Programs

Advancing excellence in governance and strengthening democracy worldwide.

Through its research, education, and international initiatives, the Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation fosters creative and effective government problem solving and serves as a catalyst for addressing many of the most pressing needs of the world’s citizens. 

Explore the Ash Center's Programs

The Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation

Answering democracy's most pressing research questions. 

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Indigenous Governance and Development

Explores the conditions under which sustained, self-determined development is achieved among Native nations. 

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Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project

Addresses intellectual and practical questions as they relate to antiracism policy, practice, and institutional change.

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Nonviolent Action Lab

Up-to-date knowledge on nonviolent action, how it works, and global trends in success and failure.

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Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia 

Promotes research and training on Asia to disseminate best practices and improve public policy.

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Reimagining Democracy Program

Supports bold ideas for a brighter democratic future.

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Below is information about programs previously administered by the Ash Center. Note these programs are no longer active at the Ash Center, however, research, discussion, and commentary on these issues may continue at Harvard Kennedy School through other programs and initiatives. 

 

Previous Programs

Innovations in Government Program

The Innovations in Government Program was one of the world's premier academic entities for recognizing and promoting excellence in the public sector and fostering innovative policy solutions to the 21st century challenges of governing. The Innovations in American Government Awards, which recognized hundreds of public-sector programs for excellence and creativity, was a the principal initiative of the Program. An archive of all previous award winners remains available. Work advancing public-sector innovation continues throughout the Ash Center's other programs and within Harvard Kennedy School. Examples of research and teaching around government innovation can be found in the Kennedy School's programs, projects, and initiatives on cities and communitiesscience, technology and datasocial innovation and philanthropypublic leadership and management; and much more

Transparency for Development (T4D)

The Transparency for Development Project was a novel, decade-long research initiative, housed at the Ash Center and executed in partnership with Results for Development. The Project investigated whether, why, and in what contexts local transparency and accountability interventions improve development outcomes, such as those around health and citizen participation. Specifically, T4D worked with local civil society partners in Tanzania, Indonesia, Ghana, Malawi, and Sierra Leone to implement transparency and accountability interventions along with mixed-methods evaluation, leveraging quantitative (randomized controlled trial) and qualitative (including ethnography, observations, and key informant interviews) data collection.

The project team, led by Principal Investigators Archon Fung, Jean Arkedis, Jessica Creighton, Steve Kosack, Dan Levy, and Courtney Tolmie, authored several papers, all of which are accessible as Ash Center publications as well as through Harvard’s Digital Access to Scholarship Archive. The final project results and implications are published and available here.