The Policy Practice applies a political economy lens to understand how power is distributed and used across politics, economics and society. We examine how governments, central administrations, local authorities, politicians, civil society organisations or economic actors operate and how they could be incentivised to reform and better serve their communities.
Our governance, conflict and fragility expertise covers:
- politics, accountability and civil society
- institutional development
- public sector reform
- public financial management
- governance of service delivery
- security, justice and human rights
- conflict and stability analysis
- state-building and peace-building
We have a particular track record in fragile and conflict-affected countries where politically-informed approaches are essential, for example across the Horn of Africa.
The Policy Practice is assisting the World Bank Governance Practice pilot a training course and design clinics to support the roll-out of its new GovEnable approach between January and July 2023.
Democracy and human rights have been under increased pressure globally. The Varieties of Democracy Institute’s latest report has found that advances in democracy over the last 35 years have been wiped out, and that 72% of the world’s population live in autocracies in 2022. In this challenging context, international development agencies have been adjusting how they support democracy and rights objectives. This webinar aimed to flip the global conversation.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) requested a review of its Governance for Development Program in Timor Leste (2014-2021). It examined the programme's relevance, efficiency and effectiveness, including the extent to which it is able to Think and Work Politically.