Matthew Andrews is the Edward S. Mason Senior Lecturer in International Development at Harvard Kennedy School. His research examines public policy success, state capability, and implementation challenges in development contexts. He directs the Building State Capability program and developed the Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) methodology. Andrews' publications analyze policy implementation challenges and institutional reform. His 2022-2017 works collectively emphasize practical frameworks for effective governance, addressing bureaucratic inertia and adaptive policy design across global contexts.
Matt Andrews is the Edward S Mason Senior Lecturer in International Development at Harvard Kennedy School and an associate professor at Harvard University. His work focuses on institutional reform in developing countries, emphasizing the importance of context-specific, problem-driven iterative adaptation (PDIA) over standardized solutions. He critiques reform efforts that prioritize form over functionality, advocating for processes that build political authorization, iterative learning, and stakeholder engagement. Andrews' research spans public financial management (PFM) reform, governance indicators, and capability traps in developing nations. He highlights the need for adaptive governance mechanisms that address local realities and critiques the donor community's overreliance on 'best practices' that fail to account for political and organizational constraints. His scholarship draws on case studies from Rwanda, Mozambique, Uganda, and other countries, demonstrating how PDIA can enhance institutional effectiveness. He has authored numerous works, including the influential book The Limits of Institutional Reform in Development (2013), which argues that reforms often fail due to their signaling function rather than functional design. His articles explore topics like performance management in complex systems, the role of tacit knowledge in development, and the political economy of reform implementation. Though no specific scientific awards are mentioned, his contributions to the 'Doing Development Differently' movement have reshaped global development discourse.
Dr. Mohsen Abumuamar is a Lecturer in International Development and Leadership & Management, affiliated with the University of Birmingham (School of Government and Society, International Development Department) and Worcester Business School . He holds a PhD in International Development (Institutional Change), an MSc in Development Management, and a BSc in Business Administration. PhD, International Development, University of Birmingham MSc, Development Management, University of Birmingham BSc, Business Administration, Al-Azhar University Gaza Mohsen’s research focuses on institutional entrepreneurship , organizational change , and institutional analysis , with applications to women empowerment , positive psychology education , and adaptive development strategies . His work bridges theoretical frameworks like Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) with practical development challenges. He has presented at major conferences, including the Academy of Management Annual Meeting and EGOS Colloquium . Mohsen is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has taught at multiple institutions, including Birmingham Business School, the Department of Political Science and International Studies, and Coventry University Business School. His professional experience spans the public, private, and voluntary sectors, and he pursues hobbies like hiking and poetry.
