JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025
Bringing you the latest news and updates on all things TWP
Dear friends and fellow travellers on all things TWP,
Welcome to our January - February 2025 TWP CoP Newsletter.
As we publish this edition of our Newsletter, a lot is happening in foreign affairs and international development —not least the fate of USAID and the impact this will have in this field, both directly and indirectly, across countries and continents. Things are moving very fast, and there seems to be a lot of uncertainty as organisations grapple with the effects that this evolving landscape will have on the work that they do and the people they work with from the local to the national to the regional and global levels.
While the focus of this edition of our Newsletter is not on where all of this is heading, as a Community of Practice, we hope to bring people together in spaces where we can discuss these current events and think about what the implications may be. Please watch this space — and if you have any thoughts, ideas or suggestions on this, please get in touch with us at: info@twpcommunity.org (see also our Publications and Resources list towards the end of this Newsletter for a few articles on the situation on USAID).
All right, now on to the content of the Newsletter, which is our New Year’s edition.
If we can start by asking for your feedback:
Please take two minutes to complete our survey. We would love to hear your thoughts about the TWP CoP and how we can be as useful a resource as possible to all those navigating in this space. Thanks a lot for your time!
Here is a summary of what is in store in this edition:
Our Highlight feature focuses on the webinar on Monitoring and Evaluation in Thinking and Working Politically that Florencia Guerzovich and Tom Aston convened in December 2024 and a paper they have written with their reflections. Some of that effort entails a visual story of the event.
In the “What we are working on” section, Peter Evans (Not that Peter Evans) shares his evolving thinking on how to capture complex concepts and ideas graphically.
In addition, in the “What we are working on” section you will find:
A new Think Piece by Brian Levy that explores how his concept of a socially embedded bureaucracy (SEB) might help improve the effectiveness of the public sector and increase its legitimacy in the eyes of the population. Brian has also written a longer, accompanying Working Paper that sets out the theoretical and empirical micro foundations of his argument.
A stand-alone publication of reflections from the “Why is the Green Energy Transition so Challenging in the Global South?” workshop that ECDPM, The Policy Practice and the TWP CoP organised with the World Bank in Brussels in October 2024.
Lessons from the POTENCIAR Programme in Mozambique emerging from an event hosted by the Institute of Development Studies on ‘Succeeding in the snakes and ladders game of development in Mozambique: The role of Collaborative Approaches’.
In “What we are reading”, David Jacobstein shares his top TWP highlights from the end of 2024.
As always, we also bring you the latest publications, events, resources and other news of interest from a TWP perspective.
If there is anything you would like to share with us, including items for future newsletters, please get in touch by email at: info@twpcommunity.org. And please share with your network, and subscribe if you haven’t already!
Oh and please remember: If you are able to, it is better to open the newsletter directly on your browser (click on the ‘TWP CoP January-February Newsletter’ header, at the top of this page) so that you can get full access to all our content.
With best wishes,
Alina & Graham
Highlight feature
Monitoring and Evaluation in Thinking and Working Politically
On 11 December 2024, Flor Guerzovich and Tom Aston convened a webinar on Monitoring and Evaluation in Thinking and Working Politically in collaboration with the TWP CoP. The webinar brought together a diverse range of organisations, programmes, and experts united by a common interest: how to integrate TWP in MEL systems more effectively in development initiatives that are funded by international agencies. In total, 118 people from across Africa, North and South America, Asia and Europe joined the discussion, which was organised as a “fishbowl” (this was an entirely new technique to me, hence sharing a link that explains what it is in case for others like me!)
Building on insights and reflections from the Webinar, Flor and Tom have also written a Report, which is now available on the TWP CoP website:
Here is a visual summary of the Report, which neatly captures the different elements the paper covers:
What we are working on
1. New TWP CoP Publications
In addition to Flor and Tom’s Webinar Report, we are delighted to announce the publication of the following papers:
Socially-Embedded Bureaucracy
A New TWP Think Piece on “Renewing the public domain: Can a more socially embedded bureaucracy help?” and companion TWP Working Paper on the “Micro-foundations of Socially Embedded Bureaucracies”, by Brian Levy:
The past 15+ years have witnessed a dramatic collapse in the trust and legitimacy of government in the eyes of the population in countries across both the Global North and the Global South. There is profound popular discontent with the workings of the (democratic) state and a public sector that is considered widely ineffective – and the stakes could not be higher. Mainstream approaches to public-sector governance largely embodied in New Public Management (NPM) may have contributed to this generalised discontent. Can a more socially embedded bureaucracy help?
The question is relevant at both micro- and systemic levels. At the micro-level, can a socially embedded bureaucracy rooted in collaboration among actors within and outside government help improve the effectiveness of the public sector? At the systemic level, can micro-level gains in turn contribute to a broader renewal of the perceived legitimacy of the public domain?
Brian’s Think Piece provides an overview of the debates surrounding these questions, while the accompanying Working Paper lays out a new synthesis of the theoretical and empirical micro-foundations of such bureaucracies. Both papers illustrate the argument with examples of how social embeddedness can improve governance of basic education, including in Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya and Peru.
The politics of the Energy Transition
Reflections from a Workshop on “Why is the Green Energy Transition so challenging in the Global South”, by Alfonso Medinilla, Bruce Byiers and Neil McCulloch
This stand-alone paper captures the insights and reflections (as well as accompanying videos) that we shared in the November-December 2024 edition of our Newsletter on the ECDPM-The Policy Practice-TWP CoP workshop on the “The politics of the energy transition in the Global South” convened in collaboration with the World Bank in Brussels on 9 October 2024.
2. Breaking out of linear narratives
Th(Inking) and working politically, by Peter Evans
I am a hack of many trades – at work and play. Late onset political economy followed stints as a governance and social development adviser, a PhD in urban health, and before that I was a swan catcher and nearly became a zoologist. Drawing and painting also ebbs and flows in my life. One of the few things that I saved from 20 years in DFID is a paper file marked ‘best doodles’.
Among the things that frustrate me in political economy analysis and research (language too arcane, too slow to emerge in public, too much of a private good because it is not widely shared, too niche and speaking to the converted…) is the limitation inherent in analysing a fascinating and complex context and policy problem and presenting it in a linear narrative text. This is just what modern humans do, but it feels like a real constraint when what we are describing is complex and anything but linear. I think linear communication also fosters ‘solutionism’ and technocracy. As well as boredom.
I am an armchair fan of systems thinking too, though my grip on the science is weak and I get easily turned off by abstract tools and framing. Lots of similarly sized bubbles, forests of thin connectors, and tiny labels….
In systems, my inspiration is schoolbook diagrams of ecosystems - so physical geography, flora and fauna, biology, chemistry, weather, and the relationships between these things. (Importantly) the system flows – carbon, water, nitrates etc.
So…. I’ve been taking the doodles and trying to make them a little more polished, and using just enough systems thinking, in an attempt to break out of linear narratives of power, politics, and context, but also pinning this to organisational ‘geography’ – such as the fiscal architecture of how a government spends public funds (in theory at least).
Until now, my method was to scratch out a drawing on paper and then send this to my in-house artist (daughter @hamsiiidris actually now living far away) to draw on an iPad. I would then bombard her with demands for changes. Lately she has been busy with fripperies like university finals, so I have been teaching myself to use graphic software, under her remote supervision. We both work under the brand ‘Th(inking) in Progress’.
Diagrams emerge from my own work, but also when I read analysis that I like and feel a strong urge to try and set it out graphically – so recent examples include the Kenya economic crisis (based on blogs by Ken Opalo), Sri Lanka fiscal system, and the Bangladesh revenue system (based on a chapter in a new Whitepaper).
The Bangladesh revenue diagram and accompanying blog are the most recent and were also produced at pace – so acting quickly and getting something out in the policy moment was more important than perfection. The blog also strays into cartoons – in an attempt to use the dark arts (sarcasm, satire) to slay some of the resilient ‘zombies’ of technocratic tax reform.
It was intended for a non-specialist audience, and I have been flattered by circulation within the Bangladesh reform system. Perhaps there is room in the world for more tax jokes….
If you want to know more – please get in touch (Peterevans.pje@gmail.com). Ideas for future diagrams always sought. And if you want to use the diagrams – feel free, with attribution.
3. Lessons from POTENCIAR
Succeeding in the snakes and ladders game of development in Mozambique: The Role of Collaborative Approaches. The POTENCIAR Programme
On 5 December 2024, the Institute of Development Studies conducted a seminar to share insights from the POTENCIAR programme. The programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), seeks to address accountability and governance issues undermining the delivery of basic services in Mozambique through civic engagement, multi-stakeholder platforms and coalition-building.
This seminar shared insights from POTENCIAR on brokering dialogue in adaptive programmes, exploring incentives for collaboration in highly centralised authoritarian contexts and lessons from collaborative practices – including how they operate like “ladders” (some small, some big) to skip over the “snakes” of contextual disabling factors. Through the presentation of different case studies, the speakers showed how the ladder can be useful in fostering collaborative approaches to secure accountability in contexts marked by conflict, political polarisation, closing civic space and/or a growing tendency towards authoritarianism and centralisation of political decision-making.
In this seminar, the POTENCIAR team shared how the programme has used Political Economy Analysis in conjunction with participatory and ethnographic research approaches to identify entry points for tackling the priority issues affecting the quality of maternal health services provided to poor and marginalised women in a conflict-affected region of Mozambique. Neil McCulloch, who is a TWP CoP Steering Committee Member, helped to frame the relevance of the experiences and lessons emerging from POTENCIAR within current debates on thinking and working politically in authoritarian and conflict-affected contexts.
What we are reading
Some of you may be familiar with David Jacobstein, who has been a champion of all things PEA and TWP throughout his career in international development, and is an integral part of the TWP CoP on both sides of the pond. Among other things, he writes “What we are reading” missives that are always resource-packed (and I honestly don’t know how David can engage with so much material so meaningfully all the time). He wrote one to close 2024, and I asked for his permission to include a slightly adapted version of it here, which he kindly agreed to on an individual capacity.
So here goes. As you will see, Flor and Tom’s event on TWP and MEL gets a plug, as do a few other things we have done through the TWP CoP.
What we are reading, by David Jacobstein
Hi all,
I hope the close of the year is bringing everyone a moment of respite and a chance to reflect on the past year and look forward to the new. Here are some of the things we've been musing on over the last months, leading with several big events and papers:
I've been waiting for a while for a robust ex-post evaluation of social accountability in the Dominican Republic to be published, and am really excited that I can finally share this research. By tracing shifts over a longer timeframe, starting not with a given project but with the local system and the actors in it, the research surfaces layering or the way specific, timebound projects both add to and draw on earlier work, particularly on social capital, relationships, and shared understandings, even as key people moved into and out of different roles in the education system. This helps avoid the mistake of seeing change as a reflection of a single project and its choices, and instead encourages learning from those who pushed change forward over time, how they leveraged different projects to help, and how they reacted in different situations to pursue broader goals.
This research was featured in a panel that I had the privilege to help organise during the second annual USAID Local Capacity Strengthening Learning and Feedback Forum in October 2024. Rachel Gondo-Magama provided excellent synthesis of which capacities in her experience matter most to local actors as they pursue reforms ranging from service delivery to accountability. Rachel highlighted the importance of supporting actors to understand system structures, including less visible connections and the constitution of local systems linked to technical knowledge, as well as enabling "strategic savvinness" to navigate such spaces. She also emphasised the need to balance diversity coherently, so that networks can both leverage relationships to be effective but also address power asymmetries through trust and breadth, linking this to the capacity to adapt and self-renovate. Really, a tour de force discussion weaving together systems thinking, political economy, and local capacity. Flor Guerzovich then walked through some of her research and the evidence base around what works to strengthen relational capacity through facilitation and orchestration.
The Fall of 2024 also saw the release of USAID’s Local Systems Position Paper, an update to the Local Systems Framework and a chance to articulate new directions and agendas in promoting systems practice. It's been a lot of work drawing on systems thinkers from across our community. The Paper is not currently available online, but let me share these reflections on it from systems practice exemplar Alan Hudson. We hope many of you will join the systems practice journey!
You can hear more about the Local Systems Position Paper and related themes from lead author Rachel Leeds, Monalisa Salib, and me on a podcast, part of a new series from Abt, produced in collaboration with the Portfolio MEL (PMEL) programme in Nepal, on systems practice for development (I also really enjoyed their pilot episode on portfolios and am looking forward to the rest)
Tom Aston wrote a journal article which provides a truly tremendous roundup of the state of play in evaluations in the first half of 2024, including a host of embedded research and links. I particularly liked this webinar on scale and this reflection from thought leader Patricia Rodgers on the appropriate role of evaluation in this context and how it can offer more learning than simple retrospective engagement. The entire article represents a clear review of multiple, competing perspectives around what we can know and how we can know it in development work.
Perhaps connected, Tom wrote another article going through a robust engagement on the work of fostering relationships, its distinction from simply buying goods or services, and how this therefore links to both limitations on "smart buys" and more broadly should inform choices of tools to generate and disseminate knowledge. In particular, this illustrates the problem that assumptions underpinning a paradigm of "smart buys" - the replication of proven interventions as silver bullets that just work - is rooted in the tractability of issues to techniques. It's not just that RCTs aren't a good fit for looking at relationships, systems change, and iterative learning; it's that those topics are deliberately downplayed in particular evidence discussions because they aren't tractable to preferred evaluation techniques. And yet, as Tom shows, there are numerous research and learning paradigms generating powerful evidence about what works in these spaces; it's just a matter of absorbing their lessons into technical guidance and fostering rigour and clarity within the tools appropriate to those spaces.
A number of other resources to highlight include:
For those who prefer other media formats, a nice video from the UNDP M&E Sandbox on their efforts to find a middle ground between reacting to emergence and making predictions; you can find a related practitioners' take here with some highlights.
Connected to the above, the start of a series on how work on behavioural science can address complexity.
A short review of how gender and faith norms might be linked to corruption as well as help tackle it.
A Democracy in Africa synthesis of anti-corruption evaluations and takeaways for more effective programming
A related review of U4 anti-corruption evaluations, suggesting broader mechanisms and pathways than typically envisioned. This reminded me of the middle range theories identified by practitioners and synthesised in the social accountability 3.0 framework developed by Flor and Tom.
A nice roundup by Jonathan Papoulidis of recent articles and research on the role of coalitions, a hot topic in various spaces.
A review by Duncan Green in From Poverty to Power of an interesting book by Naila Kabeer on popular protest and Renegotiating Patriarchy in Bangladesh.
Shared through the TWP CoP, a paper by Bev Jones and a team of Sudanese colleagues telling the story of how TWP has been undertaken in Sudan by those close to the action.
Greg Power's Inside the Political Mind, which focuses on the way incentives shape political actors' behaviour in ways that often seem unanticipated by donors. Greg discussed his book in a USAID Tuesday Group. You can also watch this interview with him and Alina Rocha Menocal from the TWP CoP.
Relatedly, here's a well observed from The Asia Foundation (TAF) published by the TWP CoP on the Ripple Effects of Politicians, which builds on a TAF-TWP CoP webinar featuring a Conversation on Politics, Development, and Change.
A fantastic post from Monalisa Salib on how to recruit and empower adaptive senior managers
Perspectives from practitioners highlighting how monitoring and learning is matching with TWP, in the form of a fishbowl video that Flor and Tom facilitated in collaboration with the TWP CoP.
Happy New Year!
Bulletin Board
1. Courses and Training Opportunities
Political Economy Analysis for Climate Action online course, The Policy Practice (19 May - 19 June 2025)
The Policy Practice is running an online training course on the Political Economy Analysis for Action on Climate Change. This course draws on the ODI-TPP flagship Applied Political Economy Analysis training course, but with material focussed on how PEA can maximise the effectiveness of action on climate change. This course will equip participants to identify and manage the political economy challenges of the contexts in which they work, and to draw well-grounded conclusions for climate policy, strategy or programme design and implementation. The course comprises of eight interactive two-hour sessions spread over four weeks from 19 May to 19 June 2025. The application process is open. Visit this link for more information, or email training@thepolicypractice.com
2. Call for papers
The editorial team of the Journal of Migration Politics is inviting paper proposals for their authors’ fellowship in residence programme. They are seeking submissions from scholars conducting innovative and inspiring research on the politics involved in representing, controlling, and managing migration. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their proposals by 15 March 2025. Visit this link for more information.
Recent Publications
1. Academic and policy-oriented publications
Addison, T., and Roe, A. (2024). Resources Matter: Ending Poverty While Protecting Nature. Oxford University Press.
This book discusses how the extractive industries can be leveraged to generate larger and more beneficial impacts in poorer economies and improve livelihoods at local and national levels. The central argument is that the so-called 'resource curse' - the potentially negative effect of resource booms on economies and societies - is not inevitable, as is often argued. Rather, the authors argue, much can be done through policy, coordinated government action in partnership with the private sector, and judicious investments to improve the prospects for resource wealth to make a positive contribution to escaping underdevelopment and poverty. Companies in the extractives industry have a key role in working with governments to achieve these goals.
Albertus, M. (2025). Land Power: Who Has It, Who Doesn’t, and How That Determines the Fate of Societies. Hachette UK.
This book examines how land became power, how it shapes power, and how who holds that power determines the fundamental and societal problems that societies grapple with, including inequality, prosperity, and ecological health. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of how land ownership shapes societal outcomes and offers insights into how rethinking land distribution can address persistent social and environmental issues.
Antunez, D. (2024). Financing Repression: Why Development Banks Must Rethink Finance in Countries Blocking Civic Freedoms. Coalition for Human Rights in Development, International Accountability Project and Early Warning System.
Around the world, development finance institutions (DFIs) are heavily investing in highly repressive contexts, where people cannot publicly voice their concerns and civil society groups are unable to operate freely. This report combines quantitative analysis of DFIs’ investments and case studies to reveal the extent to which development banks are funding projects in countries with closed civic space; explain why civic space restrictions should be a critical concern for development banks; and outline a series of recommendations that development banks should follow before approving projects in such contexts.
Berutti, E., and Wennmann, A. (2024). Urban Political Settlements: A New Lens for Peace-making in Cities. Conflict, Security and Development.
This article presents the conceptual lens of the urban political settlement. The authors argue that ordering actors in cities and towns in contexts marked by conflict, violence, and fragile institutions can form urban political settlements independently from those actors at the national level, providing trajectories for stabilising cities. They discuss the shortcomings of the literature on political settlements discuss the shortcomings of the literature on political settlement analysis and efforts to subsume political settlements at the city level to those at the national level. In response, the authors present the lens of the urban political settlement through an analysis of the actors involved as well as the control spheres of cities under conditions of conflict, violence, and institutional fragility – territory, population, and the economy – and the control capacities of ordering actors – violence, financial, and institutional.
Calleja, R., Belles, S. C., and Cichoka, B. (2025). What Does It Mean for Agencies to Be Effective in a Changing Development Landscape? Policy Paper 350. Centre for Global Development.
This paper explores the concept of agency effectiveness to demonstrate why agencies and their leadership should consider how their structures and processes interact with the changing landscape as part of their efforts to remain relevant and resilient. The article considers how the current challenges facing agencies, including the need to respond to climate change, global instability, and changing domestic political environments, affect why agencies act, what they do, and how they do it. It explores dominant understandings of agency effectiveness, which provide a lens for thinking about what it may mean for agencies to be effective in the years ahead. The authors argue that the challenges facing development agencies in the changing landscape raise key issues for agencies to consider, particularly around what they prioritise, how they are structured, and the capabilities or ways of working needed to respond to complex demands. While there is unlikely to be a single approach for agencies looking to adapt to changing contexts, considering the implications of new and future pressures for the work of development agencies will be a necessary first step towards supporting their resilience and relevance in the years ahead.
Cheeseman, N., Biong, L., and Yakani, E. (2024). How to Hold Peaceful Elections in South Sudan. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung South Sudan Office.
This discussion paper is a follow-up to the 2023 publication How (Not) to Hold Elections in South Sudan. Building on earlier work, this analysis delves deeper into strategies that can be implemented to promote more peaceful elections. It draws inspiration from discussions held during a series of reflection meetings with civil society members, political decisionmakers, and academics from South Sudan. Adopting a pragmatic approach, the authors present practical and realistic options for citizens and decision-makers to consider as South Sudan prepares for the 2026 elections. The paper acknowledges the significant potential for conflict surrounding the elections, given the country’s current challenges and constraints, while also identifying opportunities for progress.
Cheeseman, N., Desrosiers, M.E., Cianetti, L., and Gehrke, M (2024). How to Strengthen Democratic Resilience: Five Lessons for Democratic Renewal. European Democracy Hub.
This report aims to enable activists, civil society groups, policymakers, international donors, and researchers to better understand democratic resilience. The report explains what democratic resilience is, provides guidance on how to strengthen it, shares recent academic findings, and highlights important areas for future research. Drawing on extensive literature reviews and discussions with activists and policymakers from over 15 countries, the authors offer lessons about how to reconceptualise and defend democratic resilience. They advocate for more innovative and forward-thinking approaches to better respond to the adaptability of their authoritarian counterparts.
Clift, B. (2024). Global economic governance and environmental crisis: the widening repertoire of IMF economic ideas and limits of its climate policy advocacy. Climate Policy .
This article analyses the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s economic thinking on climate policy to explore the scope and limits of working towards green transition within global economic governance institutions. It distils the essence of and synthesises core insights from the international political economy literature on the IMF as an actor in world politics, and on Fund ideational change, to inform how to make sense of their role within climate policy.
Foa, R.S. and Kleinfeld, R. (2024). When Populists Rise, Economies Usually Fall. Harvard Business Review.
This article explores the economic consequences of populist leadership. The authors argue that both right-wing and left-wing populist leaders often undermine the foundational elements of capitalism, such as free competition and a predictable rule of law. This erosion leads to economic instability, characterised by lower stock returns and higher inflation. The authors highlight that populist leaders frequently challenge established economic policies and institutions, creating an unpredictable environment for businesses and investors. This unpredictability can deter investment and disrupt markets, ultimately harming economic performance.
Hassan, Z. and Hellyer, H.A. (eds.) (2024). Suppressing Dissent: Shrinking Civic Space, Transnational Repression and Palestine–Israel. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Civic space is shrinking across the globe. Every year, human rights defenders, humanitarians, social justice activists, and their organizations face new threats in their ability to advocate for change, organize campaigns, or protest against oppressive policies. This crisis of civil society is particularly acute in the context of dissent and speech related to Palestine–Israel, which has become especially polarising. This edited volume gathers scholars to shed light on the various mechanisms being used to suppress dissent related to Palestine-Israel and explains why this presents an existential threat to global civil society.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace organised a panel discussion to examine the book’s major findings and wider implications for speech and protest on college campuses and beyond. Follow this link to watch the recording.
Jobarteh, S. (ed)., Gender and Peace in Latin America- What Lessons Can We Learn? KOFF Magazine.
This edition of the KOFF magazine takes a closer look at the intersections of gender and peacebuilding in Latin America. This region faces some of the most prevalent gender-based violence cases, including alarmingly high rates of femicides in countries like Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and Venezuela. Yet, amidst these challenges, feminist movements and organisations in Latin America stand out as powerful agents of positive change, resisting violence and advocating for rights and justice. This edition highlights their transformative efforts and explores how the lessons from their activism could inform peacebuilding strategies in other conflict-affected contexts.
Jones, E., and Youngs, R. (2024). Civic Activism in an Intensifying Climate Crisis. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
To address the deepening climate crisis, climate activism is employing a wider variety of tactics and aiming at a broader set of goals. In response, the movement faces stronger repression and civic backlash against climate action. This book offers a comprehensive examination of the evolving landscape of climate activism by exploring the current state and anticipated future of climate related civic engagement.
Karkare, P., and Medinilla, A. (2024). The geography of green iron and steel: New opportunities for Europe and North Africa. ECDPM.
This paper examines the potential for decarbonising the iron and steel industry through enhanced collaboration between Europe and North Africa. It highlights the challenges Europe faces in decarbonising its energy-intensive industries, particularly concerning costs and the risk of deindustrialisation. The authors argue that North Africa's abundant renewable energy resources could be pivotal in producing green hydrogen, a key component in sustainable steel production. They contend that, by leveraging these resources, both regions could foster green investment, promote regional integration, and strengthen economic ties. The paper emphasises the need for significant coordination and strategic partnerships to realise these opportunities.
ECDPM organised a webinar to explore these issues. Watch the recording here.
Lazar, N.C., and Wallace, J. (2025). Resisting the Authoritarian Temptation. Journal of Democracy, vol. 3, no. 1.
The failures of democracies and democratic institutions in meeting climate challenges have led some scholars and activists to question the functionality of democracy. In this article, the authors argue that, while some claim that democracy's failures in addressing climate change justify authoritarian governance, these arguments rely on empirical, conceptual, and normative confusions. They posit that democracies in fact perform better than authoritarian regimes in addressing climate challenges, and that they possess unique resources for climate action through institutional flexibility, accountability, and information flows. The article highlights the risks of trading away democratic governance for authoritarian control, contending that democracy's specific strengths become even more critical in times of crisis.
Lazell, M., and Petrikova, I. (2025). UK Aid is Failing: Suggestions for an Impactful, Coherent and Globally Aware Development Practice. International Affairs, vol. 101, no.1
This policy paper proposes a new international development agenda for the recently elected Labour government in the UK. The paper’s recommendations include the following. First, that the UK recognises the complexity and contested nature of global development and the inherent limits of international development policy and aid. Second, that the UK pauses and reviews its use of private-sector instruments for channelling aid. Third, that the UK consolidates its aid programme, prioritising areas with clearer links to positive sustainable outcomes. Fourth, that the UK adopts a partnership approach to global development and embraces peer-to-peer learning. Lastly, that the UK works to minimise the negative side-effects of development interventions and improves policy coherence for development across all its departments.
Lubinski, F. (2024). Inquiries into the Failure and the Wealth of Nations: New Institutional Economics and Classical Political Economy. European University Institute.
This article attempts to compare the research programme of New Institutional Economics (NIE), represented by Nobel Prize winners, Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson, with broadly defined Classical Political Economy. The paper explores the relationship between classical political economy and new institutional economics in understanding economic success and failure; and it examines how institutional frameworks influence economic development. The paper argues that while classical political economy emphasised production, markets, and division of labour, NIE focuses on transaction costs, property rights, and governance structures. By integrating insights from both traditions, the article suggests that understanding economic failure requires analysing both historical institutional constraints and the evolution of economic policies.
Masiko-Kambala, P. (2024). ‘Context is Everything’: Permutations of Gender Mainstreaming in the Public Service. ESR Review: Economic and Social Rights in South Africa.
This article argues that gender mainstreaming can be interpreted differently depending on context. When the focus is on the provision of interim municipal services at an informal settlement level, the context within which gender mainstreaming is applied or interrogated plays a crucial role in understanding its effectiveness. It examines how gender mainstreaming is implemented in different public service contexts and highlights that the success and effectiveness of gender mainstreaming depend heavily on institutional, cultural, and political environments. Emphasising that a one-size-fits-all approach to gender mainstreaming is ineffective, the paper explores various approaches to integrating gender considerations into policy-making and administration, analysing how factors such as leadership commitment, bureaucratic structures, and societal norms influence outcomes.
Masood, A., Calleja, R., and Jacquet, P. (2025). The Future of Official Development Assistance: Incremental Improvements or Radical Reform? Centre for Global Development.
This report, a compendium on the future of ODA, aims to provide fresh thinking and inspire the action needed for ODA to remain relevant and effective. It examines the evolving role of ODA in addressing global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and humanitarian crises. The report highlights that while ODA budgets are under strain, donor countries are increasingly redirecting resources away from traditional poverty alleviation towards these emerging issues, leading to questions about ODA's current purpose and effectiveness. The report emphasises that without reform, ODA's credibility and effectiveness are at risk of further erosion. It calls for a balanced approach that combines bold steps with pragmatic considerations to ensure that development finance remains responsive to today's challenges, builds trust, and creates a sustainable future for all.
Matani, T. C., and Urrutia, A. (2024). Promoting Bottom-Up Dialogue: A Study of Community-Level Dialogue Experiences in Zimbabwe. Institute for Integrated Transitions.
In Zimbabwe, there is a rich culture of dialogue to engage and resolve disputes at the community level. Though varying in scope and subject, these dialogues represent a bottom-up approach where local constituents are not just participants but drivers of conversation and change. Drawing on findings from an investigation of 13 community dialogues in Zimbabwe between 2017 and 2023 at the ward, village, and district levels, this report seeks to 1) identify successful positive strategies for non-partisan, community-level dialogue; and 2) consider their potential replication at the national level to help catalyse meaningful issue-based dialogue among different actors.
McCandless, E. (2025). Inclusion and social contracts in Tunisia: Navigating the complexities of political and socio-economic transformation. World Development, vol.188.
Societal demands for more politically and socio-economically inclusive social contracts are growing globally. Despite a celebrated highly inclusive political transition process, one decade on Tunisia seems to be back on what many have characterised as an authoritarian path, with strong support from the population. This paper develops an analytical framing to assess inclusion in processes (primarily political and civil) and outcomes (political, civil, and especially socio-economic) driving change in Tunisia’s social contract, and the nature and sustainability of change. The author argues that inclusion in political, democratic and peace processes is not enough to sustain more inclusive social contracts, and that socio-economic outcomes (including addressing core grievances) is essential for transformative transitions.
Milmanda, B. F. (2024). Agrarian Elites and Democracy in Latin America. Cambridge University Press.
This book delves into the underexplored realm of agrarian elites and their relationship to democracy in Latin America. It examines the strategies these elites use to gain an advantage in the democratic system. The book provides a detailed examination of when and how agrarian elites participate in the electoral arena to protect their interests, including through innovative non-partisan strategies.
Musoni, M., Karkare, P., and Teevan C.,(2024). Cross-border data flows in Africa: Continental ambitions and political realities. ECDPM.
This paper looks at national policies that often prioritise domestic interests and how those conflict with regional and continental goals. This is due to differences in political ideologies, socio-economic conditions, security concerns and economic priorities. This misalignment between national agendas and the broader Africa Union (AU) strategy is shaped by each country’s unique context. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations to promote greater continental integration in relation to cross-border data flows. It suggests that the AU enhances support for data-sharing initiatives and calls on member states to focus on policy alignment, data infrastructure and the use of data. It also highlights how the EU can strengthen its support for Africa's data-sharing goals.
Newman, S., and Conrad, M. (2024). Post-Truth Populism: A New Political Paradigm. Palgrave Macmillan.
This book analyses the convergence between ‘post-truth’ political culture and the politics of populism. The premise is that there is an intrinsic link between post-truth discourse (referring to mis/disinformation, ‘alternative facts’, ‘fake news’, conspiracy theories and the general distrust of expert knowledge and official sources of information) and the central narrative of populism, which opposes the ‘common sense’ wisdom of ordinary ‘honest’ people to the ‘expert knowledge’ of ‘duplicitous’ technocratic elites. The book investigates the current post-truth phenomenon as a distinct feature of contemporary political life, and the specific ways in which it intersects with the resurgence of populism.
Nunan, F. (2025). Researching Institutions in Natural Resource Governance: Methods and Frameworks. Routledge.
Institutions as rules of the game are fundamental to the management, governance and use of renewable natural resources, such as fisheries, forests and water. Yet understanding institutions, particularly informal ones, can be challenging as they can be difficult to identify. The volume provides an essential introduction for students and researchers into the range of methods and approaches that can be used to research institutions associated with natural resource governance.
Panchulidze, E., and Youngs, R. (2025). The Source of Georgia’s Democratic Resilience. Journal of Democracy, vol. 36, no. 1.
This article examines how Georgia's pluralistic values and civic mobilisation have become key sources of democratic resilience, even as formal institutional safeguards have weakened. Despite a significant shift toward autocratisation in 2024, marked by restrictive laws and manipulated parliamentary elections, the response from civil society in Georgia has been increasingly determined and inclusive. This pattern of cyclical resilience, where autocratisation and democratic resistance occur simultaneously, has not yet led to a democratic turnaround but has ensured strong contestation of autocratic actions. The authors highlight that Georgia's experience demonstrates how a deepening democratic culture can persist even amid advancing autocratisation.
Shaffer, G., (2025). The Rule of Law under Pressure; A Transnational Challenge. Georgetown University.
The erosion of the rule of law has led to growing authoritarianism within a rising number of countries and in international relations. This book brings conceptual clarity to this complex and multidimensional topic and assesses recent trends in the rule of law at both national and international levels.
Tetty, G., Ansah, E. A., and Asante, W. (2025). The politics of renewable energy transition in Ghana: Issues, obstacles and prospects. Energy Research and Social Science, vol. 120.
This article provides an in-depth analysis of Ghana's renewable energy landscape. The authors examine the political dynamics influencing the country's shift towards renewable energy, identifying key challenges and potential pathways forward. Using a qualitative case study approach, this study seeks to understand why the Ghanaian government was not able to meet the country’s 10 % renewable energy generation target, and what lessons can be drawn for meeting the new set target.
Thow A.M., Neves D., Aidoo R., et al. (2024) Strengthening the governance of food systems for nutrition in Africa: a political economy analysis of food policy in South Africa and Ghana. Public Health Nutrition, vol. 27, no. 1.
Using comparative political economy analysis, this study examines underlying factors that enable or impede the integration of nutrition considerations into food system governance in Ghana and South Africa. The conclusions suggest that integrating nutrition into multi-sectoral food policy to achieve multiple food system policy goals will require strategic action across jurisdictions and regional levels. Opportunities included increasing investment in healthy traditional foods, strengthening urban/rural linkages and informal food systems, and strengthening institutional structures for policy coherence and coordination related to nutrition.
Van-Hauwaert, S. M., and Huber, R. A. (2025). Populism and Democracy on the Individual Level: Building on, Yet Moving Beyond the Supply Side. Cambridge University Press.
This article examines the relationship between populism and democracy from an individual perspective. The authors note that while extensive research has been conducted on populist actors—such as parties, leaders, and governments—the understanding of how populist attitudes influence individual citizens' perceptions of democracy remains limited. They argue that existing studies often assume that insights about populist actors apply equally to populist citizens, an assumption that may overlook important nuances. To address this gap, the authors review current literature on the individual-level interplay between populism and democracy, identifying theoretical and empirical shortcomings. They call for more nuanced and targeted research to fully comprehend how populist attitudes among individuals affect democratic engagement and perceptions
Von Billerbeck, S. et.al. (2025). United Nations Peacekeeping and the Politics of Authoritarianism. Oxford Academic.
This book explores the unintended consequences of UN peacekeeping missions on host nations' political landscapes. The authors argue that, despite the UN's commitment to promoting democratisation, peacekeeping operations can inadvertently enable authoritarian practices through two primary mechanisms- i) capacity building (whereby peacekeepers may inadvertently enhance the capabilities of host governments to implement authoritarian measures); and ii) a permissive environment. These mechanisms are illustrated through four in-depth case studies of UN peacekeeping operations in Cambodia (UNTAC), the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC/MONUSCO), Haiti (MINUSTAH), and Liberia (UNMIL).
Wike, R. (2025). Why the World Is Down on Democracy. Journal of Democracy, vol. 36, no. 1.
Despite widespread support for democratic ideals, many citizens feel that their governments are unresponsive and disconnected from their concerns. This discontent is particularly evident in high-income nations. In this article, the author identifies several key factors contributing to this disillusionment including; political dysfunction, economic inequality, and cultural backlash. To address these issues, Wike suggests that a new era of representation is needed, one featuring more diverse leaders, responsive politicians, and empowered publics.
Williams, G. (2025). Policy and Practice Brief 18 - Nine lessons from Issue-based programming. The Policy Practice.
This policy brief discusses Issues-Based Programming (IBP), a development approach which mobilises stakeholders to drive change around locally defined issues. The paper examines its application in several countries through case studies of UK-funded projects, while it also assesses IBP's effectiveness, highlighting key factors that have shaped the extent to which IBP has been effective. The author argues that, while IBP presents challenges, it has also demonstrated positive results, including in difficult political contexts. The approach warrants further investment linked to experimentation, research and evaluation.
Worthy, B., and Waugh, M. (2024). More open, more democratic or better at hiding? Two decades of local government transparency in the UK. Local Government Studies, vol. 50, no. 6.
Local government has long been the site of experiments and innovation in transparency. Since the 1990s, waves of reform have sought to open up local government in Britain, from the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in the 2000s to Open Data in the 2010s. This paper looks across the evidence to see how well these new transparency tools have worked, who is using them and why. It then moves to analyse what impact the changes have had on local government.
Yeboah-Assiamah, E., Baa-Naa, S., and Asamoah, K. (2024). “Where you stand depends on where you sit”: The politics of petroleum pricing in Ghana's election cycle. Politics and Policy, vol. 52, no. 6.
This study examines how fuel pricing in Ghana has been used as a political tool to win votes and the government's role in this process. It explores post-truth theory through content analysis of secondary data and interviews with energy experts. The findings indicate that political parties gain significant political leverage by promising lower fuel prices during campaigns but fail to deliver once in office. The government's influence on fuel pricing is minimal, largely due to factors beyond its control. To stabilise fuel prices, the study recommends improving fiscal and economic performance to combat currency instability and educating the public on the factors influencing fuel pricing to prevent misinformation.
2. Blogs, Podcasts and other opinion pieces
Abreh, M. K., Bedasso, B., and Nagesh, R. (2024). Cash or Meals? Household Preferences in the Ghana School Feeding Programme. Centre for Global Development Blogs.
This blog explores parental preferences regarding the modality of support in Ghana's national school feeding programme. The authors analyse data from a nationally representative survey of 1,425 caregivers whose children receive school meals. They identify several factors influencing parental choices including opportunity costs of meal preparation and vulnerability to food insecurity. The authors suggest that understanding these preferences can help tailor the school feeding programme to better meet the needs of different households, thereby optimising the benefits and costs of such initiatives
Ahmed, M., and Davies, R, (2024). Masood Ahmed on Development Cooperation in a Contested World. DevPolicy Talks Podcast.
In this episode of DevPolicy Talks, Robin Davies interviews Sir Masood Ahmed, former President of the US-based Center for Global Development and veteran of the World Bank and IMF. They discuss the future of development cooperation, reform of multilateral development banks, climate finance, and the changing nature of official development assistance in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Ang, Y.Y. (2024). Doing Development in the Polycrisis: Opinion Piece. Project Syndicate.
In this opinion piece, Ang discusses how, instead of being paralysing, the polycrisis can offer an opportunity to usher in new paradigms that change the way we think about the development process, potential solutions, and the role of the state. The author argues that we should replace machine-mode thinking with the paradigm of an adaptive political economy, replace the (colonial) logic of assimilation with the maxim of “use what you have”, and adopt an adaptive process in policy making.
Blattman, C. et.al. (2024). A New Approach to Safer Communities: How Evidence-Based Solutions Can Help. Innovations for Poverty Action.
This piece emphasises the critical role of data-driven strategies in enhancing community safety. It underscores that, without credible, evidence-based solutions, efforts to improve security often fall short, leaving communities vulnerable and hopeless.
Carothers, T., (2024). Three Conclusions from the Global Year of Elections. Emissary. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
This paper analyses the electoral events of 2024. Examining incumbent performance, political shifts and the state of democratic health, Carothers emphasises that drawing conclusions from 2024’s electoral patterns requires careful considerations of each context, cautioning against oversimplified narratives.
Carothers, T. (2025). The Heartless Upheaval of American Foreign Aid. Emissary. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
This commentary critiques the recent dismantling of USAID by the Trump administration. Carothers highlights the abrupt dismissal of thousands of aid workers without prior notice, emphasising the administration's lack of empathy and respect for public service. Carothers also underscores the adverse effects on millions globally who have lost access to essential services like healthcare, education, and protection as a result of the sudden withdrawal of aid. Carothers concludes that the administration's actions reflect a profound indifference both domestically and internationally, questioning whether such an approach truly serves to maintain or restore American greatness.
Chin, J.J. (2024). Why Ghana’s Election Matters Across Africa. Election Watch. Journal of Democracy.
This short piece discusses the December 2024 election in Ghana and how it impacts other countries in the region. It explores how the election affects civil liberties, the growing threat of jihadist violence in Ghana’s far north, socioeconomic conditions and regional security amid the growing influence of China and Russia in Africa.
Cole, J. (2025). What Does the US Withdrawal from the WHO Mean for Global Health Security? Commentary. RUSI.
This Commentary discusses the implications of the US's withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) on global health security. The author highlights that the US has historically been a major contributor to the WHO, both financially and through expertise, playing a pivotal role in global health initiatives. The withdrawal is expected to significantly impact the WHO's capacity to respond to health emergencies, particularly in low-resource settings. Cole also notes that the US departure could lead to a shift in global health governance, potentially diminishing the organisation's effectiveness in coordinating international health responses.
Cowley, J. (2024). Bill Gates: the Optimist’s Dilemma. The New Statesman Interview.
In this interview, Cowley asks Bill Gates to share his reflections on global health and development challenges. Gates is concerned that recent global turmoil has reversed some health and development gains. He emphasises the need for sustained international collaboration and funding to address pressing issues like the global debt crisis, which has led the world's poorest countries to spend more on debt than on education, health, and social protection combined. Gates also highlights the importance of maintaining commitments to international aid and development, noting that the UK itself has reduced its overseas aid budget, potentially leaving vulnerable populations at greater risk.
Marquez, J., and Vargas, J. (2024). White Elephants in the Land of Gas. Connectas.
This piece examines the economic challenges faced by Bolivia's Tarija department, a major natural gas producer. The authors highlight the prevalence of "white elephant" projects - large, costly undertakings that are often impractical, underutilised, or abandoned. Examples include oversized stadiums, waterless greenhouses, and sports complexes that fail to serve their intended purposes. These investments, made during periods of high gas revenues, have not yielded the anticipated benefits for the local population. The blog underscores the importance of prudent resource management and strategic planning to ensure that natural gas revenues contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.
Palmer, N. (2024). Why ideas matter for action on climate and environment. Blog. The Policy Practice.
In this blog, Palmer emphasises the significant role that our perceptions of nature play in shaping climate and environmental policies. She argues that ideas are powerful drivers of action but are often overlooked in political economy analysis. Palmer suggests that by closely examining and understanding these ideas, more innovative and effective pathways can be developed that work with and for nature, rather than against it.
Ramshaw, G. (2024). Progressive Realism: A New UK Vision for Democracy Support. Spotlight. European Democracy Hub.
In this Spotlight, Ramshaw argues that, while the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s foreign policy vision of “progressive realism” sparked optimism among advocates of international democracy, the government’s current approach seems to downplay democracy as a foreign policy priority. The author suggests that critical realism, which emphasises the interplay between structures and human agency, can offer a framework for aligning progressive values with practical global politics. This perspective could lead to a more adaptable and hopeful view of international relations, allowing for the transformation of power dynamics through collective action and evolving norms.
Stewart, P, (2025). Trump’s Move to Gut USAID Reveals the Crux of His Foreign Policy. Commentary. Carnegie Endowment for Democracy.
In this commentary, Patrick analyses the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle USAID. He identifies two prevalent misconceptions fuelling this move: overestimation of foreign aid spending, and misunderstanding the composition and purpose of aid. The author argues that well-designed development programmes aligned with local priorities, such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has saved over 25 million lives in two decades, have proven effective. The article concludes that the administration's actions reflect a dismissal of the value of development assistance, which has historically contributed to building stable states and resilient societies, and he warns that such actions could undermine US credibility and have long-term negative effects on global stability and US influence.
Thampi, G., Nixon, N., Nastase, A., and Shrestha, A. (2025). From Learning to Adaptation: Lessons Learned from Adaptive Programming and Use of Strategy Testing. A conversation with The Asia Foundation (#05). Systems Practice in International Development Podcast. Portfolio Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Programme, Nepal.
In this episode, Nicola Nixon (Senior Director of Governance) and Gopa Kumar Thampi (Senior Governance Advisor, Sri Lanka) from The Asia Foundation discuss the state of adaptive programming today, their newly launched strategy testing workbook, and lessons from ten years of implementing adaptive programming across geographies and technical sectors.
The Economist (2025). By cutting off assistance to foreigners, America hurts itself. The Economist. (Paywall)
This piece argues that President Trump’s aid freeze makes the US weaker, especially in the way it is being done. International assistance is not just about helping others, as foreign aid that creates a more stable and richer world is in the national interest.
Vines, A. (2025). Africa in 2025: Economic Growth Despite Persistent Problems. Chatham House.
In this Expert Comment, Vines discusses Africa's projected economic growth and the challenges that accompany it. He highlights several persistent issues that could hinder sustainable development in the region, including poverty, climate change and weak governance. The author emphasises that addressing these challenges is crucial for ensuring that economic growth translates into tangible improvements in living standards across Africa.
Yerkes, S., and Hogan, E. (2024). Ghana’s Presidential Contest Shows Why Democracy Requires More Than Well-Run Elections. Emissary. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
This piece examines the December 2024 presidential election in Ghana. It argues that, despite an orderly electoral process, the election revealed significant vulnerabilities in Ghana's democracy, including issues related to political polarisation, economic disparities, and the need for stronger democratic institutions. Yerkes emphasises that the true test of a democracy is not how elections are conducted but also how robust and inclusive its political processes are.
Events
Upcoming events
12-13 March 2025: 2025 Development Cooperation Forum (DCF). UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
This event will discuss the future of international development cooperation. The forum aims to be a catalysts for action, driving reforms in policy and change, greater coherence, and country-led solutions. It seeks to build momentum for high quality and high-impact development cooperation that aligns efforts with national interests and delivers lasting progress on sustainable development. Follow this link to read more.
24-25 April 2025: 2025 Centre of African Studies Conference, University of Edinburgh Business School.
The Conference, co-hosted by the Centre of African Studies and the Centre for Business, Climate Change and Sustainability, brings together scholars and researchers interested in the technical, social and political dynamics shaping sustainable energy transitions in Africa. It aims to draw from both empirically grounded and theoretical introspections about an African perspective on the global energy transition and climate change. Follow this link to read more.
14-16 April 2025: PSA Annual Conference, Political Studies Association.
With the series of ongoing economic, environmental, health and (geo-)political crises which the world has faced over the past two decades, this conference, convened by the University of Birmingham and Aston University, asks “What Next”, and seeks to encourage new approaches that can respond to the current context. Follow this link to read more and to register. Early bird registration closes on 21 February 2025.
23-25 June: ACUNS Annual Meeting 2025: Environmental Multilateralism and Human Development. Academic Council on the United Nations System.
The 2025 ACUNS Annual Conference, which will be held in Nairobi, will address the triple planetary crisis—climate change, nature loss, and pollution - within the context of increasing global conflict and deepening inequalities. Follow this link to read more.
Recent events
14 February 2025: African Peace Processes: Prospects for Durable Agreements to End Conflicts. Africa Programme, Chatham House.
Drawing upon insights from a forthcoming publication as part of a joint Chatham House and UNDP research project on African Peace Processes: Lessons Learned, this event highlighted the experience gained from peace negotiations in Africa and explored key factors contributing to the varying durability of peace across the continent. Follow this link to read more.
30 January 2025: Economic Concerns and Narratives: From Distraction to Dialogue. Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT).
Hosted by IFIT’s Narrative Peacebuilding Hub, this event reflected on the role of narratives in obscuring economic realities and stoking conflict. Misinformation and fears about financial insecurity are undermining the quality of public conversations in many parts of the world and producing political instability. Drawing on experiences from a range of disciplines and regions, Sara Cobb and Alexandre Marc of IFIT’s Inclusive Narratives Practice Group and Godfrey Kanyenze of IFIT’s Zimbabwe Resource Group reflected on the challenges posed by polarising narratives and proposed new narratives and other strategies for encouraging more constructive social dialogue and engagement. Watch the recording.
28 January 2025: Using Evidence to Make Humanitarian Aid More Effective. VoxDev.
This VoxDev webinar discussed how policymakers can use evidence to make humanitarian aid more effective. The speakers summarised key takeaways and lessons on conducting research in fragile contexts; showed how large organisations can learn internally through impact evaluations; and discussed how evidence from the Airbel Impact Lab helped has influnced policymaking and ptractice, despite barriers to evidence uptake. Watch the recording.
15 January 2025: The geography of green iron and steel: Opportunities for Europe and North Africa. ECDPM
This webinar explored the dynamics of the energy transition to find out whether decarbonisation of the EU’s iron and steel industry can present opportunities for the EU and North Africa to work more closely together, while also meeting goals and aspirations for industrial development, which could help strengthen relations by creating interdependencies. Watch the recording.
09 December 2024: The Challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the Rule of Law in Latin America. Dialogue’s Rule of Law Program and Luminate.
This event, conducted in Spanish, discussed the challenges that AI poses to rule of law in Latin America and the Caribbean. An expert panel explored key findings of an upcoming report by Luminate about citizens’ perceptions of the impact of AI on democracies in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. Watch the recording (in Spanish, while more information about the event proceedings is also available in English on that link).
05 December 2024: InfoPoint Conference: Supporting Independent Media through Global Partnerships by the European Commission. European Commission.
In October 2023, the European Commission launched Financial Framework Partnership Agreements (FFPAs) to support independent media, with the goal of offering more strategic actions with greater impact and sustainability. This conference explored the main challenges facing the independent media sector and provide a preview of two global projects funded by the Commission that will start implementation in the first half of 2025. The projects, which are intended to be rooted in local contexts and involve Global South local partners in both their design and implementation, will seek to foster a more enabling media environment with in 20+ countries across Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the EU Neighbourhood. Watch the recording.
Resources
Center for Conflict and Cooperation, NYU. This newly launched centre is a global scientific and educational hub that seeks to promote inclusive, sustainable, and successful organisations and societies around the world through research that can inform approaches to combat misinformation, polarisation, intergroup hate, extremism, and climate change.
Devex. Devex is a leading independent news organisation covering global development. Devex offers free membership to those working in global development, with access to news and regular updates on what is happening in this field, as well as to a variety of newsletters, including Newswire, which provides global development breaking news, analysis, and opinion on a daily basis.
Minxin Pei’s Top Ten Greatest Hits, Journal of Democracy. Minxin Pei, a leading expert on Chinese authoritarianism, has been writing for the Journal of Democracy since 1992. This compilation of essays comprises some of Pei’s best, chronicling how, over the past three decades, China is exerting ever more power and influence on the world stage while tightening control at home.
Systems Practice in International Development Podcast. This podcast, produced by the FCDO-funded Portfolio MEL (PMEL) programme in Nepal in collaboration with Abt Global, features talks about systems practice through an action-oriented lens, and explores what has worked well and less well in practice. The episodes aim to demystify complexities around systems thinking, portfolio approaches, adaptive management, PEA in action and evidence use for impact.
“Rethinking Equality”, Voices in Action Podcast, Inter-American Development Bank. The "Rethinking Equality" series is a podcast series featured on the "Voices in Action" platform, hosted by the IDB. Its 12-episodes discuss challenges related to tackling inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean, examine complex issues beyond traditional approaches to equality, and explore potential policy solutions that can be more effective.
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