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Ratna M. Sudarshan , Director, Institute of Social Studies Trust, New Delhi

SELECTED Issues from IDRC-ISST Roundtables on Policy Research Environment and Policy Research Organizations ( Galle, Sri Lanka Jan 21; Puducherry , India, Jan 24-5; Kathmandu, March 5-6 ). Ratna M. Sudarshan , Director, Institute of Social Studies Trust, New Delhi. Themes.

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Ratna M. Sudarshan , Director, Institute of Social Studies Trust, New Delhi

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  1. SELECTED Issues from IDRC-ISST Roundtables on Policy Research Environment and Policy Research Organizations (Galle, Sri Lanka Jan 21; Puducherry, India, Jan 24-5; Kathmandu, March 5-6) Ratna M. Sudarshan, Director, Institute of Social Studies Trust, New Delhi

  2. Themes Overall message: strengthening the policy influence of good policy research in South Asia requires a long term perspective • Creating a conducive environment • Raising the quality of social science/ development research • Addressing the management needs of research organisations • Communicating for policy influence

  3. Political Context • Impact of coalition politics, and fragile policy consensus, on the demand from government for policy research - India • Challenge of militancy and extreme conflict - Pakistan • Identity and exclusion - Nepal • How much space for constructive criticism or dissent – Sri Lanka • Policy research can be 'technical and managerial‘, 'problem solving mode'; • Or strategic research - strengthening may be much more needed at this level

  4. Quality of Research • Public Domain • Consultancies • Work of Commissions and Committees • Unpublished reports Peer review, contribution to public debate, not possible without placing in the public domain

  5. Quality and Research Planning • Project dependence restricts ability to plan strategically • Good policy research needs to build on basic research, ‘policy irrelevant’ research, but funding does not always permit the latter • Linked to human resource planning

  6. Research Quality • Universities and research organisations: • Universities place emphasis on teaching • Fresh graduates need orientation for research • Think Tanks have to take on tasks of training/ teaching, capacity building; the pre-conditions for good policy research

  7. Management Needs of Research Organisations • Staffing concerns • Recruitment and retention • Compensation and consulting • Contract and core staff • Overseas educated nationals • Individual vs institution

  8. Funding • Limited government funding • Funding not available for institution building – only projects • Research agendas may be driven by donors • Competitive bidding can discourage climate of academic sharing and debate, encourage focus on good packaging over content

  9. Other issues • Quality • Generally accepted norms for validation for policy research needed • Culture of Evaluation needs to be encouraged within institutions • Need for multi disciplinary work • Role of Boards

  10. Communicating for Policy Influence • No single route, very many ways • Role of commissions and committees important • Country differences in policy making process • Networking can sometimes help • How measure impact

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