Thinking and Working Politically through Applied Political Economy Analysis
Alina Rocha Menocal, Marc Cassidy, Sarah Swift, David Jacobstein, Corinne Rothblum, Ilona Tservil (USAID)
2018
Toolkits & Guidance
This guidance provides information on how USAID can think and work in ways that are more politically aware — an approach known as “thinking and working politically” (TWP) — through the use of applied political economy analysis. PEA is a structured approach to examining power dynamics and economic and social forces that influence development. Through programming that seeks to more rigorously respond and adapt to these realities, USAID is working to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of its international development efforts. PEA can help to operationalize the process of thinking politically, while USAID’s initiative on Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA), described later in this guide, supports the operationalization of working politically. Together, they can add significant value to a mission’s strategy, projects and activities — offering the potential to address development challenges in all sectors. This guide follows the definition of politics as the process of determining “who gets what, when and how.”
Thinking and working politically in Somalia: A case study on the Somalia Stability Fund
Ed Laws (ODI)
2018
Research
The Somalia Stability Fund (SSF) is a multi-donor instrument that aims to strengthen local governance and mitigate conflict in Somalia. From the outset, SSF has been designed to respond flexibly and rapidly to needs on the ground, to experiment and incur higher levels of programming risk than is normal, and to adapt in response to learning. SSF’s strategy is also problem-driven: rather than providing a detailed description of a desired end state and a sequence of actions to deliver it, it identifies a core problem at the root of instability in Somalia and decides how to address it. Its aim is to generate a sequence of iterative solutions, and to keep adapting and improving. The Fund is also driven by the principle of ‘local ownership first’, based on the belief that for peace to be sustained, it must be home grown, bottom-up and context-specific.
These principles and features of the program resonate strongly with some core ideas and examples being discussed about how to improve development practice through more politically informed and adaptive ways of working. It is clear that SSF has achieved some significant successes in an extremely challenging and dynamic political environment, which does suggest the value of thinking and working politically in this context. This report looks at three success cases: the Fund’s support to the formation of three nascent federal states; infrastructure investment projects in Balanbale and Abudwak; and the reconciliation process between Galmadug State and Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a. This is followed by a discussion of two of the more challenging investment projects that the Fund has engaged in, focusing on the Hirshabelle State Formation process and the construction of the Baraawe airstrip. The report then looks at the Fund’s work on gender equality, reflecting on its progress in achieving greater formal political representation for women in Somalia, but also some of the significant obstacles that remain in shifting entrenched patriarchal norms.
Thinking and Working Politically: Reviewing the evidence
Ed Laws and Heather Marquette
2018
Research
This paper provides a critical review of the evidence on thinking and working politically (TWP) in development. Scholars and practitioners have increasingly recognised that development is a fundamentally political process, and there are concerted efforts underway to develop more politically-informed ways of thinking and working. However, while there are interesting and engaging case studies in the literature, these do not yet constitute a strong evidence base that shows these efforts can be clearly linked to improved development outcomes. Much of the evidence used so far to support more politically-informed approaches is anecdotal, does not meet the highest standards for a robust body of evidence, is not comparative (systematically or otherwise), and draws on a small number of self-selected, relatively well-known success stories written by programme insiders. The paper discusses the most common factors mentioned in the TWP literature as part of the account for why politically-informed programmes are believed to have been able to succeed in areas where more conventional programming approaches may have fallen short. It then looks at the state of the evidence on TWP in three areas: political context, sector, and organisation. The aim is to show where research efforts have been targeted so far and to provide guidance on where to focus next. In the final section, the paper outlines some ways of testing the core assumptions of the TWP agenda more thoroughly.
A Strategic Approach to Social Accountability in Pakistan
Tom Kirk (IDS)
2017
Research
This paper explores the progress of the Empowerment, Voice and Accountability for Better Health and Nutrition (EVA) project implemented by Palladium in partnership with the Centre for Communications Programmes Pakistan. The paper situates the project within contemporary understandings of social accountability programming, and examines its approach to operationalising an adaptive, politically savvy and locally led way of working in a challenging context.
Political Economy Analysis Training Exercise: Dejuristan
National School of Government International (NSGI)
2017
Courses
This pack brings together all the material needed to run a one day training exercise on Political Economy Analysis (PEA). The training exercise is designed to be run in conjunction with: The Beginner’s Guide to Political Economy Analysis (2017), published by NSGI (see below). However, it could be used alongside other guidance notes that adopt an 'everyday' or conversational approach to PEA. The exercise is designed to be fun and is meant as a light-touch introduction to the issues for those who are new to PEA ideas and practice.
Thinking and Working Politically: Lessons from FOSTER in Nigeria
Elisa Lopez Lucia, Joanna Buckley, Heather Marquette and Neil McCulloch (DLP)
2017
Research
The Facility for Oil Sector Transparency and Reform (FOSTER) was a £14 million programme that has helped Nigeria to transform its governance of the oil and gas industry. It achieved some remarkable successes in an unfavourable political environment as a result of thinking and working politically. This paper examines the outcomes from five ‘clusters’ of FOSTER interventions. It highlights lessons on three issues: how interventions were implemented; their content (what was done); and their politics, including how the programme worked politically and dealt with internal incentives.
The Beginner's Guide to Political Economy Analysis (PEA)
Alan Whaites, National School of Government International (NSGI)
2017
Courses
This guide borrows from the best materials that are available while also adapting some approaches by incorporating wider ideas on politics and institutions. It affirms that there should never be an official 'orthodoxy’ for PEA thus the emphasis here is on questions, prompts and ideas to help thinking and practice. Overall this note focuses on 'the essentials’ of PEA as they relate to the following questions:
- Why do we do political economy analysis, and what is it?
- What kinds of issues and ingredients are often included in a PEA?
- How do we make sense of the different varieties of PEA?
- What tools are out there to help us conduct a PEA?
- What is thinking and working politically?
Thinking and working politically on Fish in Myanmar
Gerry Fox (Pyoe Pin)
2017
Presentations
This is a presentation delivered by Gerry Fox at the 2017 Doing Development Differently (DDD) workshop. It reflects on Thinking & Working Politically in relation to fishing communities in Myanmar.
From Thinking and Working Politically in the Philippines
Jaime Faustino (Coalitions for Change, the Asia Foundation, Australian Aid)
2017
Presentations
This is a presentation delivered by Jaime Faustino (Program Director, the Asia Foundation) at the 2017 Doing Development Differently (DDD) workshop in the Philippines. It covers a range of elements that are considered to be critical in the agenda for reform.
Political Economy Analysis in Action: A Training Course provided for Swiss Development Cooperation
William Kingsmill & Gareth Williams, The Policy Practice
2016
Courses
This is a training course looking at various aspects of Political Economic Analysis (PEA). It covers what political economy analysis is, and the different operational contexts where it has a role to play. It also focuses on how it can be used to improve development policy and programme design and management as well as what tools and frameworks are available for political economy analysis and how they can be applied.
Political dynamics and the effectiveness of aid programmes
Ed Laws
2016
Research
As a result of the growing appreciation of the political barriers to development, donors and research organisations have developed a range of analytical frameworks and diagnostic tools to help navigate the political and economic conditions which can restrict the effectiveness of aid programmes.
Using political economy analysis in conflict, security and justice programmes
Lisa Denney
2016
Toolkits & Guidance
This guidance note provides a framework for implementers of conflict, security and justice programmes to conduct political economy analysis (PEA) at the design or inception phase to ensure a deep understanding of the context drives activities. The publication draws on ODI’s ongoing work employing PEA to security and justice programmes.
Applied Political Economy Analysis Field Guide
Diana Cammack
2016
Toolkits & Guidance
This document provides an overview of the methodology currently being adopted by USAID in its programming. They are developing Applied PEA as a problem-focused methodology intended to be used by Mission staff to inform the design of aid interventions at any phase of the USAID program cycle and at any level of effort.
Everyday political analysis
David Hudson, Heather Marquette (DLP) and Sam Waldock (DFID Rwanda)
2016
Research
In this short note a framework is introduced for thinking about politics and power called Everyday Political Analysis (EPA). EPA is for anyone who is convinced that politics and power matter, but feels less sure of how to work out what they mean for their programs. This note introduces a stripped-back political analysis framework – stripped down to its barest bones – leaving only the essentials needed to help frontline staff make quick but politically-informed decisions.
Thinking and Working Politically: From Theory Building to Building an Evidence Base
Niheer Dasandi, Heather Marquette and Mark Robinson
2015
Research
This paper discusses the steps required to build a robust evidence base for ‘thinking and working politically’ (TWP) in development. The ideas behind TWP are increasingly common in development discussions, and understanding which parts are necessary and sufficient conditions for success is crucial for moving it into mainstream development programming.
The political economy of regional integration in Africa: What drives and constrains regional organisations?
Jan Vanheukelom, Bruce Byiers, San Bilal and Sean Woolfrey
2015
Research
This report argues that although there has been promising commitments to regional cooperation in Africa from regional actors and donors regional integration has been slow. The authors present case studies and research which argues this has been as a result of a failure to understand the political or economic factors that drive or hinder regional integration.
From political economy analysis to doing development differently: a learning experience
David Booth, Daniel Harris and Leni Wild
2015
Research
This paper examines seeks to understand under what conditions an understanding of political economy can strengthen aid-supported development efforts. Its findings are based on the experiences of policy researchers at ODI who have used adaptive approaches to development. The paper assesses the gains to be had from moving from broad-brush country analysis to more problem-driven approaches and recounts lessons learned from development agencies trying to embed political economy analysis into their work.
A five lenses framework for analysing the political economy in regional integration
Bruce Byiers, Jan Vanheukelom and Christian K.M. Kingombe
2015
Research
By reviewing the literature on regional cooperation this paper presents a new framework for regional cooperation and applies to two to examples; the political drivers and constraints to regional integration in the East African Community and a political economy analysis of the North-South Corridor.
Gender and Power
Diane Koester
2015
Research
This Concept Brief discusses the links between gender and power. Arguing that gender is donors have largely neglected ‘gender’ in their efforts to understand power relations in partner countries this paper contends that gender is one of the most persistent causes, consequences and manifestations of power relation. By addressing these blind spots, a focus on gender can significantly enhance donors’ insights into power dynamics and their ability to ‘think and work politically’ overall.
Thinking and working politically
David Booth
2015
Research
This E-learning package provides development professionals guidance on how to include the principals of ‘thinking and working politically’ in program design to improve outcomes.
Political economy of energy in southern Africa
Roisin Hinds
2015
Case studies
This paper looks at the political economy of the energy sector in Southern Africa. By evaluating recent literature on this subject the author concludes some African states, with encouragement from international donors, have developed regional power sharing arrangements as a strategy to deal with the continent’s energy problems. Power pools aim to balance electrical loads over a larger network, lower electricity prices, and expand access by encouraging trade and investment in the sector
Adapting development: improving services to the poor
Leni Wild, David Booth, Clare Cummings, Marta Foresti and Joseph Wales
2015
Case studies
This report argues that in order to avoid reproducing the pattern of uneven progress that has characterised the MDG campaign, there must be more explicit recognition of the political conditions that enable or obstruct development progress.
Case study: State Partnership for Accountability, Responsiveness and Capability
Victoria Chambers, Clare Cummings and Hamish Nixon
2015
Case studies
Nigeria is one of the UK Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) largest governance portfolios, and the State Partnership, Accountability, Responsiveness and Capability (SPARC) programme is one of its central components. This study assesses how the SPARC programme functions in light of recent shifts in PSR thinking and practice, and considers lessons for future governance reform programmes.
Topic Guide: Political economy analysis
Claire Mcloughlin (GSDRC)
2014
Research
This topic guide provides pointers to some of the key literature on political economy analysis and evidence of its impact on aid effectiveness in different contexts. It includes examples of analyses at country, sector and programme level.
Services in the city: governance and political economy in urban service delivery
Harry Jones, Clare Cummings and Hamish Nixon
2014
Research
This discussion paper reviews literature on the political economy of four key urban services: solid waste management, water supply, transport, and urban health services. The four sector reviews demonstrate the importance of governance factors – partly rooted in physical, economic, social and political differences between rural and urban environments – in shaping service delivery in urban environments.
Politically smart, locally led development
David Booth and Sue Unsworth
2014
Case studies
This paper presents seven cases of aid-funded interventions. The central message is that donor staff were successful because they adopted politically smart, locally led approaches, adapting the way they worked in order to support iterative problem-solving and brokering of interests by politically astute local actors.
Security and Justice: Towards Politically Informed Programming
Shivit Bakrania
2014
Research
This paper sets out to explore what the literature tells us about the politics of security and justice programming. It also aims to capture recommendations and approaches towards a more politically nuanced approach to donor programming in this area.
Political economy and forced displacement : guidance and lessons from nine country case studies
Ray Jennings, Nat Colletta, Cordelia Chesnutt
2014
Case studies
This report was produced for the Global Program on Forced Displacement and describes why and how to conduct political economy analysis (PEA) of forced displacement. It also illustrates how PEA may contribute to understanding forced displacement crises with nine case studies: Casamance (Senegal), Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, the Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe.
Donors doing Political Economy Analysis: from process to product
Jonathan Fisher and Heather Marquette (DLP)
2014
Research
Political economy analysis (PEA) was once seen as a transformative process meant to help donor officials to think and work politically. But this study finds that PEA has become in many cases a bespoke set of off-the-shelf products designed by external consultants for ad hoc use by donor staff. It argues that this type of ‘PEA™’ is no longer fit for purpose: to move forward with the ‘thinking politically’ agenda, a radical change in approach is needed. The study draws on semi-structured interviews with donor staff at a number of agencies, and with consultants and academics working on PEA; on participant observation of PEA debate and training; and on textual analysis.
Analysing the politics of public services: a service characteristics approach
Richard Batley and Daniel Harris
2014
Research
The service characteristics approach, described in this paper, was developed as a tool to explain the political dynamics of particular services. It has been tested and elaborated in discussion with specialists in health, education, water and sanitation, focusing on current debates in each sector.
Getting real about politics: from thinking politically to working differently
Alina Rocha Menocal
2014
Research
The of this report author contends that despite efforts from the international community the developing world have remained unable to provide adequately for the well-being of their populations at large. This has helped crystallise the fact that the challenge of development lies not what needs to be done but how it needs to be done. Getting to the ‘how’ requires a solid understanding of the institutional dynamics at work, both formal and informal, and the kinds of incentives they generate.
From political economy to political analysis
David Hudson and Adrian Leftwich (DLP)
2014
Research
This study argues that existing political economy approaches lack the analytical tools needed to grasp the inner politics of development. It aims to give policy makers and practitioners more precise conceptual tools to help them interpret the inner ‘micro-politics’ of the contexts in which they work.
The political economy of inclusive healthcare in Cambodia
Tim Kelsall and Seiha Heng
2013
Case studies
This working paper explores and seeks to explain some of the deep-seated problems of the Cambodian health system. This paper concludes that the current situation is as a result of Cambodia’s ‘political settlement’, in which relatively successful multi-stakeholder initiatives exist as ‘islands of effectiveness’ in a sea of rent-seeking and patronage.
The technical is political: understanding the political implications of sector characteristics for education service delivery
Daniel Harris, Richard Batley, Claire Mcloughlin and Joseph Wales
2013
Research
This paper focuses on the education sector and argues using a structured approach to understanding the relationship between technical and political features can help to make sense of key sector debates (such as the role of access to information), reconcile apparent contradictions (for example, between political commitments and outcomes), and strengthen understanding of why education might either outpace or lag behind other sectors in a given context.
Workshop Paper – Coalitions in the Politics of Development
DLP
2012
Research
This report of a DLP coalitions workshop represents the first of a series of papers and research findings from the DLP that seek to clarify this pervasive feature of the politics of development and change. By bringing together practitioners, researchers and theorists from developed and developing societies we reckoned that some important continuities, generalizations and messages might emerge.
What's politics got to do with it?: Why donors find it so hard to come to terms with politics, and why this matters
Sue Unsworth
2009
Research
Donors are paying more attention to politics, and some are applying political analysis to specific aspects of development practice. But this is having little influence on mainstream debates about aid, and donors are not questioning their implicit assumptions about how development happens. There are powerful intellectual and institutional barriers to recognising that politics is central to the whole development process. This matters because, without a change in their mental models, donors will not invest in understanding local political dynamics, or give priority to strategically important but difficult issues. If they did so they would discover some very practical opportunities for progress.
