Escaping Capability Traps through Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA)

HOW YOU CAN USE THIS RESOURCE: This resource is useful for policymakers, development practitioners, and reform leaders seeking to drive meaningful change in state capability and performance. It outlines how to apply PDIA to solve locally defined problems, encourage experimentation, and foster rapid learning through inclusive, bottom-up approaches.

OVERVIEW: Matt Andrews, Lant Pritchett, and Michael Woolcock argue that many development reforms fail due to isomorphic mimicry, where governments implement superficial changes without real impact. They propose Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) as an alternative approach, emphasizing locally defined problems, decision-making flexibility, rapid learning through feedback loops, and broad stakeholder engagement to achieve sustainable improvements in state capability and performance.

Publishing Organization: Center for Global Development