1. Policy influence in ICT:
experience from Asia
Helani Galpaya
DIRSI workshop
May 16, 2012
This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Canada and UKaid from the Department for International Development, UK.
06/21/12 1

2. Possible way to think of type(s) of
policy influence you want to achieve
Types of Policy Influence (Lindquist)
Expanding Policy Broadening Policy Horizons Affecting Policy Regimes
Capacity
 Improving the knowledge  Providing policy makers with  Modifying Existing
or data of certain actors opportunities for networking or programs or policies
 Supporting recipients to learning within their jurisdiction or  Leading to the
develop innovative ideas with colleagues elsewhere fundamental re-design of
 Improving Capabilities to  > Introducing new concepts to frame programs and policies
communicate ideas debates, putting ideas on the agenda  Helping create a new
 Developing new talent or stimulating public debate policy regime in an
for research and Analysis  Educating researchers and other who emerging field
take up new positions with a broader
understanding of issues
 Stimulating quiet dialog among
decision-makers (and among, or with,
those involved in knowledge
production)

3. Example 1 – Mobile tax: a change in
policy
• Govt. proposes flat LKR 50 tax per month per SIM card
• LIRNEasia research data showed that
– The poor are heavy users of mobiles (i.e. mobiles are no longer
a luxury item, so this wasn’t a luxury tax)
– The poor spend under LKR 300 per month on calls (so a LKR 50
flat tax would be a huge percentage increase in cost to the
poor)
– The flat nature of the tax effects the poor disproportionately
(richer spend more, therefore LKR 50 is v. small % of their bill)
• Media article  call from Telecom Minister  give him
data AND gave members of the opposition data (educate
them) floor amendment to modify the tax (in
parliament)
– Documented in Hanzard, specifically mentioning LIRNEasia

4. …but WITHOUT change in thinking within
government (@least not immediately)
• One time success for us, and consumers
• But thinking within govt. NOT changed
– Think of mobile operators a source of “easy revenue”
through high taxation
– Don’t account for high tax  reduce usage  reduced
overall revenue
– Don’t view mobile as enabler of other economic activity
• Increased taxes: unto 32% (so 32 cents out of every
Rupee users spent went to govt.) with various levies
(environment levy, others).
– but at least equally applied to mobiles AND fixed (instead
of just mobiles).
• Only MUCH later was consumer tax system
rationalized: tax reduced to 20%

5. Possible way to think of type(s) of
policy influence you want to achieve
Types of Policy Influence (Lindquist)
Expanding Policy Broadening Policy Horizons Affecting Policy Regimes
Capacity
 Improving the knowledge  Providing policy makers with  Modifying Existing
or data of certain actors opportunities for networking or programs or policies
 Supporting recipients to learning within their jurisdiction or  Leading to the
develop innovative ideas with colleagues elsewhere fundamental re-design of
 Improving Capabilities to  > Introducing new concepts to frame programs and policies
communicate ideas debates, putting ideas on the agenda  Helping create a new
 Developing new talent or stimulating public debate policy regime in an
for research and Analysis  Educating researchers and other who emerging field
take up new positions with a broader
understanding of issues
 Stimulating quiet dialog among
decision-makers (and among, or with,
those involved in knowledge
production

6. Example 2 - Disaster Early warning: change
in thinking (a more sustainable change)
• Sri Lanka’s largest CBO, Sarvodaya (in 15,000 villages)
– Previously focused in disaster recovery and relieve
• Engagement with LIRNEasia’s “National Early Warning
System: Sri Lanka” report/project/concepts
• Change in thinking:
– “One of the biggest lessons we learned from the Tsunami
was how lacking Sri Lanka was in terms of an emergency
warning system” (p.73), Sarvodaya, post-Tsunami report
• Change in actions:
– Projects on disaster preparedness and early warning
– Adopted risk-reduction strategy for organization
– Included risk reduction in regular induction training

7. Possible way to think of type(s) of
policy influence you want to achieve
Types of Policy Influence (Lindquist)
Expanding Policy Broadening Policy Horizons Affecting Policy Regimes
Capacity
 Improving the knowledge  Providing policy makers with  Modifying Existing
or data of certain actors opportunities for networking or programs or policies
 Supporting recipients to learning within their jurisdiction or  Leading to the
develop innovative ideas with colleagues elsewhere fundamental re-design of
 Improving Capabilities to  > Introducing new concepts to frame programs and policies
communicate ideas debates, putting ideas on the agenda  Helping create a new
 Developing new talent or stimulating public debate policy regime in an
for research and Analysis  Educating researchers and other who emerging field
take up new positions with a broader
understanding of issues
 Stimulating quiet dialog among
decision-makers (and among, or with,
those involved in knowledge
production

8. Example 3 - How do we expand policy capacity,
sustainably, in the long term? CPRsouth
• CPRsouth (Communication Policy Research – South)
• Objectives of CPRsouth
– To facilitate the creation, sustenance and continuous advancement
of policy intellectuals capable of informed and effective
intervention in ICT policy and regulation processes in specific
country and regional contexts in the south
– To develop capacity, stimulate interest, and promote research and
systematic study in ICT policy and regulatory issues in the South
• Focus on policy
– Papers selected based in academic excellence, but with 10% marks
for policy relevance (+several months of mentorship on the paper)
– At conference: Policy brief (not abstract) given to audience; asked
to make a “policy presentation” (not a traditional academic)
– Training: how to communicate to a policy audience, to write a policy
brief
• Now with CPRafrica

9. • Since 2007:
– 6 Conferences (2 days each);
– 7 Young Scholar trainings (2 days each). And
Young Scholars attend the conference
• Unique Paper presenters: 92
• Young Scholars trained: 188
• Graduates from YS to PP: 14

10. Increasing number of Mode 2 applicants
being selected for the conference

11. Academic and Policy Outputs surveyed annually
Survey 2007 Survey 2008 Survey 2009 ((response
(response rate - 49%) (response rate - 41%) rate - 38%)
PP YS PP YS PP YS
# of respondents who wrote Policy Papers / brief 11 7 11 11
# of respondents who made Policy submissions /
2 1 12 5 9 10
Presentations
# of respondents who wrote Op-ed pieces in the media 1 2 1 4 1
# of respondents who gave Interviews to the media 1 4 2 1 1
# of respondents who Participation in blogs 6 5 6 3
# of respondents who had Journal Publications 4 9 5 7 6
# of respondents who presented Conference papers 5 4 13 7 13 8
# of respondents who submitted their Theses 2 2 2 3 3
# of respondents who submitted Theses proposals 1 3 6 3 4
# of respondents who received Grants 1 5 4 4 6
# of respondents who submitted Grant Proposals 1 7 4 7 5

12. Academic and Policy Impact of CPRsouth
participants (paper presenters and Young Scholars)
Increase
All participants in previous years are surveyed each years (so respondent pool increases); participants who have not responded to surveys
2 years in a row are not asked to participated in surveys. 2010 survey received very low responses due to technical err therefore not

13. South-South learning, collaboration, policy
interventions

14. Possible way to think of type(s) of
policy influence you want to achieve
Types of Policy Influence (Lindquist)
Expanding Policy Broadening Policy Horizons Affecting Policy Regimes
Capacity
 Improving the knowledge  Providing policy makers with  Modifying Existing
or data of certain actors opportunities for networking or programs or policies
 Supporting recipients to learning within their jurisdiction or  Leading to the
develop innovative ideas with colleagues elsewhere fundamental re-design of
 Improving Capabilities to  > Introducing new concepts to frame programs and policies
communicate ideas debates, putting ideas on the agenda  Helping create a new
 Developing new talent or stimulating public debate policy regime in an
for research and Analysis  Educating researchers and other who emerging field
take up new positions with a broader
understanding of issues
 Stimulating quiet dialog among
decision-makers (and among, or with,
those involved in knowledge
production
Sustainability of Impact
Long term Immediate
Difficult Ease of implementation Easy?

15. Some lessons to take back…

16. If we have direct access to regulators
and policy makers…
• GREAT! We use it. We make presentation, we do
private consultations, we write their speeches
• If we get offers to consult directly (for a fee, or
for free)
– GREAT! We do it.
– E.g. policy advisor to Ministry of Post and Telecom in
Bangladesh, to write new “ICT Policy” for the country
• This is often the most direct way
• But keeping mind the political realities – don’t
bring cookie cutter policies from the West
– In context

17. But that’s a luxury. What if you want to
influence policy as a “policy intellectual”, from
the outside
• Understand POWER (in a practical way)
– Beyond “old fashioned” institutional analysis
– Beyond what’s on paper: policy vs. practice
• Do GOOD research
– Policy relevant; theoretically and methodologically sound
– Situated in developing country context (imperfect
institutions, imperfect people…)
• Publish (academically and build brand)
– But also have an online presence (pre-publication versions
of research online; have a blog)
• But communicate it in simple terms also
– Policy brief
– Op-ed articles
– blogs

18. • Look for policy windows
– And be ready to react quickly
– No time to do new research for most policy windows
• Build relationship with media
– A big part of building your visibility (among policy
makers)
– If you have relevant research, talk to them when they
call (and don’t say “I don’t have time”)
– If you don’t have evidence, say you don’t have it – this
is how you differentiate yourself as a public
intellectual)

19. • More than one way to get to policy maker
– Reach their symbolic environment (i.e. media + other
people policy makers talk to) if you don’t have direct
access
• Sometimes it’s ok to forget about the policy
makers – deal with companies, community based
organizations, non-governmental organizations.
People who DO things.
– In developing countries, sometimes good things
happen WITHOUT proper policy backing
– Low cost business models in telecom in Asia (only
minor help from government)

20. CPRsouth Paper Presenters: covered
almost all of Asia
Paper presenters
CPRsouth1-6

21. CPRsouth Young Scholars: have
covered most of Asia
Young scholars
CPRsouth1-6

22. What research areas do we cover?

23. What are our young scholars’ interest
areas?