Quarterly Report: January 1, 2018 – March 31, 2018

The quarter was marked by a focus on recruitment and project development, with the completion of an intensive application review process for the 2018 cohort. A total of 283 applications were received, with 20 additional applications from Kimpton Fellows, a partnership with the University of Chicago career development office. The IIC also developed 10 India-based projects, including collaborations with prestigious government partners such as the central government's think tank, NITI Aayog, and the central government's ministry of health and family welfare. Project proposals were pitched to various donors, including Facebook, Google, Omidyar Network, and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. In the US, efforts were focused on developing a US-based data fellowship, identifying government implementation partners in Illinois, and beginning initial outreach to potential donors with an interest in improving governance through data-driven insights. The IIC hosted an event titled "The Quest for Quality: Towards Universal Health Coverage in India," which attracted interest from a new corporate donor, AXA. The IIC management team provided support to its Project Associates, including Associate Directors for Projects who provided strategic direction, navigated stakeholder challenges, and ensured outcomes were being realized. The IIC also engaged Project Associates in one-on-one conversations to provide performance-oriented feedback, understand individual strengths and weaknesses, and provide career development guidance. The mid-year training was held from February 2-4, 2018, on the outskirts of Delhi, and provided an opportunity for project updates, discussion of key challenges and successes, and addressing gaps through training. The selection process for the 2018 cohort began this quarter, with IIC staff and an external review committee of 17 external reviewers reading the 283 submitted applications. Group interviews were conducted, with a format that included both in-person and Skype interviews, and an activity that allowed interviewers to observe applicant interpersonal skills. The IIC has been working to develop new relationships with several foundations and corporations, including Omidyar Network, Max India Foundation, Facebook, Google, VLCC, and REC. MOUs have been signed with Access Health and APGlobale for projects and partnerships, and multiple government partners have approached the IIC to provide support for their projects. A Women's Empowerment Fellowship has been developed to work on projects with an emphasis on reducing gender inequality, with project teams staffed with female Project Associates to ensure that all projects address the unique needs of female citizens in policy design and implementation. The IIC is also developing a US extension of the India program called the Harris-IIC US Applied Data & Governance Fellowship, which will provide municipal and non-profit agencies around the United States with teams of high-caliber Project Associates to fill capacity gaps in translational data sciences.