@misc{jacobstein_drg_2018, title = {{DRG} {Center} practical tips to implement more context-adaptive programming}, url = {https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer#!msg/adaptdev/TVvijW_iUx8/a5-0xdsIDgAJ}, abstract = {Hi \#adaptdevers, The cross-sectoral programs team in the DRG Center have been working in support of ways that programming can be made more aware of, and responsive to, context considerations that have to do with incentives and relationships between different actors - often called power dynamics or political economy. Following several discussions with field folks, we were asked to come up with simple and practical tips that could help staff to implement more context-adaptive programming, or to better Work Politically to use TWP jargon. With assistance from many of our field staff and partners, we've put together three documents (to start) that have now been cleared to share publicly: • Tips on Making Your Solicitations Invite Context-Driven Adaptive Programming - suggestions spanning most sections of a typical solicitation to better weave in Thinking and Working Politically. I'm particularly excited that this document contains embedded links to excerpts from a set of solicitations that model good practice. You can also find a summary of all the excerpts from real solicitations, and links onward to the public posting of those solicitations on Fed Biz Ops or Grants.gov, here. • Tips on Power Dynamics and Theories of Change - suggestions relevant to those working on project designs and logic models. • Tips for Better Use of Advisory Councils - suggestions to set up better advisory bodies that help you to incorporate political economy more automatically into your programmatic adjustments. I hope that you'll find these practical and helpful! Feedback is always welcome. Best, David}, journal = {\#AdaptDev}, author = {Jacobstein, David}, month = feb, year = {2018}, } @misc{jacobstein_tips_2018, title = {Tips for {Finding} {Unusual} {Allies} and {Building} {Innovative} {Alliances}}, url = {https://usaidlearninglab.org/library/tips-finding-unusual-allies-and-building-innovative-alliances}, abstract = {One of the truisms of thinking and working politically (TWP) is that it requires looking differently at how stakeholders relate to a given development challenge or process, and building coalitions of the “right actors at the right time” who can drive forward progress while working with the grain of the context. While it’s easy to call for coalitions for change and diverse stakeholder engagement, identifying allies beyond those already seized with an issue, and finding ways to collaborate with stakeholders who may have different reasons for joining a coalition, is a challenging task. These are some suggested tips to improve working in that fashion.}, journal = {USAID Learning Lab}, author = {Jacobstein, David}, year = {2018}, } @misc{jacobstein_advancing_2018, type = {Text}, title = {Advancing {Work} with the {Grain} at {USAID}}, url = {https://usaidlearninglab.org/lab-notes/advancing-work-grain-usaid}, abstract = {In December 2017, I wrote a blog about some of the insights gained during a workshop on Context-Driven Adaptation, where many of our sharpest field officers shared the ways that they assessed and adapted to shifts in context to keep programming relevant and effective.}, language = {en}, urldate = {2018-10-26}, journal = {USAID Learning Lab}, author = {Jacobstein, David}, month = oct, year = {2018}, } @misc{jacobstein_context-driven_2018, type = {Text}, title = {Context-{Driven} {Adaptation} ({Overview})}, url = {https://usaidlearninglab.org/context-driven-adaptation-overview}, abstract = {CONTEXT-DRIVEN ADAPTATION COLLECTION}, language = {en}, urldate = {2021-01-04}, journal = {USAID Learning Lab}, author = {Jacobstein, David}, month = jun, year = {2018}, } @article{jacobstein_evaluating_2022, title = {Evaluating programming that thinks and works politically: {Challenges} and emerging practice}, volume = {2022}, issn = {1534-875X}, shorttitle = {Evaluating programming that thinks and works politically}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ev.20527}, doi = {10.1002/ev.20527}, abstract = {Issues of power are not new to program evaluation. What is new is a consideration of how programming uses insights into incentives that shape and adapt implementation. How should one evaluate in a way that explicitly assesses the ways in which a program considers power? One of the innovative topics deriving from the democracy and governance space is the approach of thinking and working politically (TWP) which is seeing increased use in development programming. TWP suggests different mental models and practical approaches to achieving development objectives in ways that are more contextually grounded and informed by power dynamics. This article describes several of the core challenges to evaluation of TWP and also a rubric of considerations for more effective evaluation practices in this emerging field.}, language = {en}, number = {176}, urldate = {2023-04-13}, journal = {New Directions for Evaluation}, author = {Jacobstein, David and Swift, Sarah}, year = {2022}, note = {\_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ev.20527}, pages = {69--78}, } @misc{walker_connecting_2017, title = {Connecting the {Dots}: {Systems} {Practice} \& {Political} {Economy} {Analysis}}, url = {https://usaidlearninglab.org/library/connecting-dots-systems-practice-and-political-economy}, abstract = {This slide deck, from a presentation to the Local Systems Community by Tjip Walker and David Jacobstein, shows various ways in which assessing the political economy of a context and understanding that context through the lens of systems thinking can reinforce each other. Effective systems practice should be grounded in the incentives and power dynamics of a particular local system; thinking and working politically requires understanding the systems dynamics of an issue or sector.}, language = {en}, urldate = {2021-01-04}, author = {Walker, Tjip and Jacobstein, David}, month = mar, year = {2017}, } @techreport{rocha_menocal_thinking_2018, type = {Text}, title = {Thinking and {Working} {Politically} through {Applied} {Political} {Economy} {Analysis}. {A} guide for practitioners}, url = {https://usaidlearninglab.org/library/thinking-and-working-politically-twp-through-applied-political-economy-analysis-pea-guide}, abstract = {Thinking and Working Politically (TWP) through Applied Political Economy Analysis (PEA). A guide for practitioners Have you ever done everything right in a development program — followed every technical best practice — but still missed the mark? When this happens, it often relates to factors in the context beyond any external development actor’s ability to control.}, language = {en}, urldate = {2018-07-20}, institution = {USAID}, author = {Rocha Menocal, Alina and Cassidy, Marc and Swift, Sarah and Jacobstein, David and Rothblum, Corinne and Tservil, Ilona}, month = apr, year = {2018}, }