Henry Rounds is a second-year MPA/ID student at Harvard Kennedy School. He was accepted into the Growth Lab's 2022 Summer Internship Program and contributed to the project in Namibia. This two-year policy engagement with the Government of Namibia focuses on supporting implementation efforts on a range of growth- and inclusion-related challenges.
Why did you apply to be a Growth Lab intern?
As a result of my growing interest in understanding the levers of economic growth and equitable distribution, I applied to the Growth Lab Namibia project to work directly with the government on a project aimed at harnessing the resources of the private sector to spur new growth and create jobs.
What did you work on this summer?
Over the summer, I was tasked with identifying how Namibia could unlock future growth as it invests in developing a green hydrogen industry. In particular, I focused on understanding the kinds of industries that could thrive in a cheap green energy context and the skills the Namibian workforce will have to develop to benefit fully.
"What's exciting is simply Namibia's opportunity to develop a brand new industry that will be in high demand in the future and one that it is competitively positioned to produce, given its geography."
Henry Rounds MPA/ID 2023
In what ways were you challenged?
One of the most challenging aspects of the work was the multiplicity of stakeholders involved, each with their own priorities. Moving forward means getting everyone on the same page, a challenging task across government agencies, not to mention private actors.
What was your most exciting experience?
What's exciting is simply Namibia's opportunity to develop a brand new industry that will be in high demand in the future and one that it is competitively positioned to produce, given its geography.
What advice would you give future Growth Lab interns?
Define your scope early and talk to as many folks as possible, no matter what their role. Also, travel as much as you can to get to know the country and work with other interns if possible!
What's next for you?
I'm looking forward to continuing my work on Namibia as part of my SYPA, and deepening my ability to apply Growth Lab's approach to the questions that arose this summer.