Sustainable Development and Green Economy research, development and evidence strategies

RESEARCH UPTAKE AND IMPACT WORKSHOP

13 March 2014

• Sustainability context

• Introduction and background

• Aims of R,D&E

• Approach to sector science-policy interface

• Environment sector policy priorities and global change research plan

• Theme specific research questions

• Institutional structures

• Means of implementation

• Conclusion

Presentation outline

SA Sustainability context

Introduction and background to the strategies

• Environment Sector Research, Development and Evidence Framework approved by Environment MINMEC June 2012

• Ten thematic areas namely: biodiversity, sustainable development, oceans and coast, air quality, climate change, impact management, green economy, waste management, compliance and enforcement and water management

Aims of environment sector R,D & E

• To ensure science-policy interface for sustained and changed agenda

• To improve sector’s ability to identify priority evidence needs by

working with others (National, provincial, local, private, civil society,

NGOs, research institutions and academia)

• To ensure that all sector policies are based on a robust and broad

understanding of relevant evidence

• To align the sector’s research & development investment with sector

priorities and maximise the value of this investment

• To ensure that the sector has skills and effective processes for

knowledge management, assembling and communicating evidence

and sector priorities

Approach to environment sector science-policy interface

Linking environment sector policy priorities and global change research plan

Framework approach to sector science-policy interface

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GREEN ECONOMY RESEARCH

QUESTIONS APPROACH

NDP and

diagnostic

report

10 Year

innovation

plan and global

change

research plan

Sector

priorities

from policy

and strategy

documents

SA

Environment

Outlook Report

Sector specific

prioritised

evidence

needs/ policy

research

questions in

this strategy

Approach:

(1)

assemble

existing

evidence or

(2)

influence

current or

(3) procure

new

evidence

Key

deliverable:

(1)research

paper/article

, or

(2) research

report, or

(3) policy

brief, or (4)

policy input

Time lines:

(1)short or

(2) medium or

(3) long term

Funding options:

(1)DEA/

GF or

(2) DST/

NRF/

PG or

(3) Other sector

Dept./ Prov./ Loc.

Govt. or (

4) Donor or (5)

Private sector &

other

Key

partners

Summary sustainable development policy research questions

Summary green economy policy research questions

Summary green economy policy research questions Cont…

Sector institutional structures and partners for sustainable development and green economy theme science-policy

interface

• Internal Coordinating

– Minimum quarterly meetings among DEA and its entities

• Inter- governmental

– Minimum quarterly meetings with concurrent, sectoral and bilateral partners

• Thematic

– Minimum biannual meetings with specific themes stakeholders : Green economy and sustainable development network (e.g. February/March, September/October & ongoing)

• Multi-stakeholder

– Minimum annual collaborative seminar with multi-stakeholders in the sector

Means of Implementation include • Direct sector financing

• Department of Environmental Affairs

• The Green Fund research and policy window

• Provincial and local government partners: research and policy funds allocated through the various Provincial and Local Government Department

• Entities

• Sector indirect national financing • Department of Science and Technology, National Research Fund

and Parliamentary Grants

• Other sector Departments and entities

• Other sector indirect financing • Private sector, NGOs

• Bilateral, multilateral and donor funding

Conclusion

• The strategies promotes environment sector partnerships between researchers and policy makers on sustainable development and green economy to ensure:

– That sector policy evidence needs are communicated to researchers

– The promotion of joint scoping and joint interpretation thus improving uptake of evidence/ research output in public policy making

THANK YOU