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Advisory Group Meeting at ODI 18th November 2005
Introduction
Simon Maxwell welcomed participants and outlined the purpose of
the meeting. John Young presented an overview of the programme,
progress so far, and the results of the collaborators workshop (see
Presentation
1 - Programme Overview powerpoint 772kb).
Key points of discussion included:
- Southern TTS and PRIs are increasingly involved in working with
CSOs to maximise the impact of their research-based evidence
- There are some regional TTs, PRIs and networks, but they tend
to be sectoral
- There are a number of other programmes/institutions providing
support, eg GDN and the DSA network, which might provide vehicles
or models for the programme
- ODI's networks (HPN, AgREN, FRN etc) are highly regarded but
increasingly difficult to fund, and need to find new mechanisms
in a changing world
- ODI's CSPP could play an important role in strengthening the
impact of research-based evidence through CSOs.
Regional Opportunities / Collaborators Workshop Feedback
After coffee, participants from the Collaborators Workshop presented
some ideas for programme activities in each region (see The
Collaborators Workshop Report (summary) or full
workshop report pdf 1.9mb for details).
Points of discussion included:
- Strong support for the value of building a community of practice
using a range of virtual and face-to-face mechanisms to share
experience and expertise.
- That it should not be northern-dominated, and emphasise south-south
and south-north exchange with ODI playing a facilitator role.
- The importance of personal contact, and seed funds to start
things up.
- Clear demand from south for opportunity to work together with
each other and ODI on global issues including Trade, HIV/AIDS
etc.
- The emphasis of the programme should be on strengthening the
interface between research and policy (through capacity development
and collaborative work on specific policy projects) rather than
on specific policy issues. There are many other organisations
and networks doing that.
- The participants at the collaborators workshop and in the external
advisory group are already the beginning of an impressive community
of practice.
General Programme Issues
After lunch the advisory group discussed a number of issues about
the programme in general:
- Language: The programme should endeavour to make key material
available in Spanish and French as well as English. Southern collaborators
could help with that.
- The sort of organisations should the programme work with: The
emphasis should be on function (using research-based evidence
to promote pro-poor policy in collaboration with CSOs) rather
than type (CSO, University, TT etc)
- Providing funds to partners: The emphasis should be on partnerships
and collaboration, though it may be necessary to provide funds
to partners for collaborative work to develop ideas, then help
them to obtain funds from donors.
Programme Activities
In this session CSPP Management Team members presented some of the
work in each outcome area (see Presentation
2 - Programme Activities powerpoint 905kb).
Points of discussion included:
- The key research focus for the programme should be on how TTs
work in developing countries & then providing practically
useful information & support.
- The framework and other approaches will need to be "localised"
in each contexts.
- The need for better methods to measure the impact of research.
- The community of practice should be the core of the programme,
and run from the south eventually. In the meantime ODI must avoid
becoming a "gatekeeper".
- The programme will need to respond to different needs in different
contexts and will need mechanisms to assess contexts and needs
and to select what to do where.
- The importance of early work to establish equitable partnerships.
New global projects will evolve out of these - probably only 3-4
issues at a time (ie 1 or 2 a year).
- The need to combine virtual, web-based and face-to-face support
and exchange.
- The need for and high cost of providing hard-copy information
in many countries.
- The CSPP should focus on producing information and tools on
how to influence policy rather than the policies themselves and
on communicating that with partners, and let them communicate
with their own stakeholders.
- Since this is a 7 year programme, the emphasis should probably
be on Outcomes 1 and 2 over the next 2 years, with more on 3 &
4 thereafter.
The Advisory Group
In the final session Simon asked how to maximise the value of the
external advisory group. Suggestions included:
- Advisers should be encouraged to commit their support over several
years and encouraged to participate in programme activities.
- Aim for a 1½ day face-to-face meeting once a year, ideally
around a specific programme event and set this up well in advance
with electronic communication in between.
- The advisory group should be a sounding board for, and source
of new ideas rather than a governance mechanism.
- Should aim for c.15 advisers so can reasonably expect to get
10 at each meeting (to achieve a better balance at meetings with
ODI staff)
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