Fully Funded Policy Workshop Giveaway + a Podcast on Education Reforms
Policy Post #217
Dear Reader,
A lot of people talk about change. Far fewer talk about what it takes to stay with it.
This week’s edition is shaped by that idea. What it looks like to build inside systems that move slowly. What it means to choose work where progress is measured in years, not announcements. And why some of the most meaningful policy work is also the least visible.
Through our Spotlight on The Education Alliance and a candid conversation with Amitav Virmani, we explore what long-term leadership and systems change actually demand patience, trade-offs, and the willingness to keep showing up when progress is not immediately visible.
As always, we’ve paired these reflections with essays, research, and learning resources that help make this kind of work more legible, especially for those trying to understand where they fit in the policy ecosystem and how to build capacity over time. You’ll find these resources gathered toward the end of the newsletter.
Let’s get into Policy Post #217.
Policy Charcha 💬
The best of Podcasts, Videos, Essays, Fellowships and other Career resources from the world of Policy and Governance from the week gone by!
📺 Podcast Highlight
PolicyPod | Ayush in conversation with Amitav Virmani
In this episode of PolicyPod, Ayush speaks with Amitav Virmani, Founder and CEO of The Education Alliance, for a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation on leadership, education reform, and building change that lasts.
In the conversation, Amitav reflects on what drew him to education reform, the realities of pay and progression in the social sector, how government partnerships actually function on the ground, the role of NGOs and civil society in sustaining reform, and what it takes to build a long-term career rooted in public purpose.
🎁 Giveaway Alert 🚨
India’s Future Policy Leaders Workshop
In partnership with the American Center (U.S. Mission India)
PPI is glad to partner with the American Center for a fully funded workshop designed to expose undergraduate students to policy leadership and public engagement.
What’s included
4-day intensive training (Feb 9–12) at the American Center
“Chat with a Diplomat” opportunity
U.S.-certified leadership and communication modules
Who can apply
Undergraduate students aged 17–22
How to enter
Follow PPI on Instagram and LinkedIn
Comment on the giveaway post with one policy issue you care about and why
Share with a friend who should not miss this
📅 Comment by 15 January 2026
💡 Essay Highlight
Green Horizons: Mobilising Climate Capital to Support Safe Routes for Green-Skilled Displaced People
In this essay, the Center for Global Development examines a less discussed side of climate policy: what happens to people as economies transition to green growth.
The piece argues that climate action will inevitably reshape labour markets, displacing workers in some sectors while creating green jobs in others. The challenge for policymakers is not just to mobilise climate finance, but to ensure that this capital supports safe, equitable pathways for displaced and climate-affected workers to re-skill, migrate, and participate in the green economy.
🔎 Databases and Guides:
Discover your ultimate career resource sheets for everything related to public policy! Our comprehensive mega-lists include 150+ hiring organisations, 200+ scholarships, and 150+ courses, podcasts and a lot more. Dive in and unlock your next big opportunity!
✨ Spotlight of the Week
Our newest initiative at Public Policy India!
This week’s Spotlight features The Education Alliance (TEA). Founded in 2014, TEA works with state governments to strengthen India’s public education system from within. Rather than running parallel interventions, TEA embeds high-capacity teams inside government systems to co-design and implement reforms at scale.
For anyone interested in education policy or governance, TEA’s journey reinforces a simple lesson: sustainable reform scales when institutions are strengthened, not bypassed.
🌟 Avenues for Upskilling
Public Policy Puzzle
Public Policy Puzzle (PPP) is a platform on a mission to make public policy accessible, engaging, and useful for students, young professionals, and curious citizens. Through courses, resources, and interactive formats.
🌍Climate + Health Corner
In Partnership With Swasti, The Health Catalyst
Why Climate Change Is a Health Systems Challenge
Climate change is already reshaping public health outcomes through heat stress, food insecurity, air pollution, and the spread of climate-sensitive diseases. These impacts place growing pressure on health systems that are often under-resourced and unevenly prepared.
This explainer highlights why climate adaptation must be embedded into health policy and planning, and why resilience depends on strengthening systems before crises hit.
Careers Corner 💼
A curated list of some of the best jobs and internship opportunities this week from the world of public policy, the development sector, impact consulting and communications at large.
📩 Best bit - if you know of a job/internship opening that’s not listed here, kindly just add that as a comment on the sheet: giving 20,000+ people immediate access to it!
You won’t believe it, but it’s cheaper than a cup of coffee to support our work ☕
We're a community-driven platform dedicated to delivering fresh policy insights, creating career opportunities, and helping thousands thrive in India's policy space. To keep all our work free and accessible, we need your support. A small contribution of just Rs. 80 can help sustain and grow our mission. Please consider buying us a coffee and powering our work. Thank you!
Really appreciate the focus on systemic change that's measured in years rather than press releases. The embeddedapproach TEA uses is fascinating, kinda mirrors what I've seen in climate adaptation where externl consultants fail but internal capacity building actually sticks. The Green Horizons piece on displaced workers is such a blindspot in most climate policy discussions. Patience isnt sexy but its essential for real structural change.