This paper analyses lessons from two practitioners who have worked extensively across government and civil society contexts. Honorable Nana Oye Bampoe-Addo, former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection and current Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration) of the Office of the President in Ghana, brings experience spanning civil society advocacy, political leadership, and senior government administration. Dr. Yakama Manty Jones, an economist and systems practitioner, has served within Sierra Leone’s government while subsequently advising governments across Africa on delivery systems and institutional capacity building. Together, their experiences illuminate both the possibilities and challenges of achieving sustainable systems change through government partnership.
The analysis focuses on practical strategies that civil society organisations can employ to enhance their effectiveness in government relations, while recognising the complex political economy dynamics that shape institutional behavior across African contexts. The findings contribute to growing literature on politically informed development practice that emphasises the importance of understanding power structures, institutional incentives, and governance contexts in designing effective interventions.
