Bridging the gap between research and policy making?

Ajoy DattaFoundation for the Future, Dead Sea, Jordan

Civil Society Partnerships Programme

26-28 January 2010

Outline of this presentation

1.Is there a gap? No, not really

2.What are the implications for

research centres?

3.How can we promote our own

research

Is there a gap?

Research Policy

Is there a gap?

Research Policy

Is there a gap?

• Focus has been on researchers and links to policymakers and policy

• Policy is broadly linked to evidence

• The issue of knowledge density

• Research centres are political actors

Many links exist

• Formal internal think tanks

• Public think tanks

• UN think tanks

• Informal ‘internal’ think tanks

Research and policy in East Asia

• States and Markets have been politically contested

• Think thanks are an important actor

• They are political

• They are part of a long term national development plan

Research and policy in Latin America• Emergence of think tanks tightly

linked to historical development of region– Coincided with political struggles

• Eclectic funding sources– Political parties– International NGOs/foundations– Private sector

Is there a gap?

Res

earc

hP

olicy

Technocratic networks

Ideological think tanks

Internal think tanks

UN Think tanks

Public think tanks

Political parties

Lobbies

NGOs

corporations

Universities

Regulatory bodies

Executive

In the United States

• Industrial revolution donors: progressive believe in science

• Post Wall Street Crash: contain social disaffection

• Second World War: more complex foreign policy and military strategies

• Cold War: beat the Russians (and all that implies)

• The conservative swing: Get the Republicans into the White House

Conclusion

• One community

• But with differences

• Extent of overlap can vary– Context dependent

• Little or no gap

• Not everyone can be influential

• Aligned with political interests

Implications

1. Really understand the context. What works where?

2. Recognise the limits to the uptake of some research by policymakers

– Uptake is not same everywhere

3. Work with what you have– Depends on who you are

Promoting your research1. Know your policy objective

2. Understand the context

3. Identify who you want to influence

4. Clarify what changes you want

5. Develop a theory of change

6. Develop a strategy

7. Develop your competencies and skills and/or partner with others

8. Set up a Monitoring and Learning system

For example:

Progress MarkersOpportunities and Threats timelinePolicy ObjectivesAIIMForce Field Analysis

For example:

Force Field AnalysisFor example:

Policy entrepreneur questionnaireSWOTInternal performance frameworks

For example:

Log Frame (flexible)Outcome MappingJournals or impact logsInternal monitoring tools

Start by defining your policy objectives –

constantly review them during the

process

For example:

•AIIM•Stakeholder analysis•Influence Mapping•Social Network Analysis•Force Field Analysis

For example:

Publications, public relationsMedia and eventsNegotiation and adviceDevelop a network or coalitionResearch

For example:

RAPID FrameworkDrivers of ChangePower AnalysisSWOTInfluence MappingForce Field Analysis

RAPID OUTCOME MAPPING APPROACH (ROMA)

More research

Develop a network or build partnerships

Research communications

Capacity building

Thank you

Ajoy Datta

a.datta@odi.org.uk

www.odi.org.uk/rapid

www.ebpdn.org