Development is a fundamentally political process, and development assistance is more likely to be effective if it is based on a sound understanding of the country context, including political processes and incentives. ‘Drivers of change’ is an analytical tool used by donors to assess the prospects for and constraints on development in a particular country context. Taking a political economy perspective, it assesses the interaction among structural features (economic, social and cultural systems), institutions (formal and informal rules and incentives) and actors (individuals and organisations).
The study is intended to be non-normative in nature. That is, the analysis does not start from any particular vision of Vanuatu’s development, but considers how things are at present, how they came to be as they are, and what processes of change can be observed.
This drivers of change study of Vanuatu is the first of its kind commissioned by AusAID, and will inform the development of the AusAID country programme in the coming period. It is also written to provoke debate within Vanuatu and the donor community on the priorities, risks and opportunities facing Vanuatu in the coming years.