Between August and September of 2005, ODI carried out consultations for the CSPP in Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. This process helped identify key collaborators in the region: CIES in Peru, ILDIS in Bolivia and CIPPEC in Argentina. The consultations suggested that Latin America is home to a rich and credible academic and research community. Latin American researchers, unlike those in other regions, do not lack research capacities and understand the complexities of the policy processes of their countries. However, they all recognise that they have not been as successful in learning from experience.

In that sense, at the consultations, and in subsequent discussions, Latin American researchers and practitioners have demanded the formation of a network that would allow them to share their experiences, learn from others and link up with peers in other regions of the world.

In Latin America this process has already begun. Led by some of our collaborators in the region, ODI is facilitating the development of a network of researchers and practitioners interested in learning and supporting other evidence based policymaking initiatives. For that aim, a dgroup (www.dgroups.org/groups/cspp-al/) has been set up to provide participants with an initial space for engagement and knowledge sharing. See below for summaries of recent debates held by the group.

Already, valuable learning processes have taken place. An innovative project led by CIES in Peru to provide research based evidence to inform the electoral process in the run up to the April elections has been identified by Ecuadorian members of the network. They have taken some of the lessons from the Peruvian initiative and developed a local version. The network has also proven useful for disseminating research products, conferences and events, and funding opportunities for work in the area of research policy linkages.

In the coming months CIPPEC, in Argentina, will help develop and run a Trainer of Trainers session. This event, planned for February 2007, will bring together capacity building specialists in the region to help develop a Latin American version of the capacity building methods and materials followed by ODI elsewhere. Alongside this process, the CSPP will finance a series of collaborative action research projects. Through them, CSPP researchers and collaborators will work together, over a long term period, to address a national or regional policy issue - thus testing the methods and tools and learning from practical experiences for the benefit of the other members of the network.

Demand for awareness and capacity development on bridging research and policy and interaction with the network and the ODI is high in the region. Exchanges with Brazilian, Uruguayan and Peruvian researchers and academics over the last few months illustrate this interest.

Through these relations and other projects we hope to spread the reach of the programme and develop a strong Network that will provide support for civil society in the region. Linked to the broader CSPP, we hope to be able to bring the lessons from Latin America to the rest of the world and vice versa.

Latin American related activities and research

Workshops and consultations:

• Consultation workshop and seminar in Argentina: A consultation with Argentinean civil society organisations about the challenges and opportunities that they encounter when attempting to influence policy processes with research based evidence.
• Consultation workshop and seminar in Bolivia: A consultation with Bolivian civil society organisations about the challenges and opportunities that they encounter when attempting to influence policy processes with research based evidence.
• Knowledge Management and Knowledge Networks for CARE UK, in London: A workshop with the Latin American Civil Society team of CARE UK to help them develop a learning network linking its regional staff.
• Network building and evidence based policy influence for Academics and Practitioners, in Madrid: A workshop with researchers and practitioners of universities and NGOs associated to the Compañia de Jesús working on development in Latin America. The workshop helped to set out the foundation for better cooperation between the participants.
• Mexican and Central American researchers' workshop, in London: A workshop for researchers from universities and NGOs to introduce them to a series of tools for policy impact. The workshop was part of a longer UK based study visit.
• Outcome Mapping for the Latin American forum of IFRTD, in Cuba: Outcome Mapping is a methodology that can be used to plan, monitor and evaluate the contribution of research on the changes in the behaviours of key policy actors. The four day workshop helped the regional forum develop a basic strategy for monitoring their contribution to policy influence.

Research:

• Research policy networks in Peru: A study of seven research policy networks in Peru as part of a broader study of networks' role in bridging research and policy. It includes short cases, lessons, best practices and recommendations for action.
• Bridging Research and Policy (Policy Brief - in Spanish): A Policy Brief summarizing the RAPID framework.
• Bridging research and policy cases in Argentina and Bolivia: Cases from the consultations as presented by the participants in Argentina and Bolivia.

Dgroup:

• Dgroup address and how to join: www.dgroups.org/groups/cspp-al/
• CSPP Latin America debate on the challenges and opportunities for influencing development policies in Latin America: The recent electronic debate saw the participation of CSO members from Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Argentina. The discussion revealed several cross cutting impediments hindering the successful uptake of research in Latin America - click here for a summary of the recent debate.

Further resources:

• CSPP Latin America contact Enrique Mendizabal
• CSPP-AL dgroup
• RAPID Workshops
• CSPP Consultations
• Research Policy Networks
• ODI's Latin America and Caribbean Group (LACG)
• Latin American and the Caribbean Blog at ODI

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