Research
Themes
We are an international research initiative that explores how leadership, power and political processes drive or block successful development
DLP
Publications
DLP has produced a vast catalogue of working papers, research papers and research briefs on the topic of leadership and development.
About the
Developmental Leadership Program (DLP)
We are an international research initiative that explores how leadership, power and political processes drive or block successful development
Filter by..
Theme
Country
Australia and New Zealand
Caribbean
Central Africa
Central America
Central Asia
Eastern Africa
Eastern Asia
Eastern Europe
Melanesia
Micronesia
Northern Africa
Northern America
Northern Europe
Polynesia
South America
South-eastern Asia
Southern Africa
Southern Asia
Southern Europe
Western Africa
Western Asia
Tag
Author
Filter

Thinking and Working Politically: From Theory Building to Building an Evidence Base

01 January 2016

This paper discusses the steps required to build a robust evidence base for ‘thinking and working politically’ (TWP) in development. It argues that better understanding what works, when and why is an important step in moving TWP into mainstream development programming.

The paper reviews the existing evidence base on TWP, building on this and on other literature on public sector reform and ‘pockets of effectiveness’ to suggest research questions, case study selection criteria, and a four-level analytical framework: 1) political context; 2) sector; 3) organisation; and 4) individual. The framework aims to help build a ‘rigorous enough’ evidence base to show whether and how TWP happens and whether or not it influences the effectiveness of programme implementation and outcomes. The paper also calls for more focus on gender issues, and on different – and often more fragile – political contexts.

Discover more about developmental leadership. Get the latest research and insights delivered straight to your inbox.

    1,500+
    Join 1,500+ development practitioners, policymakers and researchers on our mailing list
    DLP has been enormously influential in shaping my thinking and teaching about leadership and change. It combines conceptual clarity, with usable tools in areas such as political analysis, and case studies that are invaluable in bringing complex arguments to life.
    Picture of Duncan Green, Oxfam
    Duncan Green
    Oxfam
    The Developmental Leadership Program has deeply influenced my work in supporting locally-led reform in the Pacific.
    Picture of Anna Gibert smiling
    Anna Gibert