Transcript newsham_pvoimplementation

Research for Improved Program
Performance – reflections from a
research institute
Andy Newsham, IDS
[email protected]
What I’ll cover
Examples of using research for
implementation - filling gaps and
capacity building
Thoughts on the relationship
between researchers and
implementers
Designing research with the
Mexican government and GIZ
Research topic assess
vulnerability of people &
ecosystems to climate
impacts in the Sierra
Madre Oriental
Objective: build
capacity of Commission
for Protected Natural
Areas (CONANP) to
understand and reduce
vulnerability to climate
impacts
Process
Gather large team to design a multilevel analysis of the Sierra Madre
Oriental Biological Corridor (CONANP
and GIZ staff, biologists, agronomists,
sociologists), with:
– Micro and macro baseline studies
– Climate, ecological and hydrological
modelling
– Local level participatory vulnerability
analysis (IDS)
– adaptation scenarios and measures
IDS contribution: methods
toolkit for CONANP
Permits local-level analysis of critical dimensions of
vulnerability:
– Livelihoods
– Wellbeing
– Individual response capacity
– Collective response capacity
– Governance
Gives some environmental information (especially
around use) and can be linked with ecological analysis
Methodology
• Participatory group exercises
• Surveys, semi structured interviews from
vulnerable households and key informants
• Triangulation of data through combining
methods
• Analyse results using vulnerability conceptual
framework
How will CONANP use this?
The Kit is quite easy to use, but some
training required
We trained Mexican researchers in the
methods kit – we took them to the field and
made them facilitate
They will train CONANP to use it
BUT! Will CONANP actually use it…?
Resource scenarios for using
the toolkit
Scenario A: optimum
resources
Scenario B – medium
resources
Scenario C – minimum
resources
Implications
How many resources to be attached? What
trade-off on data quality can you accept
before the exercise becomes pointless?
How do you define the research agenda?
Through what process?
If you are the researchers, will that change
the data? (I barred CONANP people from
my research team)
Technical Assistance for awareness raising
& institutional capacity building on social
protection (SP) in Zanzibar
Poverty and vulnerability mapping for Zanzibar
Raise awareness of various stakeholders on poverty &
vulnerability profile & possible SP policy choices.
Capacity building for the SP Unit of the Ministry of
Social Welfare, Youth, Women and Childrens’
Development to coordinate of SP policy in Zanzibar
Social Protection Policy finalisation, with a draft ready
for submission for approval to the cabinet.
Model of engagement
Phase 1 – until June 2013
IDS
SP Unit,
MSWYWCD
Agency X
MDAs,
civil
society
Model of engagement (2)
Phase 2: June 2013 - onwards
IDS
SP Unit,
MSWYWCD
Agency X
MDAs,
civil
society
Implications
When it works well, it is a process of
effective knowledge exchange
BUT! When should IDS no longer be in this
diagram?
Are governments and donors willing to pay
for building local research capacity? (Yes in
Zanzibar, no in Chad)
Concluding thoughts
Incentives for PVOs to do research is not strong internally
and waxes and wanes externally according to VFM
pressures
Temptation for PVOs to shave research budgets and to
underestimate how much good research costs and how
long it takes
No need for PVOs to embed research in too many of their
programmes—only when trying something new or
working in a very new context
PVOS should develop partnerships with research
organisations, not one-off consultancies
Concluding thoughts (2)
Research institutions not sufficiently sensitive to
operational realities
Research institutions not sufficiently creative in doing
research that answers PVO questions—methods
driven tendency rather than issue driven
Researchers not great at communicating the ‘so what’
IDS bridges the gap through having researchers who
have also been practitioners
Personal relationships are crucial—need to find ways
to invest in understanding each other