The political economy of consulting firms in reform processes: the case of the World Health Organization

Existing research interprets the rise of consulting firms in intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) primarily as evidence global spread managerialism. We highlight that consultants are not merely carriers business-like world cultural norms, but also part contentious IGO politics and governance. unpack black box reconstruct how hired active IGOs. Analyzing experiences World Health Organization (WHO), we show IGOs have been informally ‘opened up’ to (and their funders) investigate what consequences privileged access practice. Consultants curate voices input (including own) into reform packages, promote certain contents, engage self-effacement practices undermine accountability stakeholders. The pivotal position can a disempowering effect on actors excluded from agreement or marginalized through practices. illustrate our general discussion by zooming consultant-mediated WHO’s Roll Back Malaria partnership 2015. Our analysis is based primary documents, key informant interviews, informal conversations, participant observation.