Dr Kirsty NewmanEvidence-Informed Policy Making

Overview

1.INASP

2.Science policy advisors in parliament

3.Capacity building for science in developing countries

Dissemination

Use

Access

Availability

Research

Journal Access

Bandwidth management &

optimisationAuthorAid

Journals online

Library Development

Research Communication Cycle

Science policy

Research

informed policy

Policy for research

Quiz: What do you know about parliament?

1. The major roles of parliament are:i)ii)iii)

2. The UK Parliament consists of:A: The House of Lords and the House of CommonsB: The Monarch and the GovernmentsC: The House of Commons onlyD: The House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarch

3. The UK Government is formed of:A: The CabinetB: All Labour MPsC: All Labour MPs and all Labour PeersD: Ministers and Whips

4. The major difference between the US Congress and the UK Parliament is.....?

5. The only person who is allowed to have an alcoholic drink in the House of Commons is:A: The SpeakerB: The ClerkC: The Prime MinisterD: The Chancellor of the Exchequer

Quiz cont.

A: MP asks parliamentary question about how research funding cuts will affect large research institute in her constituency

B: Parliament amends bill on mental health in light of research on effective treatments

C: MP from a constituency with a high malaria incidence asks a parliamentary question about the scientific evidence to support a ban on DDT use

D: Committee carries out enquiry to establish if government policy on renewable energy is based on scientific evidence

E: Parliament approves bill to regulate research ethics

F: MP asks parliamentary question about amount of funding the government is spending on physics research

Legislation Representation Scrutiny

Science for policy

Policy for science

A

B C D

E F

Science support in UK parliament?

• Specialist committee staff• Parliamentary library• Specialist office- POST

“An Office of both Houses of the UK Parliament providing MPs and

peers with balanced and independent analysis of public

policy issues that have a basis in science and technology”

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_offices/post.cfm

www.parliament.uk/post.cfm

Science advice in African parliament

• MPs are faced with many policy issues related to science and technology

• To enable parliament to scrutinise government, ALL MPs need access to accurate impartial advice on science topics

• Knowledge– Scientifically knowledge of staff and members– Links to experts

• Skills– Advanced internet search skills– Evaluating quality and bias of information

• Procedures– Expert review of policy briefings– Recruiting science advisors– Timely production of parliamentary schedule

Common gaps in capacity

Evidence-Informed Policy making

Training•Advanced Internet Research and Information Literacy

•Summarising Skills

•Communication Skills

Networking•Linking parliamentary staff and MPs to researchers

•Regional networking

Advocacy•Influencing decision makers on importance of Science, Parliaments and Africa

Evidence-Informed Policy making

ParliamentaryLibrarian

ParliamentaryICT specialist

ParliamentaryResearcher Co-facilitator

LeadFacilitator

ScienceLead

ScienceCo-facilitator

• Administration/Project management

• Travel• Carrying out training• Meeting/networking• Satisfaction...• .. And Frustration

What does my job involve?

My career journey

BSc in Microbiology and Immunology

PhD in HIV research

Post-doc Malaria Research

International Activities team at the Wellcome Trust

Evidence-Informed Policy Officer INASP/POST

• Grab any opportunities in your current job to develop transferable skills

• Get help with CV writing• Network• Proactively seek volunteer/work

experience opportunities• Expect to take a pay cut• Understand the context…

Kirsty’s top tips

Books e.g. The Trouble with Africa, White Man’s Burden, Dead Aid, The Bottom Billion, Its Our Turn to Eat, The Honest Broker

Magazines, journal articles and websites e.g. The Africa Report, Research Africa, Eldis, Scidev.net

Reports and policy documents e.g. DFID research strategy, Overseas Development Agency reports, Paris declaration on aid effectiveness, Millennium Development Goals, Monitoring and Evaluation (e.g. log frames, outcome mapping etc)

Lectures/seminars- e.g. London School of Economics, Overseas Development Institute, All-party parliamentary groups…

Understand the context

•Clubs for parliamentarians and other interested parties

•Download the Register of All Party Parliamentary Groups for more information

All-party parliamentary groups

Any questions??