Kivu was invited by DFID (now FCDO) Zambia to design and implement a programme of support for their team on effective approaches to policy influencing in Zambia. The country office wanted to conduct more politically informed policy engagement and to embed a culture of “thinking and working politically”. Kivu assessed the existing skills and approaches of the office and developed a highly bespoke programme of advice and support. The package of support included office-wide workshops with tailored on-going mentoring on a select set of office policy priorities.