Peter J Evans

Dr Peter J Evans is a governance, political economy, and anti-corruption specialist. 

After a PhD in urban health in Tanzania, and 7 years living and working in Kolkata working on urban governance, then water and sanitation, he spent 20 years as a social development and governance adviser in the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), posted in Lilongwe, Dhaka and Delhi. Between 2014 and 2021 Peter headed DFID/FCDO's HQ team commissioning governance, inclusion, conflict and humanitarian research, where he designed and led research programmes on themes including migration, disability inclusion, violence against women, tax, conflict, African Cities, and the globally-renowned ‘Anti-Corruption Evidence’ (ACE) programme. In method these ranged from major new investments in RCTs (crime, conflict, humanitarian), through longitudinal research, to applied political economy research in sectors such as health, education, climate change and growth. All had a strong focus on policy relevance and real-world impact. This work led to his appointment as an impact specialist in the UK REF sub panel for social anthropology and international development. 

On leaving the UK government Peter spent two years as Director of the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre in Norway, and is now a consultant and adviser working in governance, political economy, anti-corruption and research impact for government, multi-lateral, private sector and academic clients. Peter writes (and draws pictures) about practical political economy analysis as ‘Not That Peter Evans’ (ie not the far more famous American political sociologist). 

Peter is co-founder and Executive Director of Oxford’s new initiative for mainstream, open access political economy analysis – the ‘Practical Politics Platform’.