KDP specialises in looking into the specific political and economic circumstances in places, and with respect to different sectors. The key is to understand who holds power and through what means, how they came by it (sometimes over a lengthy period of history) and what strategies they employ to hold on to it.
 

The purpose is not to counter this power or work against it but to work out, given these circumstances, what can and cannot sensibly be done. We argue that there is little point in working against local interests and circumstances, just to try to achieve externally set objectives and standards. Much better to find the common ground, and work towards objectives that are relevant to local constraints and opportunities.
 

In most places, and across many sectors, in developing countries, informal institutions are used extensively to favour those who have access to power and resources. The State, for example, or ideas (ideology) do not function according to any normative standard principles, but tend to be used by those in positions of advantage. Challenging these institutions, especially in the current, shifting, geopolitical circumstances, can be counter productive. But in most places there are tractionable issues, usually of a material nature related to jobs, livelihoods or key services that can provide political hooks on which to hang quite specific, often short term, influencing.