ODI is Britain's leading independent think tank on international development and humanitarian issues.
Home > Our work > Themes >
Email/share | Print |

Knowledge and power
Walking through maze (Source: ailatan, Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/osiatynska/3516409498/)
  • There are many factors that influence the ability for research to inform both policy and practice. ODI research concentrates on the following areas:
    • Actors: Policy actors have different abilities to critically engage with knowledge and face varying opportunities and challenges when bringing evidence to the table during policy discussions.
    • Analysing political context: the nature of the political system, including the level of democratic competition, government leadership, incentive structures within policy-making organisations, and capacities of both policy-makers and institutions can determine whether – and to what extent – knowledge is used to inform policy-making.
    • Types of knowledge: How knowledge is generated is just as important as what is made of it. What types of information – scientific, participatory, or monitoring and evaluation data – are influential in policy dialogues in different sectors and at different policy levels?
  • Sub-topics:
  • For more information on this theme, contact Nicola Jones

Analysing political context

Analysing political contexts by sector

Inequity and policy process

Policy actors

Sectoral and problem driven political economy analysis

Types of knowledge

Voice and accountability

Full listing of resources