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PRESS RELEASE
A new partnership to bridge research and policy
in international development
A partnership to boost civil society participation in global policy
debates has been announced in London. The UK's Department
for International Development has entered into a six-year agreement
with the Overseas Development Institute, the UK's leading independent
think-tank on international development and humanitarian issues.
The two will work together in a long-term effort to help think-tanks
and NGOs around the world contribute more effectively to policy
in such areas as aid, trade and poverty reduction. The programme
will sponsor research to understand better how policy is made, build
capacity through training and advisory work, and help southern civil
society organisations target key decisions for improved policy impact.
The agreement, worth at least £4.8m over the six years to
2010, is one of a series of Partnership Programme Agreements signed
by DFID with leading NGOs. This is the first time such an agreement
has been signed with a UK-based think-tank.
Welcoming the Agreement, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
for International Development, Gareth Thomas MP, said:
"The UK government is committed to an active and informed debate
on development issues. ODI is recognised as leading the world in
applying careful research to global policy problems. We are pleased
to be able to support its work, and help it build stronger networks
with the South".
The Director of ODI, Simon Maxwell, commented that:
" ODI and its many partners want to see
research being used to make the world a better place - and want
to see decisions which affect the lives of the world's poor underpinned
by good analysis. Our mission is to find new ways to build bridges
of this kind between research and policy. We very much look forward
to working with DFID".
- Ends -
For further information please telephone Diana Evans on: +44 (0)20
7922 0394
or email: d.evans@odi.org.uk
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Notes to Editors:
1. The Department for International Development (DFID) was established
in 1997, as the successor to the Overseas Development Administration,
previously part of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).
DFID's overall aim is to reduce global poverty and promote sustainable
development, in particular through achieving the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs). For more information see www.dfid.gov.uk
2. ODI is Britain's leading independent think-tank on international
development and humanitarian issues. Its mission is to inspire and
inform policy and practice which lead to the reduction of poverty,
the alleviation of suffering and the achievement of sustainable
livelihoods in developing countries. Locking together high-quality
applied research, practical policy advice and policy-focused dissemination
and debate, ODI works with partners in the public and private sectors,
in both developing and developed countries. It has about 55 researchers
and a turn-over of £7.5m (2003-4). Further details are on
the website (www.odi.org.uk)
3. As a registered charity, ODI is dependent on outside funds.
It is supported by grants and donations from public and private
sources.
4. The ODI Council
is chaired by Baroness Margaret Jay. Other members include: Tony
Baldry MP, Larry Elliott, Sir Richard Jolly, and Professor Frances
Stewart.
5. Partnership Programme Agreements are agreements between DFID
and influential civil society organisations in the UK which set
out at a strategic level how the two partners will work together
to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Strategic funding is provided,
linked to jointly agreed strategic objectives. Since 1997, DFID
has negotiated 15 PPAs with a range of organisations including VSO,
OXFAM, Save the Children and others. For further details see: http://62.189.42.51/DFIDstage/AboutDFID/files/civilsociety/Csd-ppa.htm
6. The PPA signed between DFID and ODI foresees activity in four
areas:
i. Research and training to help research institutes, think-tanks
and NGOs understand better how evidence can contribute to pro-poor
policy;
ii. Establishing regional capacity to support developing country
research institutes, think tanks and NGOs in their policy work;
iii. Improving the accessibility of research-based contributions
to policy, through work on publications and websites; and
iv. Strengthening networks to improve participation in current policy
debates, by partners in North and South.
Further details are available at www.odi.org.uk/rapid/ppa
For further information please telephone Diana Evans on: +44 (0)20
7922 0394
or email: d.evans@odi.org.uk
15 June 2004
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