Designing stronger WASH systems
What is it about This practical toolkit from IRC helps governments and development partners design programmes that strengthen entire WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) systems, not just individual projects. It shifts the focus from delivering short-term services to building long-term sector performance. The toolkit offers a step-by-step approach to understand the system, identify weak points, […]
Digital tools for citizen engagement
What is it about This global toolkit from the World Bank helps governments use digital tools to make citizen engagement more effective, inclusive, and results-driven. Instead of starting from scratch, public servants can use the catalog to explore over 160 real-world examples of digital citizen engagement, organized by goals like transparency, feedback, collaboration, and civic […]
Measuring progress on govtech
What is it about This World Bank resource introduces the GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI), a global tool to help governments track how well they are using technology to deliver public services, strengthen core government systems, and engage citizens. It goes beyond just measuring the presence of digital systems. Instead, it looks at whether these systems […]
Making civil service reform work
What is it aboutThis guide from USAID and The Policy Practice offers clear advice for governments tackling civil service reform in difficult political and institutional environments. It moves beyond technical fixes and lays out what it really takes to shift incentives, improve performance, and strengthen public sector accountability. The core message is simple: civil service […]
Designing better procurement tech
What is it about This resource argues that procurement technology will only work if it works for people. Many e-procurement systems fail because they are built around bureaucratic rules, not the real-world needs of users like suppliers, procurement officers, or auditors. This guide by the Open Contracting Partnership shows how a human-centered design (HCD) approach […]
Understanding power in reform
What’s it aboutThis practical guide from Sida introduces a structured way to carry out power analysis in development settings. It explains how understanding formal and informal power structures can help reformers identify who holds influence, how decisions are made, and where resistance or opportunities for change might lie. The report emphasizes that power is not […]
DIY Monitoring & Evaluation: Four cost-smart tips
What it’s about This IDinsight article speaks to organisations that want credible monitoring and evaluation (M&E) but lack big budgets. It distils field experience into four practical lessons: think long term and align M&E to the organisation’s learning priorities; start small with free or low-cost data tools; invest in the people who will run the […]
Building Digital Infrastructure That Works for Governments
What’s it really about This report presents a grounded, Africa-specific approach to building and scaling digital public infrastructure (DPI), like ID systems, payment platforms, and data exchanges. The authors argue that many current DPI efforts are overly focused on global blueprints and miss the political, institutional, and operational realities of implementation in African countries. Instead, […]