This blog from TPP Principal Niki Palmer considers the importance of ideas of nature for action on climate and environment. Unlike interests, ideas are not always fully considered in political economy analysis. Yet ideas help to define action in relation to the natural world, including through global negotiations at the COPs. This blog challenges us to consider ideas more closely, suggesting that through doing so more innovative pathways forward can be found that work with and for nature, not against it. 

Nigeria’s forest policy is at a turning point, with a growing domestic push for conservation amidst environmental degradation. This working paper by TPP Principal Olly Owen and Associate Sa'eed Husaini explores key trends, challenges, and opportunities in the sector, offering insights into how innovative, multi-level solutions can shape sustainable futures.

We're pleased to share with you our latest newsletter. Read here to find out more about the projects we have been working on at TPP, and exciting news about the launch of our next Political Economy Analysis in Action and Political Economy Analysis for Climate Action online training courses starting spring 2025.

This issue celebrates the appointment of TPPs Associate Dr Suwaiba Ahmad as Nigeria’s Federal Minister of State Education, as well as sharing our new paper we have jointly published with the Thinking and Working Politically Community of Practice - Political Economy Analysis in Sudan. 

The Policy Practice is delighted to be re-running the popular online course on Political Economy Analysis for Climate Action. This course explains how political economy analysis can be used to understand the challenge of action on climate change and to design more effective interventions.  The course will consist of eight, 2-hour online sessions from 19 May to 19 June 2025. For more information and to register please click below or see our flyer here.

Congratulations to TPP Associate Dr Suwaiba Ahmad who has been appointed by Nigeria's President as the new Federal Minister of State Education.

Suwaiba is an education expert, gender advocate, and the Director of Bayero University's Centre for Gender Studies in Kano, Northern Nigeria. She has been working with TPP to provide advice to the UK's Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria education programme. 

We wish her all possible success. From our experience of working closely with her, we know that she will bring a combination of hard work, personal integrity, passion for education and political realism to her new role.

Photo credit: ANTARA / Mudaffar Fauzan

On Sunday 20 October, Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated as the President of Indonesia. This blog explores the implications for the drive for electric vehicles (EV). Indonesia has made bold strides in developing an EV value chain. But the sector now faces major constraints including: reputational damage due to the environmental harm of mining and processing; challenges in accessing major Western markets; fiscal constraints and competing priorities under the new government; and the active promotion of a different model by manufacturers. The blog suggests ways in which external partners could work with Indonesia to support the resolution of these issues. 

We are pleased to announce the launch of our next Political Economy Analysis in Action online training course, starting 3 February and running until 5 June 2025.

The course is designed to equip participants to identify the challenges arising from political economy features of the contexts in which they work, and to draw well-grounded conclusions for policy, strategy, or programme design and implementation.

If you or your colleagues are interested in participating in this course or a tailored one in the future, please see our course flyer or email training@thepolicypractice.com for further details.

This paper examines the impact of Political Economy Analysis (PEA) training in Sudan, focusing on the Kullana Liltanmia Contextual Analysis course. It underscores three key lessons: the importance of deepening understanding of complex, unstable environments like Sudan for informed decision-making; the underutilised potential of PEA in supporting individuals and key political actors; and the need for adaptive, participant-driven PEA training, especially in fragile, conflict-affected settings, requiring creativity and courage from all involved.

TPP are pleased to welcome Steve Fraser and Theodore Trefon as our two new Associates.

Steve Fraser has over 30 years of experience living, studying and working in Nigeria as a development practitioner, including as Technical Director for the Engaged Citizens pillar of the UK's flagship governance programme in Nigeria.

Theodore Trefon is a senior researcher at the Belgian Royal Museum for Central Africa. He has devoted his career to studying environmental governance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and elsewhere in Central Africa.