The reform of freetown port – lessons from Political Economy Analysis (PEA) to make conflict sensitivity more efficient

ABSTRACT Political Economy Analysis (PEA), which is concerned with the interaction of political and economic processes, is a useful tool to improve the efficiency of development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding practice. However, it has important shortcomings too. Using the reforms in the Port of Freetown as a case study, this paper explores the most important ones while highlighting some of the elements undermining the successful operationalisation of conflict sensitivity. The article suggests that both tools should be mainstreamed within organisations as the first step to improve their effectiveness, which in turn requires a re-thinking of its operational and decision-making structures.