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ODI Civil Society Partnership Programme
Collaborators Workshop 16th-18th November 2005
Below is the main report from the Collaborators Workshop,
under the following sections:
Introduction
ODI's seven year Civil Society Partnership Programme (CSPP)
which is funded through a Partnership Programme Agreement
with the UK Department for International Development (DFID),
aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations
(CSOs) to use research-based evidence to promote pro-poor
development policy. Full details of the programme, as originally
conceived are described in the original Partnership
Programme Agreement (pdf 73kb).
The emphasis of the work over the first 18 months was to
learn more about how CSOs use research-based evidence, explore
the niche and demand for this sort of programme, identify
potential collaborators in the South, initiate a small number
of pilot projects, and improve ODI's internal knowledge management
and communication systems. More information about the programme
and progress over the first 18 months is available in the
Annual Report
(pdf 330kb) and on this website.
Work so far has identified a clear niche and demand for the
programme from southern CSOs, for help to improve the use
of research-based evidence in policy processes. The CSPP has
already produced a range of training and information material,
and has run a number of training courses for staff in CSOs
in Africa, Asia. Lessons from the work so far highlight a
number of issues and options for the next phase of work. These
are described in detail in the paper: The
Civil Society Partnership Programme: Issues and Options for
the Second Phase (pdf 124kb). A
list of the key questions is
available here.
This workshop was one of a series of meetings seminars and
workshops with programme stakeholders to review progress and
develop plans for the next phase (April 06 to March 08). The
workshop brought together 17 participants from Think Tanks
(TTs), Policy Research Institutes (PRIs) and Non Government
Organisations (NGOs) in Asia, Africa and Latin America with
whom the programme has worked during the first phase to explore
these questions. Their names and information about their organisations
is provided in the participants
list here.
After a general introduction to ODI and the CSPP, a Challenge
Session provided an opportunity for participants to explore
the basic assumptions underpinning the programme as a whole.
Four participants then presented brief Case Studies of their
own work. This was followed by sessions on the Lessons So
Far and Proposals for Phase 2. In the final session participants
divided into groups to discuss specific Regional Issues and
Options. The workshop programme is
available here and includes links to a full record of
discussions, group work outputs and full powerpoint versions
of all the presentation slides.
Programme logic and niche
The key conclusions of the challenge session confirmed the
assumptions underpinning the programme:
- There is a growing demand for research-based-evidence
to inform development policy processes, but this varies
in different contexts and the credibility of local CSOs
is often questioned.
- Understanding the political context is crucial, but impact
can be enhanced through better engagement with policy makers
and communities, strategic alliances with international
actors, better communication and networking, an emphasis
on providing solutions rather then just presenting problems,
and long-term capacity building.
- TTs, PRIs, NGOs and other CSOs have some capacity, skills
and products to use research-based evidence to influence
policy, but need more of all of them. Policy makers in developing
countries also need help to make better use of research-based
evidence.
- TTs, PRIs, NGOs and other CSOs can access some support,
but could use more, especially long term, support for research
and policy influence activities.
Participants were generally enthusiastic about the programme,
especially about the opportunity to learn from each other's
practical experience, and for long-term support with how to
use research-based evidence to influence policy. There are
few other programmes offering this kind of support.
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Discussion of key issues
The main conclusions of discussions about programme lessons
and issues were:
- General agreement with the lessons learned by the programme
so far. Additional points made and issues raised included
the following:
- It often takes a long time for new TTs and PRIs to
be seen as credible by policy makers.
- There is little incentive for successful TTs to want
to help emerging TTS which may then become direct competitors
for scarce funding.
- While there is a definite trend towards more involvement
of CSOs in policy making in many developing countries,
often promoted by donors, they still have very limited
influence.
- Political factors are often more important than evidence,
and corruption undermines many policy processes.
- There is need to better understand how to use research-based
evidence to influence policy implementation rather than
policy formulation (which is increasingly well known).
- The programme also needs to work with policy makers
to strengthen the demand for research-based evidence.
- Does ODI really want to become a capacity-building
organisation?
- ODI toolkits need to be 'localised'. ODI's partners
could help with this.
- Paper and CD Rom-based information materials remain
more important and popular in many developing countries
than internet-based information systems.
- ODI's conclusion that there are few suitable regional
organisations may not be correct. There are many sectoral
organisations and networks with a regional role, though
they may not be interested in working closely with CSOs
and capacity-building. There are also a number of national
organisation that developing a regional role. The project
should not 'write off' the 'regional organisation' model
just yet, although it will be less simple than envisaged.
- ODI's approach to developing the global projects has over-emphasised
ODI's northern agenda. While ODI's engagement with northern
policy processes is an important asset for the global projects,
more dialogue with southern partners is needed to identify
mutually interesting topics.
- General support for the proposed outcome areas and activities
for Phase 2. Specific comments and recommendations under
each outcome included the following:
- Outcome 1: CSOs understand how to use research-based evidence
to influence policy:
- The initial emphasis should be on making existing
knowledge accessible and practically useful through
a synthesis of the work so far;
- There is a need to develop 'how to' guidelines in
key areas;
- new research should focus on understanding how to
better link research to policy implementation (via action
research) and why policymakers do not find CSO evidence
credible;
- There should also be a focus on horizontal learning
and learning more from the south.
- Outcome 2: CSOs can access support:
- The programme should provide long term support through
e.g. funds, exposure visits (south-south), exchange
visits North-south), fundraising support, and electronic
networking etc.
- Should ODI do the training/capacity-building directly,
or find other organisations to collaborate with?
- While donors are keen to support southern TTs etc,
much of the money is for specific bits of work. There
are few donors providing institutional support, without
which it is difficult to establish long term programmes.
A little core funding from ODI could help organisations
find additional funding.
- Need to balance need to provide regional support
with the reality that there are far more national-level
organisations. A 'network' of national-level organisations
could support other in the region.
- Should focus on developing trust through partnerships
rather than 'accreditation' schemes.
- Could scale up impact through e.g. organising a ToT
WS in one country with participants from neighbouring
countries who then run training WS in their own country.
- Outcome 3: Global Projects:
- Participants identified an ideal process to develop
these projects: a group of organisations get together
to identify a topic of mutual interest, identify who
will do what (and how each organisation's work will
contribute to the project), who will lead, look for
funds and then do the work.
- Global projects should focus on issues that people
are already working on a lead
- Outcome 4: Improved information:
- Participants identified a number of additional mechanisms
the programme could use to improve information availability
including partnerships with local media, attending global
events, and working with universities etc .
- Ideally the programme would make information available
in English, French and Spanish. Partners in Latin America
and Francophone Africa could help with that.
- ODI's role in the programme should be to facilitate
access to information rather than as the main provider
of information.
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Specific opportunities for Phase 2
Regional groups identified a number of specific activities
for Phase 2. A summary of these is provided below (see full
notes (pdf 217kb) for more
detail):
Latin America
- A regional workshop for senior researchers and policy
makers on chronic poverty, inequality and social exclusion
to set a research agenda and create a community of practice
- A regional training programme on linking research and
policy including a regional training of trainers workshop
who will then organise follow-up national workshops
- Promotion of South-South collaboration through 1) and
2), and sharing and dissemination of materials and databases,
institutional exchange and support with fundraising
- Identification and development of regional projects on
e.g. debt, trade and internal migration etc.
South and South East Asia
- Regional work to develop the analytical framework, and
develop a regional policy influencing training program
- Capacity-building through 1) and South-South, South-North
and North-South exchanges.
- Involvement in regional/global projects on Trade and
Development and Reform of Aid system and the economics of
emergencies (focusing on key national, regional and global
events and training/working with journalists/media)
- Improved information sharing through networking and alliance
building (APPRN), clustering of issue-wise research material
and linkages of websites
- Improved access to information materials through free
or subsidized access to journals
- Financial support for program based research funding
and help to develop a donor consortium (resources and feedback).
West Africa
- A mapping process to identify CSOs for networking and
partnerships.
- A programme to develop stronger linkages among CSOs across
West Africa through networks and partnerships, engaging
with regional bodies on policy issues, south-south partnerships,
networking and training of trainers courses on policy research
and advocacy
- Research on improving policy engagements with regional
institutions, e.g. ECOWAS, African Commission on Human Rights,
Banjul, etc
- Regional research on budget analysis and monitoring initiatives
and involvement in global projects on Trade, Access to Markets,
and Debt cancellation.
- Exchange visits to SA region: food security issues in
Sahelian areas.
- Help to access in-country challenge funds by donors,
e.g. DFID, DANIDA, CIDA, the Ford Foundation etc
- Improved information availability through CD Roms, policy
briefs, policy meetings and an easily accessible website
Eastern Africa
- Agenda setting workshop for civil society in policy in
East Africa -linked to the establishment of an East Africa
civil society policy forum.
- Research on what prevents policy makers from taking on
board CSO research findings.
- Regional training of trainers and capacity building programme
on policy analysis and engagement.
- Breakfast meetings for top policy makers.
- Engagement with the East Africa Community Civil Society
Programme on policy issues.
- In country meetings to bring CSO issues in policy engagement.
- Case studies on policy related activities and south-south
visits etc.
- Involvement in global projects on e.g. trade, debt, aid,
environment and climate change, PRSPs and MDGs and HIV/AIDS
- Improved information through basic information products
on e.g. Aid, Trade and Poverty (simple and straight forward),
Policy briefs, CDs and E-discussions
Southern Africa
- Overall principle should be 'partnership' rather than
'funder' i.e. MOU vs contract
- Poverty policy training linked to SARPN's training on
poverty
- Intense training of trainers in the policy cycle and
civic engagement (about 15 people)
- Research on:
- policy makers' expectations of civil society evidence;
- the level of commitment to SADC agreement on 10%
budgets for agriculture followed by policy dialogue,
a common position and advocacy
- second generation PRSPs - their emergence, and principals
- Strengthen the capacity of civil society to identify
and access important materials
- Series of dialogue on the impact of food aid on traditional
long term development
- Involvement in global projects on e.g. trade, debt, aid,
environment and climate change, PRSPs and MDGs and HIV/AIDS
- Improved information through basic information products
on e.g. Aid, Trade and Poverty (simple and straight forward),
Policy briefs, CDs and E-discussions
Next Steps
Further steps in the preparation of plans for Phase 2 will
include meetings and seminars with DFD and other UK-based
organisations involved in similar work, electronic discussions
with other organisations involved in similar work in other
parts of the world, and a final electronic discussion with
people who have been involved in the project so far, including
the participants of this workshop. The aim is to have the
final programme prepared by the end of March 2006
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