Chu Fang is a second-year MPA/ID student at the Harvard Kennedy School. He was accepted into the Growth Lab’s 2025 Summer Internship Program and contributed to ongoing research in Nigeria.
Why did you apply to the Growth Lab Summer Internship?
Coming from a background in diplomacy and development, I was drawn to the Growth Lab’s rigorous, policy-oriented approach to economic growth. I saw the internship as an opportunity to apply both my experience in international cooperation and the analytical tools I’ve gained through the MPA/ID program, particularly in diagnostics and data analysis, to a real-world reform challenge. Nigeria’s electricity sector, currently undergoing significant transformation under the Electricity Act 2023, offered the ideal context to engage with complex policy issues on the ground.
What did you work on?
I worked on an electricity affordability study for Nigeria, conducting the preliminary analysis of electricity expenditure patterns, tariff structures, and subsidy policies in the context of ongoing sector reforms. As part of the project, I also conducted a cross-country comparative analysis of selected African and Global South countries, examining their energy pricing frameworks, tariff policies, and cost-recovery mechanisms. The goal was to identify best practices for affordable energy access and distill relevant lessons for Nigeria’s electricity sector reform. My internship supports the groundwork for future diagnostic efforts by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, aimed at informing pricing reform, targeted subsidies, and consumer protection as the country transitions toward a decentralized electricity market.
In what ways were you challenged?
One of the challenges was the limited availability of granular data, which is critical for designing effective affordability frameworks. Nigeria’s low penetration of smart meters and inconsistent electricity usage tracking make it difficult to assess consumption patterns, especially for low-income households. Funding constraints have also limited the scope and frequency of household-level data collection. As I worked on developing a diagnostic framework, I had to navigate these gaps by carefully reviewing existing household surveys and proposing ways to improve future data collection. This experience pushed me to think creatively about how to design affordability metrics and policy recommendations that are both data-informed and implementation-feasible in a resource-constrained environment.
What was your most exciting/surprising experience?
Spending the summer in Lagos was a deeply eye-opening experience. It was my first time on the African continent, and it left a lasting impression. I had the chance to connect with local colleagues, share meals, and explore the city together. These personal connections made the experience richer and more meaningful. I also witnessed the day-to-day realities of electricity affordability: from frequent outages disrupting businesses and households, to the constant hum of petrol generators filling in the gaps. These observations brought a human dimension to the policy challenges I had been studying, reminding me that affordability isn’t just a theoretical issue, but one that shapes livelihoods, productivity, and quality of life in very tangible ways.
What advice would you give to future interns?
Immerse yourself in the local culture and daily life. Meaningful insights not only come from reports or datasets, but also from conversations at lunch, walks through the neighborhood, and observing how people navigate everyday challenges. Try the local dishes, explore the city, and spend time with colleagues outside of work. These experiences will deepen your understanding of the context in which you’re working and make your internship personally enriching and unforgettable.
What’s next for you?
This internship has inspired my Second Year Policy Analysis, where I will delve deeper into electricity affordability in Nigeria and develop actionable policy recommendations to inform pricing and subsidy reforms. I hope to build on this foundation through further research and, after graduation, pursue opportunities in energy and infrastructure policy.
