Govnet Study on ”Power and Drivers of Change”: Presented at: Governance & Political Economy seminar series World Bank 1 December 2005 by Eli Moen

Purpose of GOVNET Study: Donors’ experience with the use of political economy analyses: Why undertaken? What was achieved? What have they been used for? What is the potential for common donor aproach? 20/11/2018

Differences in donors’ approach to studies Whether initiated and conducted by HQ or embassy Whether focus on public administration or state/civil society issues Timing to country programming, political events or ”no timing” Variations in scope, resources and time allocation, but no clear correlation to significance of output 20/11/2018

Respondents (at Embassy and HQ) experienced: Changes in their thinking about how development happens, but confirmation or deepened understanding rather than building of new knowledge Improved country programming/approach 20/11/2018

Opportunities exist for improved harmonisation through ... common understanding of causes of change realism of what is achieveable in the short term common understanding of donor challenges and means to address these design of interventions, improved aid effectiveness, especially in case of Joint Assistance Strategies 20/11/2018

Continued diversity recommended No one-size-fits-all No singular all-encompassing approach Rather, separate donor approaches according to needs, interests and comparative advantace but, close coordination, shared results and common discussion of implications 20/11/2018

Possibilities for in-country use of findings Well founded findings can be politically sensitive Understandably, dissemination is done selectively Frank studies may contribute to dialogue with government, but unsuitable for public circulation in civil society Trade-off between hig quality and circulation 20/11/2018

Donors can benefit from political economic analyses Recommendations: Donors can benefit from political economic analyses Full potential is not realised, not even for DFID and Sida 20/11/2018

experience inertia due to internal tension in donor agencies But donors may ... be unable to respond to need for long-term action because of domestic pressure for short-term action be lacking knowledge how to move from high level of analysis to practical action perceive findings imcompatible with corporate donor policies or prevailing political interests in country experience inertia due to internal tension in donor agencies 20/11/2018