crossing boundaries: from evidence to impact? some reflections
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given at the Sixth RENEWAL Regional Workshop: A decade of work on HIV, food and nutrition security. By Scott DrimieTRANSCRIPT
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Crossing boundaries: from evidence to impact?Some reflections.
Scott DrimieRegional Network on AIDS, Livelihoods and Food security
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Objectives
• Focus on the challenge of translating this emerging evidence into large-scale action, and ultimately better impact.
• Discuss the pathways for policy influence when dealing with such complex interactions.
• Highlight some of the lessons from RENEWAL activity in eastern and southern Africa.
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Science – Policy Interface
• Interface not well understood, and is often assumed.
• At least three distinctive perspectives:
– a linear and logical approach; – an iterative and incremental approach; and– an approach centered more on discourse.
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Moving in the Divided Space
Improved Multi-Directional
Dialogue
Policy
Programming
Research“Evidence”
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Diversity of experiences
• Network centred around a focal institution and advisory group in each country
• Network waxes and wanes around issue/ project
• Partners diverse approaches: research objectives, learning
• Evolution of thinking
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Malawi MOA Capacity Strengthening
HIV and Agriculture Task Force
MOA: Ext Services
NAC: 2008Irish Aid: 2009
Strategy – based on scientific evidence Capacity limitations
RENEWAL / BundaSADC VAC training on HIV/FS
Modules for MOAFAO Funding
ScienceSam Bota RENEWAL Malawi
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TB and HIV in Mbekweni, South Africa
ZAMBART Research Project
Participant feedbackCommunity engagement
Policy “dialogue” with NAC, DoHRENEWAL National Fora
MSc degrees, publicationsCollaboration – build on strengths
Feedback Meeting:“march on the councilors”
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Working as a network: lessons
• The nature of politics and political engagement:
– peculiar politics of HIV&AIDS
– labyrinthine institutional issues
– focus on sustaining relationships
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Working as a network: lessons• The maintenance of integrity of interactive
research:
– adherence to principles of science whilst maintaining close relationships with those with political authority
– ensuring accountability to the communities within which the research is conducted.
– To “reach-in” to what individuals and organisations share rather than to focus on differences.
– Need for a strong centre (presence)
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Working as a network: lessons• Selecting and nurturing ‘champions’ in government
and scientific organisations:
– senior officials regularly move to new posts
– scientists have a ‘natural’ reticence against use of their research in different forms and ways
– Need to engage in critical commentary and interpretation with different ‘non-science’ parties
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New Ways of Working
The “U-Process” in Mamelodi, South Africa:
– Urban-rural links research
• Urban epidemic• Urban informal settlements have double the HIV
prevalence of urban formal areas in South Africa• Risk factors (Weiser et al)• Mobility and spatial connections
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Sickness and HIV:if the individual in Johannesburg becomes too sick to work, the majority will return back home
Support
54 %
67%
Importance of
food Burden on the household back
home.
Urban livelihood that supports
another household ‘back home’ would
be affected.
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The “U-Process”: Phase 1“ Co-Sensing
Co-Presencing
Co-Realizing
“Learning to see… the first schooling” –Nietzsche
Activities: foundation workshops, learning journeys.
Output: Documented shared understanding of reality.
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The “U-Process”: Phase 2“
Co-Sensing
Co-Presencing
Co-Realizing
Retreat and Reflect
Getting in touch with own relationship to the system, ‘inner knowing about it.
Activities: Innovation retreat, Wilderness solos
Output:: Clarity and commitment about what to do to create new reality
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The “U-Process”: Phase 3“
Co-Sensing
Co-Presencing
Co-RealisingBringing the new reality into existence
Activities: Implementation of innovations with potential to change the system, prototyping, piloting, learning by doing
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Working as a network• The seemingly interminably slow process of
influencing policy requires a long-term perspective:
– Need to be persistent, to adopt an informed, supportive, flexible and adaptive approach.
– gradual strengthening of networks allows trust to be built while securing diverse representatives as a key source of legitimacy and, hence, influence.
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