Dfid Research Strategy - Opportunities And Challenges

THE CONSULTATION 2005 – consulted around 100 2007 consulted

• 1000 e-consultation + blogs

• 600 (7 country face-to-face meetings)

• 12 international research funders

• Seven studies commissioned

FOUR RESULT AREAS

1. New policy knowledge created for developing countries, the international community and DFID

2. Existing and new evidence better informs decision-making about international development

3. New technologies developed and used in developing countries

4. Capability to do and use research strengthened

1. GROWTH

2. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

3. CLIMATE CHANGE

4. HEALTH

5. GOVERNANCE IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS

6. FUTURE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

SIX RESEARCH AREAS

WAYS OF WORKING

•Research Programme Consortia v3

•International networks for growth and climate change

•Specific projects e.g. Research into Use

•Joint programmes with international funders and UK research councils

•Multilateral programmes

•Responsive research programmes

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION

‘By 2010

we will invest up to 30% of our research budget in

making research available, accessible and

useable through a range of means’

• More investment and internal capability in research communication

• Increased support to researchers to communicate research

• Decentralised services [p.38]• DFID to increase its own capacity to package and

promote research outputs – synthesis• DFID to use the research it funds in a more systematic

way• Raise the profile of DFID as a high quality generator of

development research - stimulating debate – leading agendas

• Better knowledge and information management

IN PLAIN ENGLISH….

1. Research on Communications• Set of collaborative research programmes that explores the ‘unknowns’

around the role of communication in getting research into use

2. Supporting researchers to communicate• Facility for south-south dialogue around better research communication

through the development of communities of practice• Global DFID Award for Research Uptake• Responsive fund for innovative initiatives on getting research into use

3. Communication of research4. Support to the environment for research uptake and use

• Identify and support mechanisms for better access to GPG research by southern generators and users

• Explore mechanisms to raise the profile and use of southern-generated research

5. Knowledge management and M+E• Commission development and trialling of robust M+E mechanisms to show

impact of research communication

RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS: FIVE THEMES

• Raising the profile of research in DFID / externally

• Improving our knowledge management – changing mindsets

• Seminar series – ‘Putting research to work: communications and research uptake’

• Who should we be talking to in scoping work?

IMMEDIATE CHALLENGES

OTHER RESEARCH UPTAKE IDEAS…

• Research and Policy Division – own DG

• Increased staff to manage research

• Decentralise ‘some research functions’

• Create a service to communicate research results which will bring together DFID’s research results and the best of other organisations’