This note is for use alongside the FCDO guide to political economy analysis (PEA) and thinking and working politically and is part of a series of technical notes on the use of PEA in practice. It explains the range of frameworks for context analysis which can be used in international co-operation, and how to select the most appropriate one, and the different ways in which analysis can be undertaken.  

This guide highlights the importance of incorporating a politically informed perspective, regardless of the specific framework used, to understand ‘why things are the way they are’ and to make operationally relevant recommendations.

The note reviews the following analytical frameworks, outlining their objectives, distinctive features, applications, limitations and how to integrate political economy insights:

• political economy analysis
• conflict analysis
• gender equality, disability and social inclusion analysis
• governance assessment
• institutional review

This is a joint guide from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Thinking and Working Politically Community of Practice (TWP CoP). The TWP CoP is a global network of practitioners and researchers in development committed to helping practitioners understand how change happens and why. The TWP CoP Secretariat has been hosted by the University of Birmingham with support from FCDO.