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MZUMBE UNIVERSITY DAR ES SALAAMMZUMBE UNIVERSITY DAR ES SALAAM

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Quality of Policy-relevant Research in the African Context: Participatory Policy Research Perspectives

    

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Introduction and ContextIntroduction and Context

A number of researches are conducted on and in A number of researches are conducted on and in AfricaAfrica

Few policy-relevant research works in AfricaFew policy-relevant research works in Africa There is inadequate participatory research practices There is inadequate participatory research practices Supply – rather than demand-driven policy researches Supply – rather than demand-driven policy researches

dominatedominate Results: Poor quality, little usefull policy researchesResults: Poor quality, little usefull policy researches Participatory policy research: Among solutions to Participatory policy research: Among solutions to

improve quality and usefullness of policy researchimprove quality and usefullness of policy research

Participatory Policy ResearchParticipatory Policy Research

Involves policy researchers on one hand and policy Involves policy researchers on one hand and policy makers and policy users on the other at all reseach makers and policy users on the other at all reseach cycle phasescycle phases

Is a policy-demand-driven rather than researcher-Is a policy-demand-driven rather than researcher-supply driven research processsupply driven research process

Lack of participatory research practices leads to poor Lack of participatory research practices leads to poor quality and poor usefullness of policy researchesquality and poor usefullness of policy researches

Towards Participatory Policy ResearchTowards Participatory Policy Research

Involve researchers and policy makers and Involve researchers and policy makers and users at all reseach stages:users at all reseach stages:– Conceptualization and development of research Conceptualization and development of research

themes and topicsthemes and topics– Call for research proposalsCall for research proposals– Evaluation of research proposalsEvaluation of research proposals– Implementation of research: Questions to DisseminationImplementation of research: Questions to Dissemination– M&E of research processes and outputsM&E of research processes and outputs– Disseminations: What, How, when, where: Policy-friendl? Disseminations: What, How, when, where: Policy-friendl?

Issues of ConcernIssues of Concern

Participatory policy researches are short of Participatory policy researches are short of supplysupply

Supply-driven rather than demand-driven Supply-driven rather than demand-driven research processes dominateresearch processes dominate

Level of research funding may be among the Level of research funding may be among the causes of the problemcauses of the problem

Ways Forward Ways Forward for quality and for quality and usefull policy researchusefull policy research

Dedicated efforts for participatory policy Dedicated efforts for participatory policy research processes/cycle are importantresearch processes/cycle are important

Measurement of policy research quality should Measurement of policy research quality should include its participatory natureinclude its participatory nature

Policy research funding should demand and Policy research funding should demand and provide for participatory policy research in the provide for participatory policy research in the whole research cycle/value chainwhole research cycle/value chain

Walking the talks is the change-makerWalking the talks is the change-maker

The End Thank YouThe End Thank You