Our alumni do development differently.
Around the world, Master in Public Administration in International Development (MPA/ID) graduates are in pivotal roles, leading development.
Inside governments and traditional development organizations, and outside the box in startups and social enterprises, MPA/IDs are changing the way development is done.
Our graduates hold influential policy and management positions in a wide range of international organizations, national governments, central and regional banks, nonprofit and research organizations, and private sector companies.
Where do MPA/ID graduates work?
The majority of MPA/ID alumni work in public service, broadly defined. The national governments of their home countries (13%) and the World Bank Group (10%) are the two biggest employers. About forty percent of our alumni work in the private sector, in consulting, finance, technology, and other private firms. A growing number of our graduates go on to start their own social enterprises.
MPA/ID graduates, classes of 2001-2022 |
|
|---|---|
| Public Service | 55% |
| International Organizations | 19% |
| Public Sector (Governments) | 15% |
| Non-profits | 13% |
| Educational Institutions | 6% |
| Social Enterprises | 2% |
| Private Sector | 45% |
| Consulting | 14% |
| Private/Financial | 13% |
| Other Private | 18% |
| Total | 100% |
Biggest employers of MPA/ID alumni
- Governments of home countries
- World Bank
- McKinsey and Company
- Inter-American Development Bank
- United Nations System
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- Center for International Development (CID), Harvard University
- Boston Consulting Group
- Innovations for Poverty Action / Jameel Poverty Action Lab
- Asian Development Bank
- IDinsight
- Delivery Associates
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Dalberg Advisors
- JP Morgan Chase
1) What were you doing before the MPA/ID program and what led you to apply/enroll at HKS?
I loved Economics during my undergraduate degree and knew I wanted to learn more from an applied lens, so I was very excited when one of my Economics professors told me about the MPA/ID program. I worked in a number of different areas before I applied, mostly in the private sector – a mix of private and public sector work in management consulting, some experience in finance, and health policy research during my undergraduate degree – and I was really excited about the opportunity to see what was out there and work out how these different pieces might come together with the ultimate goal of making the world a more equal place.
2) Where did you work for your summer internship? How did that experience end up shaping your career path?
I interned with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), looking at ways to increase access to medicines in the private sector in South Africa. I learnt about CHAI from HKS classmates who had worked there and was very excited about their approach, identifying where markets for health commodities could work better and working in between the private and public sector to make this happen. I loved the work, team and experience of living in South Africa, and felt like it really brought my previous work experience and what I’d learnt in the MPA/ID together.
3) What is your current job and how did the MPA/ID experience prepare you for it?
I wrote my Second Year Policy Analysis on a similar topic to my internship, and after graduating, I’ve rejoined CHAI as a Senior Associate in the Global Markets Team. The MPA/ID experience has given me the tools to approach problems very methodically, to situate problems in the broader economic and political context, and to think about systems in a more holistic way. The flexibility in second year to take classes from outside HKS also meant I could learn more about pharmaceuticals and finance, too, which has been very helpful.
More fundamentally, this two years have changed the way I think about development and how to make change happen, and given me a network of amazing people who are always willing to help.
4) Beyond academics, what are some other memories that stand out from your time at HKS?
The people in the MPA/ID program and at HKS made the two years very special. I feel so lucky to have made such great friends and to have been (and still be) part of a community that really cares for each other and celebrates our differences. From an education in reggaeton and asados, to celebrating Diwali and Lunar New Year, to learning from classmates from all across the world and to making friends who really will be for life, the cohort experience is what I’ll remember the most.
5) What general advice would you give applicants deciding on the program?
I was amazed by how willing previous students were to chat about their experiences, so if you’re curious, don’t hesitate to reach out to find out more.
MPA/ID alumni include
Dalia Al Kadi, MPA/ID 2011
Dalia Al Kadi, MPA/ID 2011, is a Senior Economist in the Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the World Bank, Dalia worked as a Project Manager at the Abu Dhabi General Secretariat of the Executive Council.
Lucas Pablo Bertinatto, MPA/ID 2020
Lucas Pablo Bertinatto, MPA/ID 2020, is the Head of the International Outlook and Forecast Group at the Central Bank of Chile in Santiago, Chile. His SYPA, co-written with classmate Josep Casas, was titled "Informality in Argentina: What not to do and where to start."
Habtamu Fuje, MPA/ID 2010
Habtamu Fuje, MPA/ID 2010, is an Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Regional Studies Division for Africa, and has previously served as an Economist at the World Bank. In both institutions, he has contributed to better development outcomes by conducting policy oriented research and actively engaging in policy dialogue (see the IMF Blog).
Abdulhamid Haidar, MPA/ID 2021
Abdulhamid Haidar, MPA/ID 2021, is the founder of Darsel, a non-profit aimed at bridging the digital divide. In Haidar's words, "The [MPA/ID] curriculum, faculty, and incredible student community all played an integral role in Darsel’s development and its positive impact on education in developing countries."
John Juhyun Jeong, MPA/ID-MBA 2015
John Juhyun Jeong, MPA/ID-MBA 2015, is a Senior Investment Specialist in the Private Sector Operations Department of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila where his work focuses on investing in food and agribusiness companies in developing countries in Asia. Previously, he worked with McKinsey in New York and Seoul, and with the UN World Food Programme in Cambodia.
Katherine Koh, MPA/ID-MBA 2008
Katherine Koh, MPA/ID-MBA 2008, is the Principal Investment Officer and Global Climate Lead for Infrastructure at the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In Putting Climate at the Heart of IFC Infrastructure Business, she describes “the transition to a low-carbon and resilient global economy — and the need for climate-smart infrastructure solutions — (as) among the most urgent and important issues of our time.”
Johannes Lohmann, MPA/ID 2017
Johannes Lohmann, MPA/ID 2017, is an Executive Director at Pollination. Johannes advises a range of public and private sector clients on their transition to net zero, and on decarbonization and nature positive strategies. Previously, Johannes worked as Head of Work and Financial Behaviour at the Behavioural Insights Team, advising public and private sector partners on topics such as green jobs and sustainable pensions.
Kate Sturla, MPA/ID 2015
Kate Sturla, MPA/ID 2015, is a Director in Analytics with the Global Innovation Fund in London. Previously, she worked for six years with IDinsight in India leading evaluations of social programs education, health and agriculture.
He “Charlie” Tian, MPA/ID 2015
He “Charlie” Tian, MPA/ID 2015, is a Senior Professional/Project Team Leader at New Development Bank in the Project Sector Department. He joined the New Development Bank a few weeks after its establishment in 2015. Over the past seven years, he has worked on projects in renewable energy, green transportation and social infrastructure, totaling $5 billion of the Bank's investments.
Learn how our Office of Career Advancement can be a partner to you while you are an MPA/ID student and, later, as an HKS graduate like Amandla Ooko-Ombaka MPA/ID, MBA 2016, to support you along your unique career journey.