The+implications+of+taking+on+a+political+economy+approach

The implications of taking on a political economy approach: Launching the Drivers of Change agenda in DFID Presentation by Sheelagh Stewart 27th February, 2006. Opportunities and Constraints      Analytical foundations (Unsworth; Bangladesh study) Top Management very supportive Organisational mood was „ripe‟ for adopting this approach MDG targets pushing us in the direction of „technical‟ approaches… but a growing realisation that these were not working; Political analysis seen as FCO‟s business What we did (part 1)  Set out clearly how things would look different, focusing on the CAP: – No more ‘lack of political will’ in risk column – Programme set in 5 to 10 year timeframe – Risk analysis based on political underpinnings of national policy processes – (Medium term) indicators of progress linked to changing incentives for elites – Not all interventions directly poverty reducing  Targeted Heads of Country Office and Programme managers What we did (part 2)  Developed a marketing strategy: – Produced a webcast for Spotlight, featuring country offices and „anchored‟ by the PS and DGs – Lunchtime seminar for academics and DFID staff (opened by SoS)  Linked the agenda to push for better cross-Whitehall collaboration: – Workshop featuring FCO-DFID „pairs‟ from specific countries, who testified to value of the approach What we did (part 3) Address incentives within DFID:  Highlight specific CAPs as examples of good practice  Challenge function for CAP design;  Joint project with HRPD to identify internal ‘drivers’ for change linked to careers and skills, chaired by DG Corporate;  Work with Corporate Division on CAP guidance review  What it has meant for DFID  More focus on the realities that politicians face on the ground;  Not always comfortable for us … because the reality can be very grubby and difficult to match with our poverty reduction objective;  Far better analysis, BUT  Variable affecting of country programmes; Where it has worked…       CAPs look different; Analysis of and strategies for influencing “lack of political will” Based on longer-term perspective More realistic timeframes &indicators for judging progress Interventions may not all be directly povertyreducing (i.e. media & information; revenue) Better risk analysis – political underpinnings of PRSPs and policy/budget processes Who else are we working with?  FCO – Country level cooperation (Mozambique) – Joint workshop with Research Analysts – Possibility for secondments  Bilateral donors (DAC Govnet) – Broadening the understanding of “governance”  World Bank – Politics and PRSPs in LICUS countries Outlook  It‟s become clear over the last year that poor governance in poor countries is related to the international system – particularly around oil and mineral wealth;  Hence “global” drivers of change;  And global responses – through architecture, joint working, joint military, diplomatic and development working. Concerns Lack of coherence – a major problem;  The “big five” and global energy security – what is going to happen – to development?  Related – non-DAC donors and their approach…  Agenda overloaded?