(1) Bridging research, policy and politics

the RAPID+ framework

This presentation is based on: Court, J., and Young, J. 2006. Bridging research and policy in international development: an analytical and practical framework. Development in Practice.16(1), pp 85-90Experiences from the CoCoon Groundwater in the Political Domain Project

What are policies

a chaos of interests and activities, brought together under a common denominator

orthe base of systematic implementation of rational decisions

through selected strategies?or

a thin veneer of reasonableness covering up a world of power games and manipulation

Exercise: Discussion

• Participant to write down their definition of ‘policy’ and ‘politics’ and linkages

• Tally and discuss whether the definitions given of policy are close to one of definitions given earlier

Researchers, policy makers and politicians

Living in different worlds?

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Bridging research, policy and politics

Research and evidence is crucial for informed decision-making in development policies

BUT, it is not a automatic process where project findings shift from the ‘research sphere’ to the ‘policy sphere’, where it impacts policy makers decisions and programs

Bridging research and policy

So, why are some of the ideas that circulate in the research and policy networks picked up and acted on, while others never make it that far and are ignored and disappear?

THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT CYCLE

Issue is put on political agenda = policy issueWho drives the issue?

Identifying Policy Options

Policy Recommendations

PolicyImplementation

Problem identification

Sector

Multi-StakeholdersConsultations

and monitoring

External Factor Analysis:

Stakeholder Analysis:Mandate/Interest/

influence/relationships

Opportunities & Threats

Lessons learned

DetailedPolicy planning

Policy Formulation and approval

THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT CYCLE

Issue is put on political agenda = policy issueWho drives the issue?

Identifying Policy Options

Policy Recommendations

PolicyImplementation

Problem identification

Sector

Multi-StakeholdersConsultations

and monitoring

External Factor Analysis:

Stakeholder Analysis:Mandate/Interest/

influence/relationships

Opportunities & Threats

Lessons learned

DetailedPolicy planning

Policy Formulation and approval

R

RR

R

R

But…bridging policy/research and politics

Why do we have many good policy documents that seem to have no effect on the real world apparently, and life and politics just seem to go on?

Some answers…• Policy makers and power holders never meet. Many

policies made by clearly ignoring politics and politicians• Policies and laws are made in heaven: ‘nirvana’ syndrome

– no one wants to be realistic• No thought or appreciation for difficulties of implementation:

‘implementers always get the blame for bad planning’• ‘Policies are not for implementation but to define consensus

among group of stakeholders’

But it is always so bad?Implementation of the Water Law in

Wadi Al Qaradah

Wadi Alqaradah: Two WUAs

• If in WUA A a well is developed WUA B will lodge case with NWRA

• And vice versa: in this way conflicts within the community are prevented

• And the Water Law is implemented• Conclusion: implementation is there but not

always straightforward

Bridging research, policy and politicsThe RAPID framework

Political context/ stakeholders

Evidence/ research

Links/ communication

Politics and policy making

Research, learning & thinking

Media, advocacy, networking

Wadi Qaradah (6).JPG

Bridging research, policy and politicsThe RAPID framework – Political context

Understand thestakeholders

What you need to do How to do it

Who?Demand for new

ideas?Resistance?Process?Opportunities?Timing?

Know them, and their agendas!

Identify supporters and opponents!

Understanding politics

Prepare for opportunities and keep an eye on the process for windows of opportunities

Work with themSeek assignments Line up research

programs with policy events

Seek opportunities to meet

Reserve resources for windows of opportunity

Bridging research, policy and politicsThe RAPID framework – Evidence

What you need to know – research questions

What you need to do How to do it

What is the current theory?

What are the prevailing narratives - how are issues ‘framed’?

How divergent is new evidence?

What sort of evidence convinces policy makers

Phrase research questions in terms of clear insights and solutions

Do not hide behind ‘complexities’ – but build a convincing case

Engage stakeholders at different level in the research

Establish long term credibility and legitimacy!

Make sure the research is conclusive and quantified

Action-research and pilot projects

Participatory approaches Clear communication

strategy from the start not at the end only

Bridging research, policy and politicsThe RAPID framework – Links/ convincing

What you need to know to communicate effectively

What you need to do How to do it

How to reach the key stakeholders?

How and when to present the messages?

What is role of media, informal networks and who are the gatekeepers and what is their influence?

Whose side are they on?

Have a communication plan

Effective messaging Build on reputation and

credibility Build coalitions and

partnerships Become present in existing

networks and use infromal opportunities

Use media wisely

Partnerships between researchers, policy makers, and communities

Make a communication product and events – different strategies for different stakeholders

Communicate together with/ through direct affectees (farmers, women, environmental refugees)

Use diversity of communication channels

Bridging research, policy and politicsThe RAPID framework

Political context/ stakeholders

Evidence/ research

Links/ communication

Politics and policy making

Research, learning & thinking

Media, advocacy, networking

ALL ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT

THIS IS NOT ALLTHAT MATTERS

Bridging research, policy and politicsWhen does evidence influence policy?

The evidence fits within the political and institutional limits and pressures of policy makers, and resonates with their assumptions, or sufficient pressure is exerted to challenge these assumptions

The evidence is credible and convincing, provides practical solutions to pressing policy problems, and is packaged to attract policy makers’ interest

Researchers and policy makers share common networks, trust each other, and communicate effectively

Bridging research, policy and politicsWhen does evidence influence policy?

But these three conditions are rarely met in practice, because of:limited capacity/ interests of researchers to influence the political context – peer reviewed papers are better for the careerchoices and priorities in work of researchers: preference for fundamental research and peer-reviewed papers, for describing/ identifying never ending issues: ‘the outcome of research is more research’making diagnoses and general recommendations but not coming with specific recommendations as this is risky

Objectives:At the end of the course participants will:• Understand the policy development cycle

and what research is relevant• Have acquired knowledge and skills and

tools to engage actively with relevant stakeholders – incl politicians

• Can rephrase research questions and make a communication plan

Bridging research, policy and politics

By making more informed, strategicchoices, researchers can maximizetheir chances of influencingpolicy and politics!

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