Coalitions for Reforms Global Program

Reforming a public administration as vast and complex as the DRC's demands more than political ambition. It requires transparency, technology, and the genuine participation of civil servants themselves. At the Global Forum on Coalitions for Reforms, Jean-Pierre Lihau, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Civil Service of the Democratic Republic of Congo, sat down to reflect on the DRC's landmark efforts to modernize its civil service and build a more accountable, capable state. Watch the conversation to hear how putting civil servants at the center of their own reform is driving lasting institutional change.

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Successful reform is rarely a story of good policy alone. It is a story of trust, honesty, and the courage to tell stakeholders what they stand to lose. At the Global Forum on Coalitions for Reforms, Besnik Tahiri, former Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, sat down to share hard-won lessons on how strategic communication and broad coalitions can turn difficult reforms into durable change. Watch the conversation to hear his candid insights on navigating competing interests and building legitimacy from the ground up.

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Effective reforms require more than technical fixes — they need political will, collaborative leadership, broad participation, and accountability. Roby Senderowitsch, Practice Manager for Public Administration and Services, Solutions and Impact, sat down with Nobel Laureate James Robinson to explore how strong coalitions enable lasting change, the politics of policy implementation, and practical lessons for reformers. Watch the conversation to hear their insights and concrete strategies for turning ideas into impact.

Watch the highlights from the Global Forum on Coalitions for Reforms (Sept 16–17, 2025): leaders, researchers, and practitioners from governments, multilateral partners, academia, and civil society convened to share practical coalition-building tools, change-management strategies, and real-world reform experiences. See keynote insights from Nobel Laureate James Robinson, learn how collective action is driving progress on global challenges and the SDGs, and get a front-row view of the partnerships and solutions shaping tomorrow’s reforms — all in one compelling recap.

Webinar Recap: Perceptions, Contagion, and Civil Unrest

The Global Program on Coalitions for Reforms recently hosted a webinar on “Perceptions, Contagion, and Civil Unrest,” exploring why political perceptions often spark protests more than economic ones—especially in high-income countries. Drawing on new research and global data from Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, and MENA, the session examined how citizens’ views on political and economic conditions drive nonviolent uprisings and general strikes. The findings reveal that in high-income countries, negative political perceptions are a stronger catalyst for anti-government protests. In contrast, in developing economies, both political and economic perceptions play significant roles. The discussion also highlighted the phenomenon of international protest contagion, raising essential considerations for regional coordination and resilience.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Social Contract Factsheets and accompanying dataset. These resources provide key indicators to characterize the social contracts of countries across all regions over the past 20 years. Developed using the methodology from the 2021 World Bank report, Social Contracts for Development: Bargaining, Contention, and Social Inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa, the factsheets offer valuable insights into the socio-political dynamics shaping policy and development outcomes. Social contract analysis is an increasingly important framework for the World Bank and its partners in understanding and advancing development.