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Making the case: using research-based evidence for policy advocacy. John Young, ODI, London [email protected]. BOND Advocacy and Capacity Building Group Launch Event , Monday 2 nd June 2008. Overview. ODI and RAPID Evidence-based policy: 6 Lessons The changing role of CSO’s - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Making the case: using research-based evidence for policy advocacyJohn Young, ODI, [email protected]
BOND Advocacy and Capacity Building Group Launch Event , Monday 2nd June 2008
Overview• ODI and RAPID
• Evidence-based policy: 6 Lessons
• The changing role of CSO’s
• Challenges and opportunities
• An example
• Evidence-based policy in development network
• Conclusions
• Sources of further information
ODI & RAPID• ODI
– UK’s leading Development Think Tank
– c.80 researchers– Research, advice and public
affairs on development policy
• RAPID– Focuses on policy processes– Research, advice, public affairs
+ capacity development– Works with producers, users
and intermediaries
Identify the problem
Commission research
Analyse the results
Choose the best option
Establish the policy
Evaluation
Implement the policy
1. Policy processes are complex
Monitoring and Evaluation
Agenda Setting
DecisionMaking
Policy Implementation
Policy Formulation
1. Policy processes are complex
Civil Society
DonorsCabinet
Parliament
Ministries
Private Sector
2. Research is one factor
Kate Bird et al, Fracture Points in Social Policies for Chronic Poverty Reduction, ODI WP242, 2004 (http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/working_papers/wp242.pdf)
3. Research is important
“The results of household disease surveys informed processes of health service reform which contributed to a 43 and 46 per cent reduction in infant mortality between 2000 and 2003 in two districts in rural Tanzania.”
TEHIP Project, Tanzania: www.idrc.ca/tehip
4. Needs a systematic approach
The political context – political and economic structures and processes, culture, institutional pressures, incremental vs radical change etc.
The evidence – credibility, the degree it challenges received wisdom, research approaches and methodology, simplicity of the message, how it is packaged etc
External Influences Socio-economic and cultural influences, donor policies etc
The links between policyand research communities – networks, relationships, power, competing discourses, trust, knowledge etc.
4. Needs a systematic approach
What researchers need to know
What researchers need to do
How to do it
Political Context:
Evidence
Links
• Who are the policymakers?• Is there demand for ideas?• What is the policy process?
• What is the current theory?• What are the narratives?• How divergent is it?
• Who are the stakeholders?• What networks exist?• Who are the connectors,
mavens and salesmen?
• Get to know the policymakers.
• Identify friends and foes.• Prepare for policy
opportunities. • Look out for policy windows.
• Work with them – seek commissions
• Strategic opportunism – prepare for known events + resources for others
• Establish credibility• Provide practical solutions• Establish legitimacy.• Present clear options• Use familiar narratives.
• Build a reputation• Action-research• Pilot projects to
generate legitimacy• Good communication
• Get to know the others• Work through existing
networks.• Build coalitions.• Build new policy networks.
• Build partnerships.• Identify key
networkers, mavens and salesmen.
• Use informal contacts
5. Needs additional skills
Storytellers
Engineers
Networkers
Fixers
6. There are good tools
Overarching Tools - The RAPID Framework - Using the Framework - The Entrepreneurship
Questionnaire
Context Assessment Tools- Stakeholder Analysis - Forcefield Analysis - Writeshops - Policy Mapping - Political Context Mapping
Communication Tools - Communications Strategy- SWOT analysis - Message Design - Making use of the media
Research Tools - Case Studies - Episode Studies - Surveys - Bibliometric Analysis- Focus Group Discussion
Policy Influence Tools- Influence Mapping & Power Mapping - Lobbying and Advocacy - Campaigning: A Simple Guide - Competency self-assessment
The (changing) role of CSOs• Is huge: Worth $12bn globally,
reach 20% of world’s poor, provide 40% health & education services in SSA.
• Is changing: service provision → policy engagement.
• Can be very effective: Globally, eg Jubilee 2000; locally eg Animal Health in Kenya,
• Is uncomfortable:– with governments: lack of trust– with donors: emphasis on GBS & policy – with academics/policy advisers: weak evidence
How CSOs influence Policy
How CSOs influence Policy
Obstacles to CSO Engagement
Key problems and solutionsExternalDifficult Political Contexts • Campaigns
• Boomerangs• Policy Pilots
InternalWeak understanding of political contexts
• Rigorous context assessments
Weak engagement • Better strategies for engagement at all parts of the policy cycle
Inadequate use of evidence
• Collecting the right evidence for each situation (qualitative vs quantitative etc)
Weak communication • Better communication: publications, events, face-to-face
Isolation • Collaboration with other CSOs, donors and government agencies: Networks
Capacity constraints • “Systemic” capacity-building: of organisations and networks within their contexts
SMERU & UCT in Indonesia• Fuel subsidy increasingly
recognised as regressive and not benefiting the poor.
• Became financially unsustainable in 2005.
• Gvt plan to subsidy UCT to poor.
• Huge programme. Little impact.
• What to do?
SMERU & UCT in Indonesia• Small independent study by
SMERU in 2005 identified opportunity for benefit through CCT focusing on health, education & nutrition + Improved targeting.
• Commissioned by BAPPENAS to do larger feasibility study.
• Series of meetings & dialogues.
• Adopted as policy and operationalised in 2007
SMERU & UCT in Indonesia• Challenges:
– Political leverage– Lack of tools to understand political
context– Lack of lobbying skills & opportunities– Lack of resources– Associated with donors
• Success Factors:– Credibility of SMERU – Links with government and civil
society organisations– Quality of research – Impartiality– Effective communication of results
RAPID support to CSOs• Run workshops, seminars and
courses
• Established the evidence-based policy in development network
• A “community of practice” to:– Learn how research-based evidence can
contribute to better policy and practice.– Do it themselves.– Help others to do it
• www.ebpdn.org
Some members• Africa Energy Policy Research
Network: a network to promote pro-poor energy policies.
• Center for the Implementation of Public Policies promoting Equity and Growth: works on Education, Fiscal Policy, Health, Transparency and Justice an Argentina.
• Unnayan Onneshan: works on pro-poor agricultural and trade policies in Bangladesh.
• International Budget Project: works to promote budget transparency and accountability
ebpdn website
Conclusions• CSOs are well placed to influence
policy with research-based evidence.
• To do it effectively they need to:– Understand the political context– Use a wholistic approach– Establish the right relationships with all
stakeholders– Collect the right sort of evidence– Engage appropriately with the right
policy processes– Communicate effectively
Further Information
ODI – www.odi.org.uk
RAPID - www.odi.org.uk/rapid
– Publications– Case Studies– Workshops and Seminars– Tools and Toolkits
ebpdn – www.ebpdn.org
Contact: [email protected]