Some insights from U4 approach Aranzazu Guillan Montero Program - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Thinking politically Some insights from U4 approach

Aranzazu Guillan Montero Program Advisor

Thinking politically

“Donor supported programs are well founded on analysis of political economy and corruption... In recent years, the political economy discourse has evolved beyond that of simply noting the lack of political will to look more deeply into the main incentives, rules and constrains that characterize key institutions in Bangladesh... Donors have increasingly resorted to PEA to inform their programs, but this has yet to change the way they identify their partners or design their projects in the governance sector.» (2011 NORAD evaluation on A-C efforts in Bangladesh)

How important is it to think politically? Are we thinking politically enough?

Why is thinking politically important?

 Problems to assess actual level of corruption  A-C rests on diagnosis of risks, drivers & practices  Identify & understand entry points  Reality check on feasibility of reforms  Promoting ownership & sustainability  Understanding effectiveness  Adoption of tools is contextually-bounded “After a decade of experience, we know that tackling corruption is politically complex but that progress can be made when appropriate reforms can be sustained” (Campos & Pradhan, 2007)

Thinking politically at U4

Theories of change

• Methods for building

ToC for projects

• Case studies of

practical examples

• Application of TOC in

training

Focused political economy analysis

• Case study research
• Comparative

research

• Systematic review of

evidence base

Evaluation that captures political complexity

• Review evaluation

methods & design

• Real life evaluations
• New measurement tools
• Evaluation CoP

U4’s political analysis examples

Applying Theories of Change

• Issue paper: ToC in A-C
• Training
• Application to real examples

Political Economy of REDD+

• Country case studies series
• Issue paper: PE of Corruption in Kenya

Proxy indicators

• Policy brief: Bespoke indicators
• Proxy indicators competition
• Work with partners to implement them in projects

U4’s political analysis examples

PE of corruption in fragile states

• Policy brief: PE of corruption in fragile & conflict affected

states Transparency & citizen engagement with SAIs

• Issue paper: SAIs’ engagement with other stakeholders
• Practice insight: SAIs’ engagement with citizens. The Latin

American TPA Initiative Political analysis & donor interventions

• Issue paper: Examining donor responses to corruption

cases

Working with U4 partners

• Online training
• Course on corruption risk management in programs

Providing tools for political analysis

• In-country workshops
• Workshop on social accountability & people’s

engagement at the local level Bridging the gap between tools & practices

• Headquarters visits & working with partners
• Collaboration around citizen engagement with SAIs

Raising awareness & convening

Challenges for thinking politically

On-time response One-off tools and exercises No cumulative knowledge Scarce reflection on design & methods Weak synergies Limited resources

Tools & approaches

So what? Limited follow up Gap governance & sector/project specialists Limited capacities Organizational challenges Performance & implementation indicators

Practice

Moving forward

Improving tools & approaches

• Look at the evidence
• Be strategic
• Think out of the box
• Build on previous knowledge
• Promote organizational learning
• Awareness about design & methods
• Build synergies: approaches, themes,

projects

Translating analytical understanding into action

• Actionability
• Capacities & skills
• Common language
• PE of donors
• Prioritization
• Performance & implementation indicators

Thinking politically as the ultimate safeguard: better risk management than being merely technical