ACDI/VOCA integrates thinking and working politically (TWP) into our inclusive market systems (IMS) approach to development in a way that facilitates system-level changes that are politically smart and feasible. TWP is a development approach that stresses the importance of understanding the local context (“thinking politically”) to create sustainable change (“working politically”) and acknowledges that desired outcomes are heavily influenced by local interests, values, power dynamics, and motivations. TWP recognizes the power politics have on which technical approaches work and which do not.
Part of our IMS approach is also to consider local power dynamics and political economy forces within the systems we aim to improve so that we prioritize politically feasible, locally generated initiatives with the highest likelihood of effectiveness and sustainability.
View the infographic below for how we integrate TWP into our systems approach:
Tools and Resources to Integrate TWP into our Market Systems Approach
ACDI/VOCA employs a series of training modules with complementary checklists and worksheets to support U.S.-based staff and project teams in understanding and implementing an integrated TWP approach during the project cycle. The TWP resource title, description, link to the tool, and the tool’s relevance to stages of the systems approach are summarized in the following table and infographic.
| TWP Training of Trainers (ToT) Resources | |||
| ToT Resource Title | Link to Resource | Description | Main Phase of the Systems Approach |
| 1. Introduction to Thinking and Working Politically | PPT | Foundational content on what TWP through APEA is and why it is important for effective, sustainable development outcomes. | Foundational |
| 2. Integrating Thinking and Working Politically in Market Systems Development | PPT | Training on the TWP approach and tools available to ACDI/VOCA staff to operationalize TWP during the four stages of our systems approach: Analyze, Strategize, Facilitate & Coordinate, Learn & Adapt. | Foundational |
| Tools – Guides, Checklists, and Worksheets to Operationalize TWP | |||
| Tool Title | Link to Resource | Purpose | Main Phase of the Systems Approach |
| T1. Rapid Political Economy Analysis (PEA) | Guide & Checklist | PEA is an applied research tool used to unpack why specific issues related to a program’s systems change objectives persist in the operating environment and how to sustainably overcome them. Rapid PEA: 12 weeks. Baseline PEA: 24 weeks, more in-depth. | Analysis |
| T2. Baseline PEA | Guide & Checklist | Analysis | |
| T3. Stakeholder Power Analysis (SPA) | Guide & Checklist | Stakeholder power analysis (SPA) is a tool used during and beyond the baseline period to map and analyze how competing or aligned incentives of key actors influence systems change objectives. | Analysis Facilitate |
| T4. TWP Scenario Planning | Guide & Checklist | In the context of TWP, scenario planning is a “do no harm” tool that can help ACDI/VOCA staff analyze the pros and cons of proposed actions through a political economy lens before they are implemented. | Strategize |
| T5. TWP and Grants | Guide & Checklist | Stakeholder power analysis (SPA) is a tool used during and beyond the baseline period to map and analyze how competing or aligned incentives of key actors influence systems to change objectives. | Facilitate |
| T6. TWP Journaling | Guide & Checklist | Journaling through a TWP lens is a Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) tool used to document power dynamics, stakeholder interests, and formal and informal “rules of the game” that evolve during implementation to inform more context-aware decision-making. | Learn & Adapt |
What It Is
- Detailed approach and training resources for operationalizing Thinking and Working Politically throughout the implementation of a systems development approach.
- Customizable guidance for training staff and partners on TWP and PEA and how to integrate TWP into the systems approach in a practical, actionable manner, using TWP checklists and tools.
- Detailed guidance for conducting a political economy analysis and stakeholder power analysis and integrating it into project activities and systems change strategies.
Case Studies
We are pleased to contribute to the growing body of evidence on the importance of politically aware and adaptive development. For our own organizational learning and to improve our programs’ outcomes, we conducted a series of case studies on locally-led approaches to TWP in Colombia, Ghana, and Mozambique.
Afro-Colombian Empowerment
The first case comes from the Indigenous Peoples and Afro-Colombian Empowerment (IPACE) Activity, funded by USAID and implemented by ACDI/VOCA in Colombia. In May 2024, this case was named a finalist in the inaugural TWP Case Competition run by USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Governance.
IPACE employed coalition building, consultative processes, capacity strengthening, and policy reform as pathways to empower Afro-Colombians and create lasting, systems change. Learn more in the case online: Thinking and Working Politically in Market Systems Development Case Study Series: Afro-Colombian Empowerment – ACDI/VOCA (acdivoca.org)
Processes of Policy Change in Ghana
This case study features the Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience (MSR) Activity, funded by USAID and implemented by ACDI/VOCA. MSR uses policy dialogue, locally determined change processes, and targeted capacity strengthening to ensure improved policy development and implementation processes in northern Ghana. Learn more about this case online: Thinking and Working Politically in Market Systems Development Case Study Series: Processes of Policy Change in Ghana – ACDI/VOCA (acdivoca.org)
Adaptive Partnerships in Mozambique
This third and final case comes from the Feed the Future Mozambique Resiliência Integrada na Nutrição e Agricultura (RESINA) Activity, funded by USAID and implemented by ACDI/VOCA. The Activity implements a systems approach and TWP mindset to identify and manage politically feasible, multi-sector interventions to advance its shared vision with the Government of Mozambique. This vision involves diversified and climate-smart agriculture production, increased access to clean water through multi-use water systems, and improved nutrition outcomes for women and children under two years of age. The Activity focuses on building trusted, mutually beneficial, and adaptive partnerships complemented by institutional capacity strengthening and coordination building to ensure local ownership. Learn more about the case online: Thinking and Working Politically in Market Systems Development Case Study Series: Adaptive Partnerships in Mozambique – ACDI/VOCA (acdivoca.org)
