Beyond publication Dissemination pathways Science and policy Mohammed Y Said International Livestock Research Institute P.O. Box 30709 Nairobi [email protected].

Beyond publication

Dissemination pathways

Science and policy

Mohammed Y SaidInternational Livestock Research Institute

P.O. Box 30709Nairobi

[email protected]

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

– Activities on the ground

– Implementation processes

The Problems• “policymakers “seem to regard ‘research’ as the opposite of

‘action’ rather than the opposite of ‘ignorance’.” 1

• “Most policy research on African agriculture is irrelevant to agricultural and overall economic policy in Africa” 2

• “Of all the ills that kill the poor, none is as lethal as bad government.” 3

• “Donors spend around US$ 3bn annually on development research – value for money?” 4

1 – Surr et al, 2003, DFID Research Strategy Report.2 – Omamo, 2003, Policy Research on African Agriculture: Trends, Gaps, and Challenges,

International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) Research Report No 21.3 – The Economist, August 14, 1999.4 – RAPID Calculation (c5% of total ODA).

Dissemination pathways• Journal Articles• Information or fact sheet• Newspaper (feature, special articles, narratives)• Radio and TV• Acting, Folk Stories, Open day• Internet and group discussions• Policy briefs

Questions What message do we want to pass? Who is the

audience? and What you want to see as an outcome or Whom do you want to influence?

Researchers

Public, farmersDecision andPolicy Makers

Science, Vol 309, Issue 5731, 134-137 , 1 July 2005 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1110439]

Reports

Genome Sequence of Theileria parva, a Bovine Pathogen That Transforms Lymphocytes

Malcolm J. Gardner,1* Richard Bishop,2 Trushar Shah,2 Etienne P. de Villiers,2 Jane M. Carlton,1 Neil Hall,1 Qinghu Ren,1 Ian T. Paulsen,1 Arnab Pain,3 Matthew Berriman,3 Robert J. M. Wilson,4 Shigeharu Sato,4 Stuart A. Ralph,5 David J. Mann,6 Zikai Xiong,3 Shamira J. Shallom,1 Janice Weidman,1 Lingxia Jiang,1 Jeffery Lynn,1 Bruce Weaver,1 Azadeh Shoaibi,1 Alexander R. Domingo,1 Delia Wasawo,2 Jonathan Crabtree,1 Jennifer R. Wortman,1 Brian Haas,1 Samuel V. Angiuoli,1 Todd H. Creasy,1 Charles Lu,1 Bernard Suh,1 Joana C. Silva,1 Teresa R. Utterback,1 Tamara V. Feldblyum,1 Mihaela Pertea,1 Jonathan Allen,1 William C. Nierman,1 Evans L. N. Taracha,2 Steven L. Salzberg,1 Owen R. White,1 Henry A. Fitzhugh,2 Subhash Morzaria,2|| J. Craig Venter,7 Claire M. Fraser,1 Vishvanath Nene1

We report the genome sequence of Theileria parva, an apicomplexan pathogen causing economic losses to smallholder farmers in Africa. The parasite chromosomes exhibit limited conservation of gene synteny with Plasmodium falciparum, and its plastid-like genome represents the first example where all apicoplast genes are encoded on one DNA strand. We tentatively identify proteins that facilitate parasite segregation during host cell cytokinesis and contribute to persistent infection of transformed host cells. Several biosynthetic pathways are incomplete or absent, suggesting substantial metabolic dependence on the host cell. One protein family that may generate parasite antigenic diversity is not telomere-associated.

1 Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), 9712 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. 2 International Livestock Research Institute, Post Office Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya. 3 Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK. 4 National Institute for Medical Research, Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK. 5 Institut Pasteur, 25 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France. 6 Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK. 7 Venter Institute, 9708 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA.

The Analytical FrameworkThe Political Context – political and economic structures and processes, culture, institutional pressures, incremental vs radical change etc.

The Evidence – credibility, the degree it challenges received wisdom, research approaches and methodology, simplicity of the message, how it is packaged etc

External Influences Socio-economic and cultural influences, donor policies etc

The Links between policyand research communities – networks, relationships, power, competing discourses, trust, knowledge etc.

Communication

• Clear strategy (& strategic opportunism)

• Strenuous efforts are often needed

• Packaging

• Interactive

• Multiple approaches

• Seeing is believing

Identify – Design – Develop - Review

How?

Who?

What?

Research-Policy

“critical issue for the future is how to improve researchers’ effectiveness in producing outputs that directly and indirectly change both policy and practice, are truly relevant to poor people’s needs, and are effectively taken up.” (DFID)

Implications:

– 1. Researchers – Relevance and Communication

– 2. Systems of Demand & Uptake

1. What Should Researchers Do?A Practical Framework

External Influences political context

evidencelinks

Campaigning, Lobbying

Politics and Policymaking

Media, Advertising, Networking Research,

learning & thinking

Scientific information exchange & validation

Policy analysis, & research

Putting it into practiceWhat researchers need to know

What researchers need to do

How to do it

Political Context:

Evidence

Links

• Who are the policymakers?• Is there demand for ideas?• What is the policy process?

• What is the current theory?• What are the narratives?• How divergent is it?

• Who are the stakeholders?• What networks exist?• Who are the connectors,

mavens and salesmen?

• Get to know the policymakers.• Identify friends and foes.• Prepare for policy

opportunities. • Look out for policy windows.

• Work with them – seek commissions

• Strategic opportunism – prepare for known events + resources for others

• 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

• Get to know the others• Work through existing

networks.• Build coalitions.• Build new policy networks.

• Build partnerships.• Identify key networkers,

mavens and salesmen.• Use informal contacts

Tools for policy entrepreneursOverarching Framework

- The RAPID Framework - Using the Framework

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 - Coalitions

NB: Research is one component.

Who is the audience and what information do we want convey?

Newspaper Article – turning research to public good

Open Day

Research Institute Holds Open Day

The Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa) October 18, 2005 Posted to the web October 19, 2005

Yonas Abiye Addis Ababa

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) held an open day at the Debre Zeit Research centre on Saturday to celebrate its works with partners in Ethiopia.

The open day which was held with a theme, "Working with Partners in Ethiopia" features ILRI's research work in Ethiopia conducted in partnerships, and that has been able to bear on the improvement of farmers' lives and livelihoods.

According to the press release issued, ILRI works in partnership to improve the well-being of people in developing countries such as Ethiopia by enhancing the diverse and essential contributions livestock make to smallholder farming.

Internet and e-group discussionsKey Message

• Important challenges lie ahead of the Maasai as their traditional migration pathways are blocking up and they are themselves settling. What if the land belonging to one does not have as much rain and green pastures as the neighbours’ property? That is why harvesting and managing water is crucial.

• The evaluation report will provide some understanding of the impacts, efficiency and sustainability of the RELMA project and, by extension, be a good source of lessons for future rainwater harvesting projects among pastoral communities.

Empowering community with information

Briefs on Impacts – World Agroforestry Centre

Exercise

Group 1

– Policy Brief (1 page)– Material

Group 2

– Radio Talk Show (5 minutes)

– Material

What have we learnt

• ……

Thank you very much

Work as group and get focus on the issues and be innovative