 Promoting
Evidence-based Development Policy Workshop
Bridging Research and Policy in Development was the theme of the
2004 DSA Annual Conference, held in London on 6th November 2004.
Diane Stone chaired a workshop on Promoting Evidence-based Development
Policy, which was attended by around fifty participants of the DSA
conference.
The workshop was designed to provide a synthesis of the latest
research on evidence-based policy in developing countries, policy
perspectives from DFID, the latest on effective research communication
and a perspective from the South.
John Young gave a presentation on Bridging Research and Policy:
A Framework and New Approaches (view
John's powerpoint presentation Powerpoint 277kb).
The presentation focused on the theory around the role of research
in policy processes, and the RAPID framework developed to help understand
policy processes and develop strategies to promote evidence-based
policy making. In conclusion John noted that research does matter,
but perhaps not as much as you may think. The process of policy
influence is multi-faceted, lengthy and complex, and researchers
need to acknowledge and engage with all four key factors in the
RAPID Framework
The presentation was followed by brief feedback statements from
the three other panellists. Dominic Furlong presented a response
to the RAPID Framework from his experience from both the donor perspective
and also with regard to communications services (view
text of Dominic's presentation pdf 23kb).
He spoke on the theory and practice of getting research results
out and used; bottlenecks to learning, dissemination and uptake
in the north and south; and opportunities to improve research communication.
Dylan Winder presented his feedback from a DFID policy-maker's
perspective. He spoke about the emphasis on communication and engagement
in the new CRD research strategy; the impact of current policies
on national research capacity and science-policy links; and the
role of northern donors and researchers. He concluded that promoting
the use of research-based policy was a big opportunity to improve
the lives of the poor. However, the underlying issue remains problems
of governance.
Naved Chowdhury presented his feedback from a Bangladeshi perspective
(view text of Naved's presentation
pdf 18kb). He spoke about the current and
future impact of northern-funded and led development research; the
capacity of southern researchers and their engagement with policy
makers; and what should be done to improve the use of research in
policy. He concluded that researchers need to be consistent, persistent,
strategic and patient, and also that there should be mutual respect
between researchers and policy-makers.
Participants raised a number of issues about the framework itself
and provided some practical experiences of their own. A number of
important issues emerged from the discussions: that development
researchers had a moral responsibility to consider the policy dimensions
for their work; that there should be more incentives for academics
to disseminate their research; that donors should devolve more of
their budgets to researchers in developing countries; and that policy
makers should pay more attention to the evidence.
Click on the links below for further information:
|
46kb)
277kb)