Presentation given at DFID-IDRC-CARIAA learning event, Nairobi, 2015.

2. Perspectives on research
use from RAPID
Simon Hearn, Research and Policy in Development, ODI
s.hearn@odi.org.uk
30 April, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya

3. Why is it so hard to get
research into use?

4. Today’s world
What is
RIU?
RIU
Research impact
Research uptake
Policy influence
Stakeholder
engagement
Communications
Knowledge
management

5. Today’s world
Monitoring and
Evaluation
Agenda
Setting
Decision
Making
Policy
Implementation
Policy
Formulation
Researchers
Donors
Cabinet
Parliament
Ministries
Private
Sector
Policy
processes
are complex

6. Evidence
Experience &
Expertise
Judgement
Resources
Values and
Policy Context
Habits &
Tradition
Lobbyists &
Pressure Groups
Pragmatics &
Contingencies
Source: Phil Davies Impact to
Insight Meeting, ODI, 2005
Evidence is
only one
factor

7. Policy makers find it difficult to use scientific
evidence because of the 5 Ss:
5Ss phenomenon
Does Evidence Matter Meeting
Series, ODI, London 2004
• Speed
• Superficiality
• Spin
• Secrecy
• Scientific Ignorance
Five Ss

8. What can research
organisations do
differently?

9. Be more
explicit
about
theories of
change

10. Political context – politics, policy
process, institutional pressures, etc.
Evidence – credibility of the
evidence, packaging, etc
External Influences
Socio-economic and
cultural influences,
donor policies etc
Links – intermediaries,
networks, relationships, etc.
Understand
the factors
affecting
use

11. Informing:
disseminating
content
Linking:
linking
expertise to
need for an
issue
Matchmaking:
matching
expertise to
need across
issues or
disciplines
Engaging:
formalising
the exchange
of knowledge
Collaborating:
deepening and
lengthening the
knowledge
collaboration
process
Building adaptive
capacity: co-
producing
knowledge,
fostering social
learning &
innovation
Source: Jones H, N Jones, L Shaxson & D Walker (2013) Knowledge, policy and power in
international development: a practical guide. Bristol: The Policy Press
Increasing intensity of relationship between knowledge producer and knowledge user
Choose
appropriate
knowledge
strategies

12. Source: Peter Ballantyne (ILRI)
Don’t leave
it to the end!
Build CAPACITYfor use
MONITORand documentprocesses,outputs,learning,
context etc.
NETWORKING and engagementwithstakeholders and research
users

13. Know what
you are
looking for
Source: Hearn, 2014: roma.odi.org.uk (from
Keck and Sikkink, 1998 and Steven, 2007)
Interest or attitude
of policy actors
Public opinion
Relationships
between actors
Capacity of actors
to engage
Discourse of policy
actors
Policy making
processes /
procedures
Policy content –
legislation,
budgets,
mandates
Behaviour of
policy actors to
support
implementation
Networks and
systems for
implementation

14. What are the
implications?

15. Develop new
skills for new
roles

16. Focus more on policy than research
Change incentives / culture
Change business model / systems
Spend more on communications
Engage with different actors
Produce different products
Be ready to seize unexpected policy opportunities and
move very fast
May require
organisational
change

17. www.roma.odi.or
g