Youth Livelihood Project in Uganda"
Client: Educate!
Faculty Advisor:

Kellie Lounds MPP 2026

"Values First: Communicating to Protect Bodily Autonomy, Trans Rights, and Gender-Affirming Care in Direct Democracy Contexts" [PDF]
Client: Rising Together, The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
Faculty Advisor: Justin de Benedictis-Kessner

Haruka Miyake MPP 2026

"Caring for Growth: Unlocking Women's Agricultural Potential Through Childcare in Nigeria" [PDF]
Client: The World Bank Group
Faculty Advisor: Zoe Marks

Melanie Jiménez Montero MPA/ID 2026, with Sendy Jasmine Karunia Hadi MPA/ID 2026

"Strengthening the Childcare Network in Costa Rica" [PDF]
Client: RedCudi
Faculty Advisor: Asim Khwaja

Andrea Salazar-Diaz MPA/ID 2026, with Stephanie Wu MPA/ID 2026

"Rethinking Masculinity Norms in India" [PDF]
Client: Centre for Men and Boys
Faculty Advisor: Eliana La Ferrara

Dhriti Sonawala MPP 2026

"The Politics of the Freeze: Balancing Equity, Federalism, & Political Stability in Post-Delimitation India" [PDF]
Client: Indian Political Action Committee
Faculty Advisor: Benjamin Schneer

Carina Stone MPP 2026

"Falling through the cracks: Closing gaps in Australian technology regulation to combat domestic violence cyberstalking" [PDF]
Client: Wesnet (Women’s Safety Network) Safety Net Australia
Faculty Advisor: Jim Waldo

Phoebe Zhou MPP 2026

"Gendered Livelihoods as a Test of Refugee Governance amid Aid Decline and Regional Transition: Using Jordan’s Management of the Syrian Refugee Crisis as a Case Study" [PDF]
Client: The University of British Columbia, Global Reporting Centre
Faculty Advisor: Fatema Sumar

Nirali Desai MPP 2022

"Enabling Adoption of Digital Financial Services by Underserved Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in India" [PDF]
Client: Accion
Faculty Advisor: Asim Khwaja

Denisse Alejandra de la Peña Barajas MPP 2022

"Raising grassroots organizations voices against sexual trafficking in Latin America" [PDF]
Client: Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
Faculty Advisor: Jacqueline Bhabha

Carmen Hernandez-Ruiz MPA/ID 2022, with Rigzom Wangchuck MPA/ID 2022

"Unpacking Barries to Mexican Women's Equal Participation in the Labor Market" [PDF]
Client: The World Bank, Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice, LCR
Faculty Advisor: Zoe Marks

Valerie Moreyra MPP 2022, with Mayra Hoyos MPP 2022

"Building Economic Autonomy of Women in Situations of Violence in Mexico" [PDF]
Client: The National Institute for Women in Mexico (Inmujeres)
Faculty Advisor: Yanilda González