Applied political economy analysis learning review for the Human Rights Support Mechanism

The Human Rights Support Mechanism (HRSM), funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to promote and protect human rights, mitigate the effects of human rights abuses, provide remedies to human rights victims and respond rapidly to urgent and unforeseen crises. Pact, one of the consortium members, is responsible for the systematic use of applied political economy analysis (APEA) across country and regional HRSM projects. Pact commissioned The Policy Practice to undertake a Learning Review examining the use and impact of APEA through three case studies of HRSM-funded projects: Conectando Caminos por los Derechos (CCD) in Colombia, Data-Driven Advocacy (DDA) in Tanzania, and Expanding Access to Justice (EAJ) in Somalia. The Learning Review explores (i) how APEAs have been used to inform program decisions and their implementation; (ii) how insights from APEAs have influenced program achievements; and (iii) what factors have enabled and constrained the uptake of APEA and its impacts in terms of improved programming. It concludes with lessons and considerations.