Transcript Bridging Research, Policy and Politics

(1) Bridging research, policy and
politics
the RAPID+ framework
This presentation is based on:
Court, J., and Young, J. 2006. Bridging research and policy in international
development: an analytical and practical framework. Development in
Practice.16(1), pp 85-90
Experiences from the CoCoon Groundwater in the Political Domain Project
What are policies
a chaos of interests and activities, brought together
under a common denominator
or
the base of systematic implementation of rational
decisions through selected strategies?
or
a thin veneer of reasonableness covering up a world of
power games and manipulation
Exercise: Discussion
• Participant to write down their definition of
‘policy’ and ‘politics’ and linkages
• Tally and discuss whether the definitions
given of policy are close to one of
definitions given earlier
Researchers, policy makers and
politicians
Living in different worlds?
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Bridging research, policy and politics
Research and evidence is crucial for
informed decision-making in development
policies
BUT, it is not a automatic process where
project findings shift from the ‘research
sphere’ to the ‘policy sphere’, where it
impacts policy makers decisions and
programs
Bridging research and policy
So, why are some of the ideas that circulate in
the research and policy networks picked up
and acted on, while others never make it that
far and are ignored and disappear?
THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
Problem
identification
Sector
Issue is put on political
agenda = policy issue
Who drives the issue?
Stakeholder Analysis:
Mandate/Interest/
influence/
relationships
External Factor
Analysis:
Opportunities & Threats
Lessons
learned
Policy
Implementation
Multi-Stakeholders
Consultations
and monitoring
Detailed
Policy planning
Identifying Policy Options

Policy Recommendations
Policy Formulation
and approval
THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
Problem
identification
Sector
Issue is put on political
agenda = policy issue
Who drives the issue?
R
Stakeholder Analysis:
Mandate/Interest/
influence/
relationships
External Factor
Analysis:
R
Opportunities & Threats
Lessons
learned
R
Multi-Stakeholders
Consultations
and monitoring
Identifying Policy Options

Policy Recommendations
R
Policy
Implementation
Detailed
Policy planning
Policy Formulation
and approval
R
But…
bridging policy/research and politics
Why do we have many good policy
documents that seem to have no effect on
the real world apparently, and life and
politics just seem to go on?
Some answers…
• Policy makers and power holders never meet.
Many policies made by clearly ignoring politics
and politicians
• Policies and laws are made in heaven: ‘nirvana’
syndrome – no one wants to be realistic
• No thought or appreciation for difficulties of
implementation: ‘implementers always get the
blame for bad planning’
• ‘Policies are not for implementation but to define
consensus among group of stakeholders’
But it is always so bad?
Implementation of the Water Law in
Wadi Al Qaradah
Wadi Alqaradah: Two WUAs
• If in WUA A a well is developed WUA B
will lodge case with NWRA
• And vice versa: in this way conflicts within
the community are prevented
• And the Water Law is implemented
• Conclusion: implementation is there but
not always straightforward
Bridging research, policy and politics
The RAPID framework
Political context/
stakeholders
Politics and policy
making
Wadi Qaradah (6).JPG
Media,
advocacy,
networking
Links/
communication
Research,
learning &
thinking
Evidence/
research
Bridging research, policy and politics
The RAPID framework – Political context
Understand the
stakeholders
What you need to do
How to do it
 Who?
 Demand for new
ideas?
 Resistance?
 Process?
 Opportunities?
 Timing?
 Know them, and
their agendas!
 Identify supporters
and opponents!
 Understanding
politics
 Prepare for
opportunities and
keep an eye on the
process for windows
of opportunities
 Work with them
 Seek assignments
 Line up research
programs with policy
events
 Seek opportunities to
meet
 Reserve resources for
windows of
opportunity
Bridging research, policy and politics
The RAPID framework – Evidence
What you need to know –
research questions
What you need to do
How to do it
 What is the current
theory?
 What are the prevailing
narratives - how are
issues ‘framed’?
 How divergent is new
evidence?
 What sort of evidence
convinces policy makers
 Phrase research
questions in terms of
clear insights and
solutions
 Do not hide behind
‘complexities’ – but build
a convincing case
 Engage stakeholders at
different level in the
research
 Establish long term
credibility and legitimacy!
 Make sure the research is
conclusive and quantified
 Action-research and pilot
projects
 Participatory approaches
 Clear communication
strategy from the start
not at the end only
Bridging research, policy and politics
The RAPID framework – Links/ convincing
What you need to know to What you need to do
communicate effectively
 How to reach the key
stakeholders?
 How and when to present
the messages?
 What is role of media,
informal networks and who
are the gatekeepers and
what is their influence?
 Whose side are they on?



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

How to do it
Have a communication
 Partnerships between
plan
researchers, policy makers,
and communities
Effective messaging
 Make a communication
Build on reputation and
product and events –
credibility
different strategies for
Build coalitions and
different stakeholders
partnerships
Become present in existing  Communicate together
with/ through direct
networks and use infromal
affectees (farmers, women,
opportunities
environmental refugees)
Use media wisely
 Use diversity of
communication channels
Bridging research, policy and politics
The RAPID framework
ALL ARE EQUALLY
IMPORTANT
Political context/
stakeholders
Politics and policy
making
Media,
advocacy,
networking
Links/
communication
Research,
learning &
thinking
THIS IS NOT ALL
THAT MATTERS
Evidence/
research
Bridging research, policy and politics
When does evidence influence policy?
 The evidence fits within the political and
institutional limits and pressures of policy
makers, and resonates with their assumptions, or
sufficient pressure is exerted to challenge these
assumptions
 The evidence is credible and convincing, provides
practical solutions to pressing policy problems,
and is packaged to attract policy makers’ interest
 Researchers and policy makers share common
networks, trust each other, and communicate
effectively
Bridging research, policy and politics
When does evidence influence policy?
But these three conditions are rarely met in
practice, because of:
limited capacity/ interests of researchers to influence the
political context – peer reviewed papers are better for the career
choices and priorities in work of researchers: preference for
fundamental research and peer-reviewed papers, for describing/
identifying never ending issues: ‘the outcome of research is more
research’
making diagnoses and general recommendations but not
coming with specific recommendations as this is risky
Objectives:
At the end of the course participants will:
• Understand the policy development cycle
and what research is relevant
• Have acquired knowledge and skills and
tools to engage actively with relevant
stakeholders – incl politicians
• Can rephrase research questions and
make a communication plan
Bridging research, policy and politics
By making more
informed, strategic
choices,
researchers can
maximize
their chances of
influencing
policy and politics!
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