TNRC Event PEA into practice: Using political economy for environmental anti-corruption theories of change

TNRC Learning Series
Anti-corruption insights for conservation and natural resource management

Political economy analysis into practice: Using political economy for environmental anti-corruption theories of change

About the event

This webinar shares guidance, learning, and practical tools for integrating Political Economy Analysis (PEAs) findings into theories of change (ToC) to address corruption that undermines conservation objectives. Panelists will discuss the utility of PEAs in designing, testing, or adapting ToCs, identify what challenges there are to using PEA, what conditions have enabled uptake, and offer insights into context-specific PEA approaches and their application in practice.

Learning questions

1. Why is political awareness essential for shaping conservation strategies?
2. How can PEAs help conservation practitioners to develop, test, and adapt theories of change (ToCs) to address corruption challenges?
3. What are some scenarios in which corruption has undermined the success or validity of a ToC and how have PEAs revealed opportunities for change?
4. What enabling conditions can set up PEA for success and what challenges need to be overcome to mainstream the use of PEAs in global conservation work?

About the speakers

Micol Martini, Technical Lead & Senior Expert, Governance Practice, WWF International (Moderator)
Micol Martini is the Technical Lead on Governance with WWF International. Before joining WWF, Micol served for over a decade with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for International Development (DFID). Previously, Micol worked with the United Nations Development Programme in South Sudan and Sudan and in earlier roles with Publish What You Pay International, the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Human Rights Watch, and Open Society Foundation on grant-making, advocacy, and research related to governance, rights, and fragility. She has a MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics.

Saba Kassa, Senior Public Governance Specialist, Basel Institute on Governance (Discussant)
Dr. Saba Kassa is a public governance expert with a track record promoting democratic governance and socio-economic development in Africa. At the Basel Institute on Governance, she leads anti-corruption research and technical support projects. Before joining the Institute, she worked for several international organizations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the German Ministry for International Cooperation and the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

Kyle Rearick, Senior Social Scientist, USAID Biodiversity Division, Center for Natural Environment, Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food Security (Discussant)
Kyle Rearick is a senior social scientist with the USAID Biodiversity Division in the Center for Environment, Energy and Infrastructure. Kyle supports USAID biodiversity programming by providing technical assistance on the inclusion of social safeguards, democracy, rights and governance approaches and evaluation and learning in activity design and management. He holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin and an M.S. in Natural Resource Policy and Behavior from the University of Michigan.

Iaroslav Teleshun, Senior Policy Expert, WWF Ukraine and Associate Professor, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Presenter)
Dr. Iaroslav Teleshun is a political scientist and expert with more than 10 years of experience specializing in the intricate interplay between business and politics, particularly within interest groups and anti-corruption policies. As a political consultant and government relations advisor, Dr. Teleshun has made impactful contributions to various consultant and law firms. His dissertation was on the topic “Financial-political Groups in an Unstable Institutional Environment" and he is a sought-after thought leader.

Phalla Mey, Head of Eastern Plains Landscape Program, WWF-Cambodia (Presenter)
Phalla Mey is a highly experienced professional with over 20 years of work in community development, humanitarian, natural resources management, agriculture, good governance, education, health, and gender-based projects. Throughout his career, he has successfully led and completed more than 40 projects with five different NGOs. In the past decade, Phalla has held senior management positions with international NGOs, demonstrating his exceptional leadership skills and expertise. Currently, Phalla serves as a valuable member of the Country Management Team and holds the position of Head of Landscape in the Eastern Plains Landscape for WWF Cambodia.