MPA Preparation: The Guide to Becoming a Public Service Leader with Liwaza

The question often arises: MBA or MPA? The answer fundamentally depends on your vision and aspirations.

The MBA: for the private sector

The MBA trains business leaders, entrepreneurs, consultants. Its focus is economic value creation, business strategy, market finance.

The MPA: for public service

The MPA trains leaders who want to impact at a national scale. It teaches how a state's economy is built, how public policies are designed and implemented, how to redistribute wealth equitably.

Who is the MPA for?

• Civil servants and public administration executives
• Professionals from international organizations (World Bank, IMF, AfDB)
• Diplomats and international relations professionals
• NGO and nonprofit sector leaders
• Social entrepreneurs aiming for systemic impact

The long-term vision

As one candidate supported by Liwaza puts it: 'A statesman is one who truly has commitment to public service. Having diplomas is one thing. Having the intrinsic skills to assume major responsibilities is another.'

The MPA doesn't aim for academic prestige. It aims to transform skills so that one day, you're ready for excellence when responsibilities arrive.

Three programs stand out particularly for francophone African candidates aiming for excellence in public policy:

Harvard Kennedy School - MPA-ID

The Master in Public Administration in International Development (MPA-ID) is the reference program for those who want to understand how a state's economy is built.

• Focus: Economic development, macroeconomic management, public policy
• Major asset: The Harvard ecosystem and its unmatched network
• Typical profile: Public sector executives with 5-10 years of experience
• Inspiring example: Directors general of African ministries have graduated from it

Princeton - MPA

Princeton's teaching rigor is legendary.

• Particularity: Cohorts of 25-30 people maximum
• Focus: Rigorous analytical approach to public policy
• Asset: Academic environment of excellence with personalized attention

Columbia SIPA

Columbia School of International and Public Affairs offers a unique New York perspective.

• Focus: International relations, public finance, development
• Asset: Access to the United Nations ecosystem and international organizations
• Network: Strong alumni presence in international institutions

The francophone advantage

Applications from francophone countries remain relatively rare in these programs. For a well-prepared candidate with a solid profile and well-crafted application, admission chances are real. Geographic diversity is an important selection criterion for these schools.

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) represents the major challenge for francophone candidates to MPA programs.

Why the GRE is different

Unlike traditional African exams based on memorization and recitation, the GRE tests reasoning. It's not enough to know the answer: you must understand the logic.

GRE vs GMAT

For francophones, the GRE is generally more accessible than the GMAT:

• GMAT: Continuity of the American SAT, requires 1 to 1.5 years of preparation
• GRE: 5 to 6 months of preparation are enough with the right method

Target scores for MPAs

• Quantitative: 160-165/170 minimum
• Verbal: 155-160/170 (more flexible for non-natives)

The vocabulary challenge

The GRE verbal tests over 1,000 specific words. The difficulty: it's not enough to know them, you must know how to use them in context.

The Liwaza approach

Our method combines:

• Daily GRE articles: Vocabulary learning in context
• Adaptive exercises: The system identifies your gaps and returns to them
• Coaching AI: Analysis of your behavior during tests
• Human coaches: Regular debriefs to adjust your strategy

As our philosophy explains: 'What a human coach at €200/hour would offer you, our AI gives you daily.'

Liwaza offers complete and personalized support for MPA program candidates.

GRE preparation

• Diagnostic test: Initial assessment simulating the official test
• Personalized work plan: Automatically generated based on your gaps
• Daily tasks: 1 hour per day, articles and exercises
• Bi-weekly practice tests: With coach debriefs

English preparation

Our AI speaking module allows you to practice daily:

• 9 minutes of conversation per day
• Feedback on pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar
• IELTS topics for test preparation

Application package

We don't write your documents — admission committees want to see YOUR voice. But we guide you:

• AI evaluation: Your CV and essays analyzed on 15+ criteria
• Human coaching: In-depth review with detailed comments
• Specialized coaches: Graduates from Harvard, Princeton, Columbia

Liwaza MPA coaches

Our team includes coaches who completed top MPA programs:

• Harvard Kennedy School graduates
• Princeton and Columbia SIPA alumni
• Professionals from the World Bank and IMF

Financing

We also support you on:

• Specific scholarships (Africa Fellowship, etc.)
• Multi-school strategy to maximize scholarships
• Loan application preparation

Successful preparation requires anticipation. Here's our recommendation for an MPA entry:

3 years before (ideal)

• Start strengthening your professional profile
• Take on increasing responsibilities
• Identify your potential recommenders

18-12 months before

• Start GRE preparation with Liwaza
• School research and target list definition
• Work on English level

12-6 months before

• Take the GRE (goal: 6 months of preparation)
• Take TOEFL/IELTS
• Start essay writing

6-3 months before

• Finalize essays and CV
• Obtain recommendations
• Submit in Round 1 or Round 2

Admission rounds

Crucial advice: always apply in Round 1 or Round 2.

• More spots available
• More scholarships accessible
• Signal of seriousness to admission committees

Multi-school strategy

Never apply to just one school. The Liwaza strategy:

1. Apply to at least 3 schools
2. Use multiple admissions to negotiate scholarships
3. Maximize your financing by leveraging competition

Negotiation example

If you get admissions to Columbia and Harvard:

• Columbia offers you $30,000 scholarship
• You inform Harvard: they can increase to $40,000
• You go back to Columbia: they can go up to $50,000

This approach can significantly reduce your investment.

For African MPA candidates, the MPA is not an end in itself. It's a means to a greater goal: impacting one's country.

The philosophy of return

As one Liwaza candidate expresses: 'No matter what I do, the ultimate goal is returning to the country. That's where we can make an impact. It's not by staying on the other side. We can do good things there, but it's here that we can truly impact significantly.'

The concept of vertical training

Don't pursue education for prestige. Pursue 'vertical' education: quality training after which, when you return home, you can only go up.

The African example

Several African leaders have followed this path:

• Finance ministers who graduated from Harvard
• Central bank directors trained at Princeton
• Regional institution leaders who went through Columbia

The Liwaza community

By joining Liwaza, you join a community of future African leaders. The long-term goal: create a critical mass of decision-makers trained at the best institutions, sharing a common vision for the continent.

As a member of our community says: 'If we're all from the same community, it's natural that things will progress. Tomorrow, one will be president here, another prime minister there. We'll be able to work together.'