Examples of successful evidence-based policy

Examples of successful evidence-based policy

Childhood poverty in Ethiopia Aim To ensure that children s interests/ rights are considered by policymakers when developing multi-year national development & poverty reduction strategy Critical because children/youth represent approx. 40% of the population

Childhood poverty in Ethiopia (1) Political context Govt weariness/suspicion of civil society Some media access PRSP consultation period (window of 18 months) Limited capacity of social policy ministries, esp. in negotiating with more powerful Ministry of Economics External influences WB, donors encouraged research-based policy recommendations UN Convention on Rights of the Child Consultants to Ministry of Finance and Economy

Childhood poverty in Ethiopia (2) Evidence National household surveys Young Lives survey on childhood poverty Good practice from other countries, esp. indicators to measure improvements over time Complementary qualitative research Complementary video case studies Linkages National NGO umbrella orgs Save the Children Alliance Ethiopian Dev t Research Institute (policy entrepreneurs) Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper technical committee Department of Children and Youth Regional state govt officials

Childhood poverty in Ethiopia (3) Key outcomes: Greater awareness in Ministry of Economics of children s issues and in Ministry of Social Affairs on poverty reduction policies Greater awareness among regional governments Inclusion of specific chapter in second PRSP on children and children s rights

Aim Promoting evidence-based political party manifestos in Peru To improve uptake of research evidence by political parties when developing party manifestos (possibly future government policy) To help journalists access research evidence and formulate better questions to political candidates

Promoting evidence-based political party manifestos in Peru (1) Political context Widespread trust in government Lack of overarching policy framework Powerful media (context of media freedom) Decentralisation policy is being rolled out Limited capacity of provincial governments External influences More than 10 national elections in Latin America in 2006 Considerable international (esp. US) attention given early wins by left-wing parties World Bank and Inter-American Bank but otherwise limited donor presence (important source of loans) International investors - mining companies

Promoting evidence-based political party manifestos in Peru (2) Evidence Research available from network involving over 100 development research institutes Findings synthesised in policy briefs on 10 key policy areas (education, health, labour, economy, trade, children and youth etc.) Companion list of key questions that journalists could ask political candidates about each policy area Linkages Network partners contacts Policy entrepreneurs (unofficial advisors to the ministry) Weekly meetings with parliamentary special committees Partnership with journalists Public meetings in 5 pilot provinces

Promoting evidence-based political party manifestos in Peru (2) Key outcomes: Journalists are better equipped to ask substantive and challenging questions to political candidates More research evidence included in policy debates in pre-election period due to greater media coverage and public meetings

Social protection in Uganda Aim To raise government and public awareness of problems of chronic poverty and promote social protection as a possible policy solution

Social protection in Uganda (1) Political context Weak parliament Recent (and in some areas ongoing conflict) Sustained economic growth over the last year External influences Strong influence of donors and international organisations Regional bodies (e.g. African Union, East African Union, COMESA) International best practice: growing recognition of efficacy of social protection (esp. from Latin America)

Social protection in Uganda (2) Evidence Panel data Life histories highlighting less visible issues e.g. alcohol dependency, family violence, theft Together provide better understanding of what keeps people trapped in poverty & what allows them to escape Pilot social protection programme Linkages ODI and local Ugandan research partners (i.e. North- South partnership Civil society organisations Key ministers

Social protection in Uganda (3) Key outcomes: More holistic understanding of poverty and chronic poverty among NGOs and policymakers, including importance of alcohol and family violence Scaling up by government of social protection pilot initiated by the Chronic Poverty Research Project

Tailored packaging of messages for different audiences What Audience Focus Value Conference papers working papers book chapter academics/ international epistemic community civil society organisations, Detailed analysis of quantitative and/or qualitative data Usually no specific policy recommendations Communication of complex findings either to readers or to conference participants Usually available via the web journal article academics international epistemic community Analysis of quantitative and/or qualitative data but shorter and must follow conventional formats Peer-reviewed so guarantee of high quality Often limited access due to expensive subscription rates ID21 Summaries (web-based research journal) policy makers practitioners academics /international epistemic community civil society organisations Short narrative summaries Useful for people who only want key ideas not details (ODI) Blog the informed general public development professionals Short narrative summary of findings with opinions on what this means for development or policy Rapid way to communicate research findings as they are emerging Ability to receive immediate feedback and not wait for long production times of books or journals

Training workshops Presentations to parliamentary select committees NGOs Media Parliamentarians What Audience Focus Value Policy seminars National academics NGO representatives Donor representatives Govt officials Parliamentarians Seminar where invite influential representatives of academia, NGOs, donors, policymakers Presents key concepts and issues Present findings related to a specific piece of draft legislation underdiscussion Press release Journalists Provide short presentation of key findings and policy implications Video case studies All (including schools) Source: adapted from Bird, 2007. Provides insights into culturally-specific way of life of individuals or communities Lends high profile, may attract media attention But expensive and resourceintensive CSOs and media can better engage with specific research findings Can directly impact policy decisions Influences media, and in turn the public Expensive but strong emotional and visual impact