1. DRIVERS OF CHANGE Opportunities & Constraints
Africa Governance Retreat
May 2005
Ann Freckleton

2. What have the DOC studies told us?
All the studies take growth as a given
Multiple DOC have been identified
26 key or potential DOC
Between 9-18 identified for each country
But common themes have emerged
9 identified in over two-thirds of the studies
Mix of structural, institutions, agents

3. Key Drivers of Change The top three Close runners-up Corruption
Elite Capture & Civil Society
External Actors
Close runners-up
Media & Public Administration Reform
Ethnicity/Discrimination, Political Opposition, Decentralisation & Private Sector

4. DOC study recommendations
Most indicate the need to focus on issues with political traction
But there are relatively few operational recommendations
Instead the recommendations focus on how we work

5. The studies suggest we….
Ensure teams have country knowledge
Tailor our ambitions to the situation
Adopt longer-term strategies
Set realistic time-frames
Are flexible, as politics is unpredictable
View crisis as an opportunity

6. And…. Recognise that power doesn’t only lie with the government
Work with non-traditional partners
Use non-traditional channels
Find ways of stimulating demand
Recognise our role is political
Recognise our incentives affect our behaviour

7. We have used this knowledge to…
Promote joint working with OGDs
Harmonise with donor partners
Influence partner governments
Improve the quality of engagement
Inform planning
Analyse & mitigate risk
And to a lesser extent – select or modify programme initiatives

8. To make the link to programming
Undertake diagnostic work with operational implications in mind, & with programme staff
Gain &/or use a greater understanding of:
Informal systems
How policy is implemented
Incentives – the levers for change
Non-traditional groups
Non-traditional channels
Non like-minded partners

9. And we may need to…
Undertake some additional work on methodologies &/or tools
Develop complementary aid instruments
Consider greater use of complementary non-aid instruments
Develop long-term strategies, but strengthen our ability to gauge progress

10. Our capacity Recognise we can’t do it all ourselves
But match partners to tasks & legitimate non-traditional sources
Build DFID capacity
TSP & the Governance Cadre
But reach out beyond Governance Cadre
Be aware of our own incentives & where necessary modify the right ones