This learning session, held on the 29th April, provided ideas and information on political economy analytical approaches and concepts and the application of these in the context of the health sector. It was delivered as part of the Health Systems Strengthening Learning Journey, which aims to support FCDO’s (formerly DFID’s) understanding, capacity and influence in strengthening health systems to improve the health and well-being amongst the poorest and marginalised in low- and middle-income countries. This session involved a combination of content delivery with trainee participation and interaction.
The study materials can be found below.
Essential reading
- Introduction (15 pages) in Corduneanu-Huci C., Hamilton A. and Masses Ferrer I. (2013) Understanding Policy Change: How to Apply Political Economy Concepts in Practice, World Bank (download book).
- Policy Practice Brief 11 (12 pages) – The Evolving Role of Political Economy Analysis in Development Practice, Neil McCulloch, Andrew Barnett, Alex Duncan, William Kingsmill, Jonathan Kydd (2017) (download brief)
- Information brief for donor support to complex health systems reform (USAID) (12 pages)– The use of political economy analysis in health systems strengthening, Carmen Lane and Daniel Martinko (2018) (download brief)
- Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, Political economy analysis for health (1 page), Michael R. Reich (2019) (download editorial
Further optional reading
- Chapter 1 in Corduneanu-Huci C., Hamilton A. and Masses Ferrer I. (2013) Understanding Policy Change: How to Apply Political Economy Concepts in Practice, World Bank (download book).
- Overview (35 pages): World Development Report 2017: Governance and the Law: Link
- ODI report (38 pages). Stock-outs of essential medicines in Tanzania: A political economy approach to analysing problems and identifying solutions, Joseph Wales, Julia Tobias, Emmanuel Malangalila, Godfrey Swai and Leni Wild (2014), (download report).
- ODI working paper 432 (32 pages). Political settlements and pathways to universal health coverage, Tim Kelsall, Tom Hart and Edward Laws (download paper)
- Tim Kelsall (2020) Political settlements and the implementation of maternal health policy in the developing world: A comparative case study of Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda and Bangladesh. ESID Working Paper 137: Link
Useful websites
The Policy Practice Political Economy Online Library
Thinking and Working Politically community of practice
More information on the K4D Health Systems Strengthening Learning Journey can be found here.