Policy and Practice Brief 18 - Nine lessons from Issue-based programming
This Policy and Practice brief from TPP Director Gareth Williams discusses Issues-Based Programming (IBP), a development approach which mobilises stakeholders to drive change around locally defined issues. This paper examines its application in several countries through case studies of UK-funded projects and assesses IBP's effectiveness, highlighting successes and failures.
The nine success factors for IBP are:
- identifying tangible, tractable and feasible issues,
- clustering and building on issues,
- having a vision for transformational change,
- linking analysis to action,
- facilitating locally led and self-motivated stakeholder engagement
- mobilising the right combination of skills,
- ensuring effective programme leadership,
- using grants sparingly and strategically, and
- enabling flexible and adaptive programming.
Gareth argues that while IBP presents challenges, it has already demonstrated positive results including in difficult political contexts. The approach warrants further investment linked to experimentation, research and evaluation.
New Swiss Thinking and Working Politically Network
The Policy Practice is proud to be associated with the creation of a Swiss community of practice on thinking and working politically.
Our launch event will be on Thursday 27 March from 1pm to 2:30pm. It will explore “How does political economy differ and complement other approaches?”. In addition to case studies from Burkina Faso and Bosnia-Herzegovina, TPP Director Laure-Hélène Piron will share her insights on how PEA can be combined with other approaches.
If you would like to join the community and attend the event, please contact Andreas Weber, SDC PEA lead.
The implications of Trump for climate action - latest blog from TPP Director Neil McCulloch
Trump’s rapid reversal of Biden’s climate agenda has shocked many. In one week, he dismantled decades of environmental progress by lifting oil and gas restrictions, scrapping decarbonization targets, and abandoning international commitments including the Paris Agreement. This blog explores how these moves threaten U.S. climate progress and global climate action.
Latest News from The Policy Practice - February 2025
In this month’s newsletter we discuss:
🔹The launch of the next Political Economy Analysis for Climate Action training course starting in May
🔹 Issues-Based Programming (IBP): A fresh look at mobilising stakeholders for change, with insights from TPP Director Gareth Williams.
🔹 New Work in the Francophone Sahel: Addressing governance, conflict, and development challenges in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal.
🔹 Political Economy of Disaster Management & Climate Adaptation: A new collaboration with UNDP to assess governance and institutional responses to climate disasters.