Transformation & Reform


How regions, countries, and localities have confronted and overcome their own challenges is instructive for leaders and citizens facing challenges today. Drawing on both historical analysis and lessons from its work advising leaders, ISE continues to document a diverse set of cases of transformation and reforms. These cases provide insight into how leaders and citizens developed a reform agenda, the policies and institutions advanced reforms, how the market and citizens were engaged, and what communications strategies were employed. Explore the Country Transition and Transformation paper series for our analysis of successful transformations.

Country Transitions and Transformations


The Country Transitions and Transformations series charts how regions, countries, and localities have confronted and overcome the challenges of statebuilding. The case studies explore the economic, social, and political dynamics of large-scale transformations, offering key insights into “what works” for tackling the pressing issues of today. Cases range from the making of Turkey’s modern state to state-level reform in India and Finland’s consensus-building citizenship model. View the entire series here.

Country Stocktakings


ISE’s country stocktakings evaluate opportunities for reform during pivotal periods in a country’s development trajectory. Stocktakings diagnose countries’ open moments and pathways for reform by assessing the performance and capability of various state functions and citizens’ view of the state while mapping the various international partners operating in the country and the alignment of key stakeholders around a potential reform agenda. View the Country Stocktaking series here.

Rebuilding Ukraine’s Human Capital

Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine has severely affected the country’s human capital stock, exacerbating pre-war population decline, skills gaps and labor imbalances. To rebuild communities and bolster domestic resiliency, Ukrainian policymakers and their international…

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Country Stocktaking: Timor-Leste

ISE’s country stocktakings present a thorough view of a country to evaluate opportunities for reform during pivotal periods in its development trajectory. Stocktakings diagnose countries’ open moments and pathways for reform by assessing the performance…

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Country Stocktaking: Puerto Rico

ISE’s country stocktakings present a thorough view of a country to evaluate opportunities for reform during pivotal periods in its development trajectory. Stocktakings diagnose countries’ open moments and pathways for reform by assessing the performance…

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Insight & Analysis: Transformation & Reform
Regions: Americas
Location: Puerto Rico
Publication Type: Country Stocktaking Summaries
Country Stocktaking: Sierra Leone

ISE’s country stocktakings present a thorough view of a country to evaluate opportunities for reform during pivotal periods in its development trajectory. Stocktakings diagnose countries’ open moments and pathways for reform by assessing the performance…

View Complete Publication

Insight & Analysis: Transformation & Reform
Regions: Africa
Location: Sierra Leone
Publication Type: Country Stocktaking Summaries
Country Stocktaking: Nepal

ISE’s country stocktakings present a thorough view of a country to evaluate opportunities for reform during pivotal periods in its development trajectory. Stocktakings diagnose countries’ open moments and pathways for reform by assessing the performance…

View Complete Publication

Insight & Analysis: Transformation & Reform
Regions: South & Central Asia
Location: Nepal
Publication Type: Country Stocktaking Summaries