Course title: SPEA-V 600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs: Innovative and Participatory Policymaking in Armenia
Course information: With the support of OECD’s Observatory for Public Sector Innovation (OECD OPSI) the project aims to support GOAM with a systemic approach to public sector innovation and participatory processes in general in government, as well as in selected sectoral policy areas and participatory budgeting. To date, OECD OPSI, along with SDG Innovation Lab, has conducted a scoping mission in Armenia to identify the main players of the public sector innovation ecosystem. OECD, with support from the Lab, is in the process of completing an innovation capacity assessment identifying the most feasible models of enhancing national innovation capacity in the country. When O’Neill students join the process in August 2024, these models will have been enacted in several areas. Students will work with the Innovation Lab team members on several aspects of the project, including such things as creating and analyzing monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) metrics, helping to conceptualize the design of additional Lab interventions in the medium term, and conducting research on behavioral interventions as the program unfolds. The exact contours of student involvement will be determined during Summer 2024, based on the needs of the Lab.
UNDP in Armenia
UNDP Armenia, established in March 1993, plays a vital role in advancing the country's development agenda in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Operating at both policy and grassroots levels, UNDP advises on legal and policy frameworks while implementing initiatives that translate into impactful actions. Leveraging its extensive network across rural and urban areas, as well as engaging youth, innovators, and social entrepreneurs, UNDP fosters inclusive growth and resilience in Armenia.
The vision for the country program is for Armenia to become a more cohesive, inclusive, just, and resilient society supported by governance systems that use evidence, citizen-centered innovation, and partnerships to ensure social, economic, and environmental sustainability and prosperity for all.
In the previous program cycle, UNDP's activities in Armenia were closely aligned with the government's agenda, and UNDP was acknowledged as a key partner in various areas including local economic development, community mobilization, natural resource management, legal and institutional frameworks in the environmental sector, disaster risk reduction, transparent parliamentary elections, infrastructure investment management, customs and agency technical capacities, issue-based coalition coordination, women and youth empowerment, and citizen engagement.
UNDP plays an important role in joint programming and implementation in Armenia. In the period 2021-2025, UNDP will work to create an integrated innovation platform as part of shifting to the next-generation UNDP, using its innovation platforms as internal service providers to United Nations agencies and for exploratory and catalytic joint programming with the Government and other partners.
UNDP Armenia’s projects prioritize the following key areas, each led by dedicated portfolios:
- Socio-Economic Development
- Democratic Governance
- Climate, Environment and Resilience
- Innovation and SDG Finance
- Gender Equality
Learn more about the UNDP in Armenia: UNDP in Armenia
SDG Innovation Lab
The Government of Armenia signed on to Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015. The complexity and interconnectedness of SDGs require novel approaches, methodologies, strong data systems, and institutions that would have the capacity to provide ‘out of the box’ solutions that bring about transformative impact. The Armenia National SDG Innovation Lab, thus, is a pilot model for accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the country level, which, if successful can be replicated across the region and beyond. The Lab is an attempt to formulate a new wave of policy solutions that empower governments to engage in evidence-based decision-making for sustainable progress. Its proven success has inspired the establishing of a new breed of UNDP Accelerator Labs, which aim to propel their respective host countries forward, enabling them to "leapfrog" rather than merely "catch up" in their development pursuits. We aspire for the Lab's model to serve as a blueprint for replication across the region and beyond. SDG Innovation Lab is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and experimentation within policy-making processes for sustainable development. As a collaborative effort between the Government of Armenia and the United Nations, with support from UNDP in Armenia, the Lab strives to catalyze Armenia's development trajectory and expedite the realization of Agenda 2030 goals.
To cultivate a "culture of experimentation" within public services and pave the way for sustainable development in Armenia, the Lab incorporates and implements the following service lines:
- Design Thinking
- Institutional Transformation
- Behavioral Insights
- Digital Transformation
- Data Science
- UX Design
Our team of innovators merges academic research and evidence with policy-making, producing prototypes of sustainable development solutions. Through experimentation, we try to yield policy-relevant insights and actively contribute to policy crafting. Our diverse portfolio encompasses a wide array of innovation projects aimed at tackling complex societal, environmental, and economic challenges head-on.
To learn more about our Service lines and the projects visit our website: SDG Innovation Lab
The international travel portion of the course will take place in Yerevan, Armenia over Thanksgiving break - Saturday, November 23 to Saturday, November 30, 2024.
The international travel portion of the course will include the following items:
- Comprehensive pre-departure training covering country-specific health and safety information
- Lodging
- Ground transportation in-country
- Welcome and farewell dinners as a group
- Professional meetings with client
- Site-visits to organizations relevant to client
- Professional development activities
- Cultural excursions
The travel portion is tentative and pending IU approval.
Estimated program fee: $600 (to participate in travel portion of Global Capstone course)
To secure their spot, students will accept their offer with a $250 deposit towards the program fee. The remaining program fee amount will be charged to students’ bursars prior to the travel portion of the course.
In addition to the program fee, students will be responsible for covering their flight to Armenia and personal expenses while on the ground overseas, as well as paying tuition for the V600 Capstone course (3 credits).
Scholarships
We have ample scholarships available for students seeking financial assistance to participate in this course. Scholarship applications are due by April 28 (the same deadline as program applications). Please visit our scholarship page for eligibility requirements and application deadlines. . Please note that these are study abroad scholarships, and therefore are only applicable to students participating in the travel portion of the course.
We invite applications from O’Neill graduate students across all degree programs who are in good academic and disciplinary standing. Course capacity is 25 students.
Applications will open on Monday, April 8th. We will take applications until Sunday, April 28th. Admission decisions will be sent to students by Friday, May 3.
The application is very simple. Everyone who wants to enroll in this course must complete the application. You will need the following to complete the application:
- Personal information (name, degree, GPA, etc.)
- Intention to participate in the travel portion of the course (yes/no)
More detail on who can enroll + priority registration
MPA, MSES, dual (MPA-MAAA, MSES-MPA), and online MPA students may enroll in this course to satisfy their capstone requirement. MAAA, MIA, and MIA-MPA students may take this course as an elective. Consult your academic advisor for further information or ways to take this course for credit.
Students who require this course for Dec ’24 graduation will receive priority enrollment, regardless of their intention to travel or not. After that – enrollment decisions will be first come, first serve with priority for students who plan to participate the travel portion of the course.
The O’Neill International Office will administer a pre-departure training and preparation process covering health, safety, security, and cultural information for students doing this program. A pre-departure group meeting covering these topics will take place in the Fall semester preceding departure for the international travel portion of the course.
