Evidence-based Policy in Development Network: Japan G8 Global Project

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Evidence-based Policy in Development Network
Japan G8 Global Project

• Inception Workshop Shangari La Hotel, Accra,
  Ghana 8- 10 October 2007

Fletcher Tembo, ODI, London. F.tembo_at_odi.org.uk
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Overview

• About ODI, RAPID and EBPDN
• Rationale for Global project
• Rationale for the workshop
• What is the G8 and what can it do for us?
• Issues facing the G8 in general
• Japan and East Asia
• Japan G8
• Prospective agenda
• TICAD and TICAD CSF
• The strategy for the workshop

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Overseas Development Institute

• Development Think Tank
• 60 researchers
• Research / Advice / Public Debate
• Rural / Humanitarian / Poverty Aid / Economics
  / Policy Processes
• DFID, Parliament, WB, EC
• Civil Society

For more information see www.odi.org.uk
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RAPID Group

• Promoting evidence-based development policy
  practice
• Through
• Research
• Advice
• Public Affairs
• Capacity-building
• Working with
• researchers
• policymakers
• parliamentarians
• southern think tanks
• Civil society

for further information see www.odi.org.uk/rapi
d / www.odi.org.uk/cspp
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Evidence Based Policy in Development Network

• A seven year DFID-funded programme to establish a
  worldwide community of practice for promoting
  more evidence-based pro-poor development policies
• Key Activities
• A wide range of capacity development activities
  including practical training (multiplied through
  training of trainers)
• Small-scale collaborative projects between
  community members. These might include practical
  action-research projects aiming at specific
  policy process at national, regional and global
  level, or research and information activities.
• Establishing a community website to provide
  knowledge on bridging research and policy
  details of members of the network a directory of
  training and advisory expertise discussion fora
  project areas and a partnership brokering area.
• Information and knowledge exchange through
  conferences, workshops and seminars printed and
  web-based publications and links with other
  networks.

See www.ebpdn.org for further info
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Global Project G8 Japan

• Agreed at the 2006 CSPP annual meetings at ODI as
  a collaborative project for all members
• Aim Advancement of research-evidence on
  effectiveness of Japanese aid on Global South,
  engaging Southern CSO actors on the desirable
  future structure, instruments and major processes
  of her aid system, as it fits the 2008
  international agenda window, in which the Japan
  will have a high profile as chair of G8

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Global Project Japan G8

• Objectives
• Gathering and synthesizing research-based
  evidence on Japanese assistance, with a view to
  influencing pro-poor development assistance
  startegies for global south.
• Formulation and dissemination of debate on aid
  architecture globally through effective
  communication strategy.
• Consolidating a Southern-led global policy
  network on international aid architecture issues.
  
• Characteristics
• Collective perspective
• Focus with 2 or 3 resounding issues!
• Based on country consultations
• Main Output A global synthesis report that will
  be disseminated to the wider audience culminating
  at the Summit in Japan

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Rationale for Accra workshop

• Agree on two or three policy areas on which to
  focus to influence G8 Japan outcomes
• Develop methodology for gathering and
  synthesizing research-based evidence.
• Develop a communication and lobbying strategy

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What is the G8 and what can it do and not do?

• Established in 1975, for the heads of state of
  the major industrial democracies to meet annually
  to deal with the major economic and political
  issues facing their domestic societies and the
  international community as a whole. Started as G6
  (France, US, Britain, Germany, Japan and Italy
  and then G7 with Canada in 1976) and then became
  G8 in 1998 with Russia.
• The G7/8 Summit has consistently dealt with
  macroeconomic management, international trade,
  and relations with developing countries
• Rotating hosting/chairing throughout the summit
  cycle at the end of the calendar year, as
  follows France, United States, United Kingdom,
  Russia (as of 2006), Germany, Japan, Italy and
  Canada. Throughout the year, the leaders'
  personal representatives known as sherpas
  meet regularly to discuss the agenda and monitor
  progress. It is also accompanied by ministerial
  meetings (finance,
• Summit decisions often create and build
  international regimes to deal with new
  international challenges, and catalyze,
  revitalize and reform existing international
  institutions.
• the summit attracts the attention of thousands of
  journalists at each leaders' meeting, and of a
  number of countries seeking admittance to this
  exclusive and powerful club. It has also become a
  prime occasion for civil society organizations
  for advocacy and a site for anti-globalisation
  protests since Birmingham in 1998

Source http//www.g7.utoronto.ca/
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What can the G8 do for us?

• An important issue about the G8 is its political
  capital which is effective in striking new deals,
  necessary under globilisation. The G8 has the
  unique capacity to combine politics with
  economics.
• the G8 performs more favourably on commitments
  that involve minimal coordination among G8
  states, few obligations beyond the provision of
  funds, and quantifiable goals.
• Weakest in building domestic support for the
  tough policies needed for international measures.
  
• Therefore the G8 is good for those high profile
  decisions that cannot be made at lower levels but
  that resonate with their domestic policies
• Measuring G8 performance around
• Leadership, effectiveness, solidarity,
  durability, acceptability and consistency

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G8 Programme to 2008

• Summit July 7-9, Toyako, Hokkaido
• Foreign Ministers June 26-27, Kyoto
• Finance Ministers June 13-14, Osaka
• Energy Early June, Aomori
• Justice and Interior June 11-13, Tokyo
• Environment May 25-27, Kobe
• Labour May 11-13, Niigata
• Development Early April, Tokyo
• G20 Dialogue March 14-16, Chiba
• Tokyo International Conference on African
  Development, May 28-30, Yokohama62

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Japan and Africa
Regional Strategy report Implementing Guidelines
for Regional Projects in Africa
Focal Issues in assistance to Africa
Social Development
Economic Development
Agriculture/ Agricultural Development
????
Infrastructure Building
Water Supply
Education
Health/ Medical Care
Promotion of Trade Investment
Task Strategy Reports by Region
Basic Education
HIV/AIDS
Water Supply in Villages
Agriculture/ Agricultural Development
Promotion of SME
NEPAD Infrastructure Building
Task strategy reports for each regions are
necessary for the promotion of programming
Source ppt presentation by Mr. Kiyoto Kurokawa,
Senior Adviser, JICA
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Possible Agenda

• By Toronto G8 research group
• Africa
• Climate Change
• Environment
• Nuclear Safety
• African Development
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Afghanistan
• Heiligendamm Process
• Other
• By GRIPS
• TICAD IV will be critical but the following
  issues are on table boosting economic growth in
  Africa, Ensuring Human Security through poverty
  reduction achieve MDGs, peace stability and
  democratisation climate change

See http//www.g8.utoronto.ca/evaluations/2008hok
kaido/2008plan/2008plan.html
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Directions of assistance to Africa Growth
Perspective
September 2003 Poverty Reduction through
Economic Growth suggested as one of the 3
pillars of assistance toward Africa in TICAD?
November 2004 TICAD Asia-Africa Trade and
Investment Conference Five points emphasized by
the Chairman 1) Importance of infrastructure as
a basis of development 2) Creating employment
opportunity, the important role of growth in
reducing poverty 3) Importance of community
development as an engine for growth
4) Comprehensive approach to lead growth to
poverty reduction 5) Partnership with Asian
Countries having achieved growth
Strengthening economic development (including
infrastructure building) in addition to social
development
Source ppt presentation by M. Kiyoto Kurokawa,
Senior Adviser, JICA
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How different is Japan from other donors?
East Asias Way Western Donors
Goal Economic prosperity national pride Poverty Reduction MDGs
Policies Investment, trade, skills technology Health, Education, Governance
Key Actors Central govt businesses Local communities poor people
Source ppt presentation by GRIPS team
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Features of Japanese Aid

• Dual identity as donor and latecomer growth
  aspiration, real sector concern
• Field-based, concrete thinking pragmatism
• Passive ODA policy clumsy speaker
• Ethical debts to neighboring Asia
• Fragmented aid system (both policy
  implementation
• Weak political interest in ODA policymaking

Source ppt presentation by GRIPS
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Purpose and Significance of Assistance for
Private Sector Development (Promotion of SMEs)
Economic growth is a prerequisite for poverty
reduction.
Development of the private sector (especially
promotion of SMEs) contributes greatly to
economic growth. (Based on the experience in
Asia)
SMEs are deeply rooted in the community, and
hence economic growth through fostering and
promoting SMEs greatly contributes to development
of the community, and furthermore to the
establishment of social security and the capacity
development of individuals through job creation
and income generation, thereby contributing to
poverty reduction in accordance with Human
Security.
Source ppt presentation by Mr. Kiyoto Kurokawa,
Senior Adviser, JICA
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Concept for Promoting SMEs in Africa
Approach to the promotion of SMEs -Strategic and
comprehensive approaches to policy, market and
community -
Economic growth and job creation/income
generation

• Cooperation with JBIC, JETRO, AOTS, NEXI and
  other donors
• Enhancement of South-South cooperation
• Utilization of South Africas economic power

Assistance in establishing a policy framework
such as policies for promoting SMEs.
Policy
Market
Assistance in strengthening the linkage with the
market, including marketing, and expanding sales
channels.
Community
Empowerment for income generation in regions and
communities.
Source ppt presentation by Mr. Kiyoto Kurokawa,
Senior Adviser, JICA
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One village, One product Program in Malawi
JETRO
Introduction of the One village, One product
movement in Ooita
Technical cooperation project Experts
(small-scale business, marketing, micro-credit,
agricultural product processing, fungi,
etc.) Training (processing technology, business,
etc. )
African Fair Displayed product from OVOP (baobab
jam, moringa oil, honey, etc.)
Local yet global
Promotion of industries
Independence and originality
Human resources development
"One village, One product Secretariat
Regional Training ASEAN One village, One
product Seminar Asia-Africa Joint Knowledge
Creation Seminar
Development of a distribution and sales network
Volunteer (village development, vegetables,
fruit trees, livestock breeding, agricultural
machinery, Bamboo wares, package designing, etc.)
Management and development of systems
Human resources development
Propagation of philosophy
Small farm production
Product nurturing
Nationwide Production Group
Mushrooms
Vegetable oil
Stockfish
Cow milk, etc.
Source ppt presentation by Mr. Kiyoto Kurokawa,
Senior Adviser, JICA
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Additional essential references on the G8

• http//www.g7.utoronto.ca/
• https//www.ashgate.com/shopping/search_results.as
  p?seriesid1142seriesdescG820and20Global20Gov
  ernance,20Thelocationseries
• http//www.fpif.org/briefs/vol7/v7n09g8.html
• http//www.politicos.co.uk/books/70117.htm
• http//www.fes.de/ipg/inhalt_d/pdf/03_Fues_US.pdf
• http//www3.brookings.edu/global/pubs/200702_09gov
  ernance.pdf
• http//www.die-gdi.de/die_homepage.nsf/FSeauf?Open
  Frameset

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Policy Processes
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Policy makers are
practically incapable of using research-based
evidence because of the 5 Ss

• Speed
• Superficiality
• Spin
• Secrecy
• Scientific Ignorance

Vincent Cable Lib. Democrat MP Shadow
Minister of Finance More at www.odi.org.uk/RAPID/
Meetings/Evidence
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Different Notions of Evidence

Source Phil Davies Impact to Insight Meeting,
ODI, 2005
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An Analytical Framework
The evidence credibility, the degree it
challenges received wisdom, research approaches
and methodology, simplicity of the message, how
it is packaged etc
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A Practical Framework
political context
Politics and Policymaking
Media, Advocacy, Networking
Research, learning thinking
evidence
links
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What you need to do
What need to know What need to do How to do it
Political Context
Evidence
Links

• Work with them seek commissions
• Strategic opportunism prepare for known events
  resources for others

• Get to know the policymakers.
• Identify friends and foes.
• Prepare for policy opportunities.
• Look out for policy windows.

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

• Build a reputation
• Action-research
• Pilot projects to generate legitimacy
• Good communication

• Establish credibility
• Provide practical solutions
• Establish legitimacy.
• Present clear options
• Use familiar narratives.

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

• 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

• Who are the stakeholders?
• What networks exist?
• Who are the connectors, mavens and salesmen?

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The 5 rules for effective influence of research
on policy

• Win the argument about what the problem is before
  you try to win the argument about the solution
• The political context is vital
• Balance persistence and opportunism
• Focus on application
• Always be strategic
• Source Taylor, Mathew (2006), Bridging Research
  and Policy A UK Perspective, in J. Court and S.
  Maxwell (eds), Policy Entrepreneurship for
  Poverty Reduction, Practical Action Publishing

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Our strategy as EBPDN

• Work as Mavens but identify connectors and
  salesmen
• Find message that sticks
• Links, links, links

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Whats coming up?

• Tokyo workshop that will take place from 24th-
  26th October 2007

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Thank you!
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Why communicate?

• To disseminate our research results
• To provide information
• To aid our research process
• To engage with specific groups
• To facilitate (public) discussion
• To lead to change

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But

• more communication
• ?
• more change

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Communications Toolkit

• Planning Tools
• Packaging Tools
• Targeting Tools
• Monitoring Tools

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Communications Toolkit

• Planning Tools
• Stakeholder Analysis
• Social Network Analysis
• Problem Tree Analysis
• Force Field Analysis
• National Systems of Innovation (NSI)
• How to Write a Communications Strategy
• Packaging Tools
• Targeting Tools
• Monitoring Tools

Key skillto understand
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What does to understand mean?

• UNAIDS (1999)
• Government
• Socio-economic status
• Culture
• Gender
• Spirituality

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Communications Toolkit

• Planning Tools
• Packaging Tools
• Visioning Scenarios Show the Future
• Tell a Story
• Provide a Solution
• Use Surprise
• Be Persuasive
• Targeting Tools
• Monitoring Tools

Key skillto inspire
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What does to inspire mean?

• Dagron (2001)
• We have come to appreciate the true power of
  face-to-face and voice-to-voice communication.
  Every meaningful lesson or belief Ive garnered
  in life came from someone I value explaining the
  issue to me and involving me in the process of
  figuring out the solution.
• (Preface by Gray-Felder)

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Communications Toolkit

• Planning Tools
• Packaging Tools
• Targeting Tools
• Writing Policy Papers
• Building a CoP
• Lobbying
• Using Email
• Websites
• Blogging
• Media Engagement
• Radio
• Monitoring Tools

Key skillto inform
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What does it mean to inform?

• HCP (2003) Most young people in Windhoek believe
  that abstinence means to be absent
• Lambert (2001) Among a group of women in India,
  sex could only be discussed in whispers
• Senior policymaker I dont have time to learn

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Communications Toolkit

• Planning Tools
• Packaging Tools
• Targeting Tools
• Monitoring Tools
• Most Significant Change (MSC)
• Outcome Mapping
• Researcher Checklist
• CFSC Integrated Mode

Key skillto learn
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What does it mean to learn?

• What are the indicators of success?
• Access
• Reception
• Response
• Understanding
• Uptake
• Change in policy
• Change in practice

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In conclusion

• More communication ? more change
• But better communication can lead to change.
• Key skills
• to understand,
• to inspire,
• to inform, and
• to learn.

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Exercise

• Who is your key Audience?
• How do they like to learn?
• What forms of communication do you use now?
• What other forms of communication might be more
  effective?

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Be careful, too much information
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Thank you!