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Info for Students

SPRING 2024 CAPSTONE WORKSHOPS

Fall Training Sessions

In preparation for the Capstone, we have organized several trainings throughout the project.  The first two trainings will take place during the fall short course.  All Capstone students are required to attend the Client Engagement and Program Management Training sessions offered later this semester. Please see below for the training schedule and Zoom links to register for a session.  Faculty are also invited to attend these sessions.  This information will also be sent to the students as part of their registration information. 

 

  • Client Engagement Strategies: all students must attend one of the two sessions offered

    November 16 | 1:00- 2:00pm: Zoom Link
     

  • Program Management Training Session: all students must attend one of the two sessions offered

    November 30  | 1:00- 2:00pm:  Zoom Link

    December 1  | 1:00- 2:00pm:  Zoom Link

 

 

SPRING 2024 CAPSTONE WORKSHOPS 

Capstone Workshop Project Title Faculty Advisor

Acted (Sri Lanka)

Rethinking Community Driven Recovery

Samir Elhawary

Bain & Company

Devising a Framework to Determine the Return on Investment (ROI) for AI

Hans-Martin Boehmer

Bank of America

Can Generative AI Help Financial Institutions Mitigate Risks?

Elizabeth Cartier and Neal Pollard

Bonn Institute

Non-Profit Scaling: How can a German Media Development Organization go Global?

Samantha McCann

Booz Allen Hamilton

Climate and Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Harnessing the Whole of Government to Improve Climate Resiliency

Tim Meyer and Ulrike Zeilberger

Calstart

Evaluating delivery fleets to right-size operations and transition to zero-emission

Damian Busch

Captona

The Inflation Reduction Act as a Driving Force behind Clean Energy Investments in the United States

Jeanne Fox

Citi Community Banking

Going Green for Affordable Housing

Carol O'Cleireacain

City of Buenos Aires

Accessing Financing for City Climate Leadership on the Road to COP28

Daniel Zarrilli

Communities Speak

Communities Speak:Turning Data and Community Engagement into Policy in New York City

Judy Pincus

Crédit Agricole CIB

Analysis of Carbon-Reducing Investments that are Supported by the Inflation Reduction Act

Ryan Hakim

Cyber Defense Assistance Collaborative (CDAC)

Improving Cyber Defense Assistance to Meet the Challenge of Hybrid Warfare

Daniel Dobrygowski

Dell Technologies

Driving Product-Level Sustainability Data in Dell's Supply Chain

Holly Hammonds

Desai & Associates (D&A)

SDG Projects and Impact Investor Landscape in Asia – Roadmap for Innovative Financing

Isabelle Delalex

Equinor

Fiscal Feasibility of Countries’ Support Schemes towards their Climate Policies and Targets

Luisa M. Palacios

Eurasia Group

The Rise of Geopolitical Pivot States

Markus Jaeger

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Green-Digital Nexus: Accelerating Green Economy Transition through Digital Technologies 

Mariela Machado Fantacchiotti

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Transmission and Impact of High Interest Rates

Daniel Waldman

Goldman Sachs

Geopolitical Fragmentation: Swing States and the Risk of Western Sanctions

Robert Kopech

Government of Estonia

Estonia: Media Freedom, Human Rights and Global Outreach in a Time of Global Turbulence

Jenik Radon

Government of French Polynesia, Office of the President

French Polynesia: Murky Waters — The Challenge and Risks of Deep-Sea Mining “Development”

Eric Chang

Government of Kosovo: Ministry of the Economy

Energy (Reform) and Culture: The Necessary Drivers of Kosovo’s Path to Economic Growth

Mahima Achuthan

Government of Mexico

Mexico: Challenge of Achieving Energy Development, Domestic Economic Growth and Social Acceptance

Jenik Radon

Government of Nigeria: Nigeria Sovereign Investment Agency (NSIA)

Developing Nigeria’s Net Zero Economy: Carbon Markets, ITMO Framework and Article 6 Mechanism

Christine Capilouto

Human Rights Watch

Policy Proposals to Bring Justice to Victims of US Torture in Iraq

Andrew Heinrich

IFC ILO Better Work Jordan

Assessing the Challenges of Bangladeshi Migrant Workers’ Journey to Jordan

 

Inter-American Development Bank

Blended Finance for the Transition to Net Zero Carbon Emissions in the LAC Region

Fernando Sotelino

International Finance Corporation, Financial Institutions Group

Agricultural Insurance to Assist Smallholder Farmers in the Adoption of Sustainable Farming Practices- Integrating Area Yield and Satellite Indexes in Insurance and Humanitarian Funds

Daniel Osgood

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Pursuit of Justice for Migrants through codification of International Migration Law

Ruth Mukwana

International Peace Institute

United Nations- African Union Partnerships in Peace Operations

Gizem Acikgoz

Lisbon City Council

Monitoring System for the Transparency and Corruption Prevention Strategy

Andre d'Almeida

Local Policy Lab

Strengthening Democracy and Civic Engagement in U.S. Cities: A Tool Kit for Local Government Leaders

Nicholas Stabile

McKinsey & Company

Never let a Cyber Crisis go to Waste: Learning from Hacks and Cybersecurity Incidents

Evan Wolff

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Methodologies and Innovations for Improving Coordination of Support Services for Migrants in Central America

Elen Cristina Costigan

Mercy Corps

Review and Recommendations to Support Women- and Youth-Led/Serving Civil Society Capacity Strengthening

 

Moody's Investors Service

Do Investment Disputes in Latin America have a Negative Effect on Economic and Investment Prospects or Fiscal Performance?

Thomas Byrne

New Leaf Climate 

US Innovative Financial Institutions for Nature

Ralph Schmidt

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

Maximizing Economic Opportunities for NYCHA Residents and Other Low-Income New Yorkers

Thomas Quaranta

New York City Mayor's Public Engagement Unit

What’s in a Name? Considering a Rebrand and Revisioning of the mission of NYC Mayor's Office Public Engagement Unit

Hagar Chemali

Nigeria Rural Electrification Agency

Developing E-mobility Infrastructure in Existing Microgrid Projects Across Nigeria

Christine Capilouto

Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations

How can a Country Project its Soft Power in the United Nations?

Jose Acero

PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC)

What would a Quantum Strategy Look Like for a Fortune 500 Company?

Elana Broitman

Pro Mujer

Mainstreaming Gender Lens Investing in the Financial Sector in Guatemala: An Ecosystem Analysis. From Challenges to Best Practices: A Pathway to Equity

Ingrid Dyott

Recorded Futures

Disclosure Requirements Impact on Ransomware Incentives

Adam Segal

Renew Power

Accelerating Net Zero Transitions Considering Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

A.J. Goulding

Report for the World

Understanding the Impact of Locally Driven, Public Interest Journalism Across the Globe

Anya Schiffrin

Rio de Janeiro City Hall- G20 Committee

Urban Climate Policy on the Global Stage- Rio in the G20

Daniel Zarrilli

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)

Emerging Green Hydrogen Ecosystem in India

A.J. Goulding

Roland Berger

Proving the Case for Reconversion of Coal Plants in the United States

Gregory Alexis Stoupnitzky

San Francisco Board of Supervisors

The Future of Downtown San Francisco

Lincoln A. Mitchell

The Sentry

Conflict Financing, Sanctions, and Conflict Resolution in Sudan

Marc Jacquand

UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia

Localization in Humanitarian Settings – An Integrated Approach between Government, Business, and Community

Suzanne Hollmann

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)

Assessing the Global Landscape of International Development Cooperation

Isabelle Delalex

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Innovation for Development

Response and Renewal in Ukrainian Cities: Systems Thinking Approaches Towards Sustainable Adaptation and Resiliency

Nilda Mesa

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Sustainable Energy Hub

Creating an opportunity space for green hydrogen in West Africa

Rhiannon Gulick and Ellen Morris 

United Nations Permanent Forum for People of African Descent

Addressing Racial Inequalities in America- A United Nations SDG Audit of US Black Communities

Linda J. Mann

United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration Ensuring a Level Playing Field: Tariff Evasion in the Global Steel Market Daniel Rosen

United States Department of Defense, Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs

Data Driven Policy Actions to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change Threats in the COFA Countries

Joseph Pfeifer

United States Department of Defense, DARPA

Vanguard Technology: Next-Generation Methods for National Security

Nancy W. Collins

United States Department of Defense- Joint Task Force North (JTF-N) Narcosurgents: Applying Counterinsurgency Lessons in Mexico Benjamin Reames

United States Department of Defense, National Security Innovation Unit (NSIN)

Application of Technology and Innovation to Urban Conflict and Casualty Prevention in Ukraine

David Bonfili

United States Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration

How to Smuggle Nukes: Africa Chapter

Daniel Madden

United States Department of State, Global Engagement Center

Great Power Competition with a focus on Influence Operations Against India

Robert McKenzie

United States Department of State, The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and Bureau of Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance

Advancing U.S. Space Policies and Programs Internationally through Bilateral and Multilateral Engagement and Cooperation

Jack Pan

United States Department of the Treasury

Expanding Access to Payments: Domestic and Cross-Border Challenges and Opportunities

Merit E. Janow

United States International Development Finance Corporation

Private Sector Investment in Conservation and Coastal Resilience in the Caribbean

Hans-Martin Boehmer

Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict

Indoctrination and New Forms of Use of Children in Armed Conflict

Laura Perez

Wood Mackenzie

At the Edge of Grid Innovation: Great Britain’s Flexibility Markets

Jeanne Fox

World Bank Group, Competitiveness & Innovation Global Practice

Reward Green Countries: Exploring the Case for ‘Pure Play’ Sovereign Green Bonds

Michelle Greene

                            

 

Information for Capstone Students, MIA, MPA, AND MPA-DP

A core requirement for the Master of International Affairs (MIA), Master of Public Administration (MPA), and Master of Public Affairs in Development Practice (MPA-DP),  the Capstone Workshops give students an opportunity to put learning into practice. Serving as a culminating educational experience for the Master of International Affairs and Master of Public Administration degree programs, students in all of the concentrations, except for the Economic and Political Development (EPD) concentration, complete a Capstone Workshop in their final semester. Students are organized into small consulting teams (between 4 to 8 students per team) and assigned a substantive, policy-oriented project with an external client. Clients include public agencies (from the local to national level), international NGOs and multinational organizations, and major firms in the private sector—recent examples include Barclays, Citi Global Wealth Management, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Mercy Corps, New York City Mayor’s Office, United Nations University Centre for Policy, and the World Bank Group. Student teams, working under the supervision of a faculty expert, answer a carefully defined problem posed by the client. Each team produces an actionable report and an oral briefing of their findings at the close of the Capstone that is designed to translate into real change on the ground.

SIPA Capstone Workshops are available to MIA, MPA and MPA-DP students.

For more information, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for students.

 

Capstone Workshops Requirements by Program

The following degree programs include capstone workshops as part of their curriculum. See the degree program pages for more details.
Master of International Affairs (MIA) »
Master of Public Affairs (MPA) »
Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science Policy (MPA-ESP) »