Transcript By Patrick Amuriat Oboi, MP Member Committee on science

African Science Academy Development Initiative
(ASADI)
November 10-11, 2009
Accra, Ghana
Improving Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Sub-Saharan Africa
Developing and Applying New Knowledge:
Policy Makers Perspective
By Patrick Amuriat Oboi, MP
Member Committee on science and technology
Parliament of Uganda
Introduction
• The world is changing rapidly and humans have acted
knowingly or not in causing some of the challenges that we
face as a global community.
• These challenges can be felt as we experience them in our
daily lives.
•
Global challenges that the world is grappling which include ;
Climate change and environmental degradation resulting in
devastating effects including floods and drought;
Depletion of sources of fossil energy with biofuels
being used as an alternative source causing rise in food
prices and shortage in many parts of the world;
New infectious Diseases and scourges such HIV/AIDS,
Ebola and H1N1 besides those endemic to Africa like
malaria, cholera etc;
Break down of food supply chain where in Africa
reliance on rain fed agriculture has put some countries
to the point of starvation.
• Fulfillment of MDGs for African countries remain
extremely elusive.
• Reducing mortality among children under five and
improving maternal health to achieve a reduction by ¾
the maternal mortality is still not being achieved.
• To meet the MDG target, Uganda will need to reduce
its maternal mortality from 435 to 131 deaths per
100,000 live births by 2015. Uganda’s MDG target for
infant mortality rate is 31 per 1,000 live births by 2015.
Research, Scientific Evidence and
Policy
• Scientific evidence generated from research can contribute to better
governance.
• A whole new way of thinking and new scientific knowledge will be the
engine through which these challenges can be overcome.
• In the past knowledge meant equal power and control and access to
information was usually limited.
• This has changed in the sense that today; there is an over abundance of
information available due to the information revolution.
• The Internet remains a powerful tool so full of information helped by open
sourcing that we do not know anymore where to look, or how to find what
is valuable. Therefore the way we position ourselves to the information
becomes crucial.
How research can affect policy
•
This can be described using three broad categories;
•
Expanding Policy Capacities:
Knowledge and research can have a positive impact on building the capacities of
policy-makers in different contexts, enabling them to be better informed while
making policies.
•
Broadening Policy Horizons:
Expanding the scope of concepts covered that will invariably broaden the agenda
by bringing in new ideas and knowledge previously not considered. Policy-makers
will then have a much broader outlook and be encouraged to think outside the
box to address problems.
•
Affecting Policy Regimes:
Research can impact overarching policy regimes by opening up policy processes
and operational procedures of the government.
• Studies point out two fundamental factors upon which the ability for
research to translate effectively into policy hinges;
Context and Contingencies
• There are several scenarios where context matters played an important
role:
Scenario 1 :Policy-maker Demand:
• Adequate demand from the policy realm and policy-maker for research.
• researcher needs to be vigilant and ready to seize opportunities, making
timing the most important variable.
The position of scientists in the country on the controversial debate on
GMOs.
Scenario 2 : Policy-maker Interest; Leadership Gap:
• The policy environment is not really conducive for use of data and
knowledge due to an institutional and leadership gap despite adequate
interest from policy-makers.
• There is a need to build leadership and institutional infrastructure within
this context in order to enable research to have an impact.
Implementation problems also exist in this context.
FGM and HIV and circumcision
Scenario 3:Policy-maker Interest; Resources Gap:
• Policy-makers are interested in research but there are insufficient
resources in order for research to seep into policy. Most countries in Africa
are faced with this scenario, where the practice is to use the scarce
resources to deal with the immediate needs of countries than to invest in
what is perceived as lengthy and “expensive” research.
Competing priorities
Scenario 4: Policy-maker Neutral, Research Interest:
•
Policy-makers are neutral to research, which makes it challenging
for research to have a tangible influence. Aggressive
communication of research is more important in this scenario given
the lukewarm attitude towards the research community.
Scenario 5: Policy-maker Disinterest; Research Interest:
• Policy-makers are largely disinterested and even hostile towards
research within this context. In this situation, policy influencing
using evidence-based approaches can break down quickly. Patience
and persistence is critical in order to bring salient issues to the
table.
Basic research which are seen as intellectual exercises.
Carden goes beyond contexts to expressed the need to actively exploit contingencies
that emerge,
• He identifies contingencies into five situations that arise in countries and acknowledges that these
contingencies evolve, constantly presenting and preventing opportunities for research-based
findings to play a role in policy processes.
1. Stability of Decision-Making Institutions:
•
Stability of decision-making institutions is imperative. Rapid turnover of governments is not very
conducive for research to translate into policy and for researchers to develop relationships with
policy-makers. Continuity is important in this regard.
2. Capacity of Decision-Makers to use Research:
•
It is important to educate and build capacity of policy-makers in order to enable them to engage
effectively with research findings. When policy-makers are educated and well informed, policy
processes are enhanced and there is a greater chance for research to have a positive impact.
3. Decentralization vs. Centralisation:
•
Research can have an influence in highly centralised and decentralised systems of
governance alike. The cases of Philippines (highly decentralised) and Vietnam
(highly centralised) are elaborated to underscore that both systems are open to
research if presented well. Aligning a project’s plan with prevailing political
structures is more important.
4. Transitional Countries:
•
Countries in political, economic and social transition remain sites for policy
innovation and experimentation, thereby increasing the need and call for research.
5. Economic Pressures:
•
Nations embroiled in economic crises/pressures are more open towards research
since policy-makers are in dire need of ideas to turn the tide. Crises represent an
opportunity for the policy research community.
What needs to be done?
In view of the above contexts matters and emerging
contingencies, researchers should help policy makers to:
• Recognize that there is a direct relationship between
research investments and economic and social
development in terms of increased length and quality of
life, poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability.
• Interface with research and researchers and both should
underline the fact that the budget, as a major social policy
document, is more than a financial document. Parliaments
have to determine the degree of overall priorities given to
research particularly in countries facing prohibitive
budgetary policies;
There is a need to:
• Acknowledge that in the context of new form of governance, many
stakeholders take part in setting budgetary policy besides parliament
(educational and scientific institutions, private sector, civil society and
media)
• urge scientists and researchers to ensure that new knowledge does not
created new undesirable challenges. This must be done while bearing in
mind the other challenges that may cause a crisis if not paid attention to.
This helps in building policy makers confidence and trust in research.
• Emphasize research and transfer of knowledge and networking.
Researchers from different countries need to conduct research in a
collaborative manner. Ignoring the “have nots” would indicate a lack of
appreciation that the challenges we are dealing with today are global in
nature and that synergy will be realized by this approach.
Conclusion
It is important to emphasis that evidence-based (data) approaches can
lead to better governance in three ways:
• opening up new avenues of inquiry and debate,
•
empowering citizens with knowledge to hold their governments
accountable,
•
expanding the menu of policy options available for policy-makers as
they seek to address salient public policy issues and
• there has to be foresight, creativity, momentum in researchers
confidence and confidence in their momentum.
Are Scientist apolitical?
Thank you for your attention