In weak or unstable states, a government's ability to set and pursue policy goals is invariably constrained. The lack of technical capacity, broad logistic challenges, limited resources, and inefficient political institutions create serious obstacles to pro-poor policy making or implementation. In response to these challenges, international development efforts to assist new governments have traditionally focused on building greater technical capacity, the provision of additional resources, or structural reform of official institutions. The role of evolving local politics is often overlooked. However, even well designed poverty reduction initiatives can become mired in local political motivations or processes. Is it possible to identify the points at which good policies are most likely to be derailed?

Starting from the assumption that one can not address gaps in the poverty reduction process until one knows where they are, this brown bag outlined a country case-study process that looks for policy break-down points. Using findings from Nigeria, Bolivia, and Peru, it demonstrated how a closer examination of local political incentives can reveal why certain public officials do not fulfill their responsibilities, causing even the most pro-poor policies to go awry.