Zihaul Abdi is a second-year MPA/ID student at the Harvard Kennedy School. He was accepted into the Growth Lab’s 2024 Summer Internship Program and contributed to an ongoing project with the Kingdom of Morocco.
Why did you apply to the Growth Lab Summer Internship?
Two main reasons. First, I used the Lab’s resources extensively in my previous job while working on sub-national and sectoral competitiveness in Indonesia. This experience drew me to the Growth Lab’s unique approach to economic development, which views it as a process of “accumulation of capabilities” and uses “diagnostics” to identify the most binding constraints. Second, after spending a lot of time analyzing my own country’s economy, my first year in the MPA/ID program opened my eyes to the diverse challenges other countries face. This inspired me to apply what I’ve learned to different contexts.
What did you work on?
The key theme of my work is green growth. Morocco is well-positioned to benefit from global trends like the energy transition and greenshoring, thanks to its abundant solar and wind resources, proximity to Europe, and strong track record in developing industrial zones. My task was to analyze the data, map out Morocco’s industrial zone capabilities, and explore how the country can leverage these strengths to lead in green industrial parks and seize emerging opportunities.
In what ways were you challenged?
I started with almost no ready-to-use data, so I had to get creative. I ended up web-scraping industrial zone directories from the government’s website, using NASA’s nighttime light data to proxy zone performance, and employing AI to match firm-level with zone-level data without identifiers. Another challenge was learning to incorporate everyday observations into my work. Inspired by how Growth Lab staff approached their visit to Morocco, I began paying closer attention to small details in daily life—conversations with taxi drivers, housekeepers at the Riad, and friends I met at the university. These interactions challenged me to bridge the gap between the data and what was happening on the ground.
What was your most exciting/surprising experience?
One of the most exciting parts was seeing how the things I read in reports or analyzed in my work played out in real life. For example, I spoke with a housekeeper in a Marrakech Riad who struggled to find work in his hometown near the Merzouga desert and worked under tough conditions (no holiday for 1.5 years). This aligned with the data on Morocco’s “left-behind” regions and the prevalence of informal labor. Another memorable conversation was talking to online taxi drivers about the regulatory loopholes concerning traditional vs. online taxis, which gave me a clearer understanding of the constraints related to weak competition and an uneven playing field.
Outside of work, I loved exploring Morocco’s cities. The country is incredibly stunning, with vibrant colors and rich culture, and getting around was easy thanks to its solid transport infrastructure. I also had a fantastic experience with the UM6P community. They welcomed us warmly, invited us for breakfast or tea, and even organized a game night for us. Lately, visiting their main campus in the small town of Benguerir was also a highlight—I saw firsthand how advanced research is being conducted in close collaboration with industry, a true testament to Morocco’s ambition in research and innovation.
What advice would you give to future interns?
Balance work and travel! One of the best parts of being a Growth Lab intern is the chance to work with smart, passionate people while immersing yourself in a new country. Absorb as much as you can from your colleagues, but also make time to explore. Be spontaneous—visit random coffee shops, browse bookstores and, pick up a local novel, explore traditional markets, try the local cuisine, and take a stroll through lesser-known neighborhoods. Attend local events or festivals, hop on public transport just to see where it takes you, and strike up conversations with people you meet along the way. And always keep your “diagnostic eye” open; pay attention to the little things, and you’ll learn so much more.
What’s next for you?
I’m heading into my second year of the MPA/ID program. I’ll also be working on my second-year policy analysis and getting ready to rejoin the labor market!
