Countries in Africa face intensifying climate change impacts and high poverty rates. Meanwhile, climate resilience and poverty reduction system strengthening efforts have often fallen short. This literature review synthesises evidence on the political economy of distributional regimes – the institutionalised arrangements shaping resource allocation – that shapes the uptake, design, and implementation of climate resilience and poverty reduction (specifically social protection) reforms in the region. Three dynamics emerge as central: enduring historical legacies; political agendas from above and below; and narratives of deservingness and social norms. Technocratic reforms have tended not to engage effectively with these dynamics, risking limited traction and amplified inequalities. At the same time, the review identifies approaches that have tried to respond to local political economies, including through aligning interventions with political interests; supporting locally led development; and incorporating a focus on gender and social inclusion.