Case study of the African energy policy research network (AFREPREN)

GDN has identified the following three key factors that are crucial to understanding the linkages between research and policy:

• Scientific determinacy;
  
• Political determinacy;
  
• Extent of trust between users and researchers.
  

With respect to scientific determinacy and as mentioned earlier, the documented evidence of AFREPREN's impact on policy is available but is far from conclusive. The evaluation reports underline that difficulty of measuring impact and identifying conclusively a causal link between AFREPREN research and policy changes. The available documentation, however, is indicative of some level of impact.

The available evidence is stronger on political determinacy. The active participation of senior decision-makers in the identification of research themes and in actually undertaking the research work provides very concrete evidence that policy-makers are in some way 'commissioning' AFREPREN research work and are therefore more likely to use its results.

The extent of trust between users and researchers is particularly strong within AFREPREN primarily due to the involvement of users (policy-makers) in research work. In addition, the longevity of AFREPREN (from 1987 to-date) has strengthened its credibility with decision-makers in the region and provided the time for researchers to cultivate and establish relationships of trust with key decision-makers in the region's energy sector. The level of trust that AFREPREN has engendered is demonstrated by numerous cases where AFREPREN researchers have been able to secure confidential documents that are not available in the public domain.

(From conclusion)