Can ILRI hope to influence pro-poor policy change through research?

1. Can ILRI hope to influence pro-poor policy change through research? John Young, ODI, UK Dannie Romney, ILRI, Kenya

2. Outline • The research-policy nexus: Current theory and practice (John Young, ODI) • Process and partnership for pro-poor policy change (Dannie Romney, ILRI)

3. Definitions • Research: “any systematic effort to increase the stock of knowledge” • Policy:a “purposive course of action followed by an actor or set of actors” • Agendas / policy horizons • Official statements documents • Patterns of spending • Implementation processes • Activities on the ground

4. Policy Processes - Identify a policy problem - Commission research - Assess the results - Select the best policy - Establish the policy framework - Implement the policy - The problem is solved

5. Reality… • “The whole life of policy is a chaos of purposes and accidents. It is not at all a matter of the rational implementation of the so-called decisions through selected strategies1” • “Most policy research on African agriculture is irrelevant to agricultural and overall economic policy in Africa2” 1 - Clay & Schaffer (1984), Room for Manoeuvre; An Exploration of Public Policy in Agricultural and Rural Development, Heineman Educational Books, London 2 – Omamo (2003), Policy Research on African Agriculture: Trends, Gaps, and Challenges, International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) Research Report No 21

6. Linear model Percolation model, Weiss Tipping point model, Gladwell ‘Context, evidence, links’ framework, ODI Policy narratives, Roe Systems model (NSI) External forces, Lindquist ‘Room for manoeuvre’, Clay & Schaffer ‘Street level bureaucrats’, Lipsky Policy as social experiments, Rondinelli Policy Streams & Windows, Kingdon Disjointed incrementalism, Lindquist The ‘tipping point’, Gladwell Crisis model, Kuhn ‘Framework of possible thought’, Chomsky Variables for Credibility, Beach The source is as important as content, Gladwell Linear model of communication, Shannon Interactive model, Simple and surprising stories, Communication Theory Provide solutions, Marketing Theory I Find the right packaging, Marketing II Elicit a response, Kottler Translation of technology, Volkow Epistemic communities Policy communities Advocacy coalitions etc, Pross Negotiation through networks, Sebattier Shadow networks, Klickert Chains of accountability, Fine Communication for social change, Rockefeller Wheels and webs, Chapman & Fisher Existing theory www.odi.org.uk/rapid/lessons/theory

7. Existing theory – a short list • Policy narratives, Roe • Systems of Innovation Model, (NSI) • ‘Room for manoeuvre’, Clay & Schaffer • ‘Street level bureaucrats’, Lipsky • Policy as social experiments, Rondene • Policy streams and policy windows, Kingdon • Disjointed Incrementalism, Lindblom • Social Epidemics, Gladwell • The RAPID Framework

8. The political context – political and economic structures and processes, culture, institutional pressures, incremental vs radical change etc. The links between policy and research communities – networks, relationships, power, competing discourses, trust, knowledge etc. The evidence – credibility, the degree it challenges received wisdom, research approaches and methodology, simplicity of the message, how it is packaged etc An Analytical Framework External Influences Socio-economic and cultural influences, donor policies etc

9. Case Studies • Sustainable Livelihoods: The Evolution of DFID Policy • The PRSP Initiative: Research in Multilateral Policy Change • The adoption of Ethical Principles in Humanitarian Aid post Rwanda • Animal Health Care in Kenya: Evidence fails to influence Policy

10. External Influences Campaigning, Lobbying Policy analysis, & research Scientific information exchange & validation A Practical Framework political context Politics and Policymaking Media, Advocacy, Networking Research, learning & thinking evidence links

11. What you need to know • The external environment: Who are the key actors? What is their agenda? How do they influence the political context? • The political context: Is there political interest in change? Is there room for manoeuvre? How do they perceive the problem? • The evidence: Is it there? Is it relevant? Is it practically useful? Are the concepts familiar or new? Does it need re-packaging? • Links: Who are the key individuals? Are there existing networks to use? How best to transfer the information? The media? Campaigns?

12. What researchers need to do • Work with them – seek commissions • Strategic opportunism – prepare for known events + resources for others • Get to know the policymakers. • Identify friends and foes. • Prepare for policy opportunities. • Look out for policy windows. • Who are the policymakers? • Is there demand for ideas? • What is the policy process? • Establish credibility • Provide practical solutions • Establish legitimacy. • Present clear options • Use familiar narratives. • Build a reputation • Action-research • Pilot projects to generate legitimacy • Good communication • What is the current theory? • What are the narratives? • How divergent is it? • Build partnerships. • Identify key networkers, mavens and salesmen. • Use informal contacts • Get to know the others • Work through existing networks. • Build coalitions. • Build new policy networks. • Who are the stakeholders? • What networks exist? • Who are the connectors, mavens and salesmen?

13. Policy entrepreneurs Networkers Storytellers Fixers Engineers

14. Practical Tools Overarching Tools - The RAPID Framework - Using the Framework - The Entrepreneurship Questionnaire Context Assessment Tools - Stakeholder Analysis - Forcefield Analysis - Writeshops - Policy Mapping - Political Context Mapping Communication Tools - Communications Strategy - SWOT analysis - Message Design - Making use of the media Research Tools - Case Studies - Episode Studies - Surveys - Bibliometric Analysis - Focus Group Discussion Policy Influence Tools - Influence Mapping & Power Mapping - Lobbying and Advocacy - Campaigning: A Simple Guide - Competency self-assessment

15. Practical Application • Within ODI • Workshops for researchers, policy makers and activists. • Advice to a DFID forest/ground water research project in India: • Less research • More communication • Developing champions in regional and national government • Local, Regional & National advocacy campaign

16. Further Information / Resources • ODI Working Papers • Bridging Research and Policy Book • Meeting series Monograph • Tools for Policy Impact • RAPID Briefing Paper • www.odi.org.uk/rapid

17. Can ILRI do it? Yes, but: • It this its role? • “Global Public Good” Research vs Policy Advocacy • Probably needs to do both: How? • Understand the political context • Get the evidence & package it well • Strategic networking / lobbying / campaigning • Collaboration….

18. ILRI International Livestock Research Institute Process and partnership for pro-poor policy change The New DfID funded Project

19. ILRI International Livestock Research Institute • Project Leaders: ODI / ILRI • Key collaborators: ECAPAPA • Case study collaborators in Kenya: • MoLFD / KARI • Range of NGOs & other SDP partners

20. Why would I be interested? ILRI International Livestock Research Institute • Not all research is expected or intended to lead to policy change, but there may be; • Specific cases where research is expected to; • provide evidence for policy change • identify potential policies (or impact of) • influence the policy making process (advocacy) • Cases where speculative research becomes relevant because of changes in circumstance

21. The project … ILRI International Livestock Research Institute • Ideas for methods and approaches • Lessons learnt from earlier activities • Identification of appropriate communication tools

22. What will we be doing? ILRI International Livestock Research Institute • Three case studies in three DIFFERENT countries • A project considered to have influenced policy change • A stream of research addressing a particular policy area • A clear policy change; • New policy statement • New law • Irrefutable change in way something is done

23. What will we be doing? ILRI International Livestock Research Institute • Three case studies • SDP and impact on changed view of informal milk trade • ???? • ????

24. ILRI International Livestock Research Institute • Discussion: • Can ILRI hope to influence pro-poor policy through research? • Any good case studies?