Program Overview

Diverse, more equitable societies have the potential to be the most innovative, peaceful, and prosperous in the world. When crafting policies, how can we understand and account for the historical exclusion of women, minority and marginalized groups, and populations with intersecting identities? At this unique moment in the evidence revolution of smart policymaking, leaders have more tools than ever to advance social equity and improve outcomes for all. 

Evidence for Equity is an online executive program created by Harvard faculty co-chairs Zoe Marks and Teddy Svoronos to enable you to engage in data-driven, evidence-based policymaking through an equity lens. Alongside a global cohort, you will gain the skills needed for diagnosing and analyzing inequalities, and tackling and transforming them to achieve more inclusive and effective policy outcomes. 

Program Curriculum

Evidence for Equity will offer frameworks and tools for maximizing data’s potential to advance social equity. Through a mix of live faculty-led lectures, groupwork, and individual reflection, you will learn how to measure social diversity and the differential impacts of policies on various segments of society to achieve more robust and inclusive well-being for all. 

The best leaders understand how social inequalities manifest and the evidence-based approaches for understanding and addressing them. You will leave this program with skills for diagnosing and analyzing inequalities, as well as transforming them to achieve more equitable and effective outcomes in your organization and work.

Learning Objectives

Evidence for Equity will provide participants with a toolkit for measuring and understanding social inequalities, and evidence-based approaches for addressing them, including:

  • An analytic and applied approach to understanding complex inequities
  • Ways to reimagine available data and deploy mixed methods to make immediate progress on measuring and achieving impact
  • Strengthened data collection methods and evaluation strategies for the long term
  • Approaches to bring to light the experiences of groups that are often systematically underrepresented in data collection efforts, or tend to be studied separately and apart from broader society
  • Tools to close the knowledge gaps that perpetuate inequality and invisibility

Application Information

Evidence for Equity is designed for senior-level executives and leaders from government, nonprofit, and corporate organizations with an interest in or commitment to equity-related outcomes. 

 Recommended applicants include:  

  • Senior officials from local, state, and national governments and intergovernmental organizations 
  • Leaders from nonprofit and nongovernmental or civil society organizations 
  • Executives from corporate sector companies  
  • Individuals working directly on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) 

View the draft program schedule. Note that module titles, speakers, and sequence may change.

Faculty Reflection

“To truly achieve meaningful progress toward equity, we need new tools to measure and understand inequality.”

Zoe Marks, Faculty Co-chair, Evidence for Equity and Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School
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Hear From the Faculty Chairs

Learn more about Evidence for Equity  from Faculty Co-Chairs Zoe Marks and Teddy Svoronos

Faculty & Research

Zoe Marks Photo

Zoe Marks

Lecturer in Public Policy

Teddy Svoronos Photo

Teddy Svoronos

Lecturer in Public Policy

Desmond Ang Photo

Desmond Ang

Assistant Professor of Public Policy

Michela Carlana Photo

Michela Carlana

Assistant Professor of Public Policy

Sharad Goel Photo

Sharad Goel

Professor of Public Policy

Yanilda González Photo

Yanilda González

Assistant Professor of Public Policy

Hannah Riley Bowles Photo

Hannah Riley Bowles

Co-Director, Center for Public Leadership
Co-Director, Women and Public Policy Program
Roy E. Larsen Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Management

Daniel Schneider Photo

Daniel Schneider

Malcolm Wiener Professor of Social Policy, HKS; Professor of Sociology, FAS

Sandra Susan Smith Photo

Sandra Susan Smith

Director, Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy
Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Professor of Criminal Justice, HKS; Professor of Sociology, FAS; Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor, Radcliffe

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