Julius Court

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Julius Court
Research and Policy in Development Programme
Bridging Research Policy in International
Development
BRP Panel, Dakar, 22 January 2005
RAPID www.odi.org.uk/rapid/ GDN Bridging
Project www.gdnet.org/rapnet/
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Existing theory useful in TCs?

• Linear model
• Percolation model, Weiss
• Tipping point model, Gladwell
• Context, evidence, links framework, ODI
• Policy narratives, Roe
• Systems model (NSI)
• External forces, Lindquist
• Room for manoeuvre, Clay Schaffer
• Street level bureaucrats, Lipsky
• Policy as social experiments, Rondinelli
• Policy Streams Windows, Kingdon
• Disjointed incrementalism, Lindquist
• The tipping point, Gladwell
• Crisis model, Kuhn
• Framework of possible thought, Chomsky
• Variables for Credibility, Beach
• The source is as important as content, Gladwell

• Linear model of communication, Shannon
• Interactive model,
• Simple and surprising stories, Communication
  Theory
• Provide solutions, Marketing Theory I
• Find the right packaging, Marketing II
• Elicit a response, Kottler
• Translation of technology, Volkow
• Epistemic communities
• Policy communities
• Advocacy coalitions etc, Pross
• Negotiation through networks, Sebattier
• Shadow networks, Klickert
• Chains of accountability, Fine
• Communication for social change, Rockefeller
• Wheels and webs, Chapman Fisher
• National Systems of Innovation

www.odi.org.uk/rapid/lessons/theory
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Reality .. Indicative Quotes on Key Issues

• Research Most policy research on African
  agriculture is irrelevant to agricultural and
  overall economic policy in Africa 1
• Policy Uptake policymakers seem to regard
  research as the opposite of action rather
  than the opposite of ignorance. 2
• Role of Outsiders The North spends around US
  2bn annually on development research value for
  money? 3

1 Omamo, 2003, Policy Research on African
Agriculture Trends, Gaps, and Challenges,
International Service for National Agricultural
Research (ISNAR) Research Report No 21. 2 Surr
et al, 2003, DFID Research Strategy Report. 3
RAPID Calculation (c5 of total ODA).
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Definitions

• Research any systematic effort to increase the
  stock of knowledge
• Policy a purposive course of action followed by
  an actor or set of actors, including
• Setting agendas / broadening policy horizons
• Official documents statements
• Attitudes and behaviour of policymakers
• Budgets patterns of spending
• Implementation processes

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An Analytical Framework
External Influences Socio-economic and
cultural influences, donor policies etc
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The GDN Cases
GDN Bridging Project www.gdnet.org/rapnet/
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The Good News

• 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
• Visit http//www.odi.org.uk/rapid

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HIV Prevalence in Thailand, Uganda
KwaZulu-Natal 1990-2000
Source UNAIDS
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An Analytical Framework
External Influences Socio-economic and
cultural influences, donor policies etc
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A Practical Framework
political context
Politics and Policymaking
Campaigning, Lobbying
Policy analysis, research
Media, Advocacy, Networking
Research, learning thinking
Scientific information exchange validation
evidence
links
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What researchers need to do

• 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

• Who are the policymakers?
• Is there demand for ideas?
• What is the policy process?

• 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

• What is the current theory?
• What are the narratives?
• How divergent is it?

• Build partnerships.
• Identify key networkers, mavens and salesmen.
• Use informal contacts

• Get to know the others
• Work through existing networks.
• Build coalitions.
• Build new policy networks.

• Who are the stakeholders?
• What networks exist?
• Who are the connectors, mavens and salesmen?

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Practical 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
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ODI Partnerships Programme
Southern civil society organisations, use of
evidence development policy processes

• Outcomes
• Understanding how CSOs use research-based
  evidence in policy processes
• Regional capacity to support CSOs
• Improved communication (ODI)
• Global collaboration do and learn

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Other sources of information
GDN Bridging Project www.gdnet.org/rapnet/
Visit www.odi.org.uk/rapid or e-mail
rapid_at_odi.org.uk for a copy of the RAPID CD-ROM