Communicating Science For Policy

Communicating Science for PolicyJohn Young [email protected]

A study for SciDev.NetHow do policymakers access scientific knowledge?

•Systematic literature review: 42 key documents

•Expert interviews: 31 experts

•Country case studies: 7 countries: China, India, Cambodia, Ghana, Zambia, Nicaragua & Bolivia

•Electronic survey: > 600 respondents

Literature review: 6 tensions1. Politicisation of science vs scientisation

of policy.

2. ‘Citizen’ scientists vs neutral scientists.

3. The demand for certainty vs scientific reality of uncertainty.

4. Divergent motivations and time-frames of scientists and policy-makers.

5. Specialised expertise vs knowledge democracy.

6. Between Western-driven science and indigenous knowledge.

Country study findings• Limited integration of scientific

knowledge into policy.

• Competing sources of evidence

• Common tensions between researcher and policy maker interests

• Government officials are key players (cf legislators)

• Multinational institutions influential

• Knowledge brokers and translators frequently involved

Type of Respondents No. %Researchers 288 47%Intermediaries 214 35%Policy Makers 113 18%Sub-national policy makers 41 7%

Regional Representation No. %Sub-Saharan Africa 120 19%South Asia 110 18%Latin America 66 11%MENA 41 7%China and S.E. Asia 21 3%Developing Countries Total 394 64%Global North 224 36%

Type of Organisation No. % Academic institution 202 33%Science-related ministry 107 17%NGO/advocacy group 87 14%Industry 25 4%Multilateral 25 4%Media organisation 24 4%Non-science related ministry 23 4%International scientific panel 8 2%Legislature 7 1%Political advisory 4 0.5%

International survey

Most were dissatisfied!

Main obstacles to access

Biggest Obstacle in Developing CountriesParticularly China and SE Asia (70% selected as obstacle)

Second biggest obstacle in dev. countries

esp. China and SE Asia (57%)

All obstacles were cited more often in a developing country context, across regions.

Biggest obstacles

in Developed Countries

(27% and 24% respectively)

Obstacles to Uptake

Especially in the South!

Ministries are different

What should scientists provide?

Effective Mediators

Intermediary organisations…

Recommendations• Promote role of intermediaries

– Identify actors and stimulate networks

– Represent Scientists or Policy Makers

– Disseminate Information

– Capacity Building

• Rethink how to measure impact – Direct policy change

– Conceptual influence

Further information

www.odi.org.uk/RAPID/Publications/RAPID_WP_294.html

Or contact Nicola Jones ([email protected])