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Using research to promote a more

informed dialogue and better policies in

Ecuador

Orazio J. Bellettini

Bogota, January, 14th, 2011

Independence

Transparency

Public policy

Social Change

Policy process in Ecuador

Policy process in Ecuador is characterized by its

ideological fragmentation, volatile coalitions and

weak institutions.

Ministers of Finance last, on average, six months in

office.

19 de enero de 2011

Background

April ‘05 April ‘06 April ‘07

Correa Barreiro Borja

Rodas

Jouvín

Serrano

Patiño

Timeline of Ministers of Finance appointed

April ‘08 April ‘09

Ortiz Viteri Rivera

April ‘10

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The first step is to have evidence...

• In addition to political instability, research has

played a small role in the policy process in Ecuador

because evidence is scarce and, when it exists, it is

disperse, highly technical and difficult to access for

policy makers.

• However, there are cases in which research has

generated a kind of evidence that has captured

social and political imagination and promoted

institutional reforms.

19 de enero de 2011

Towards more evidence-based policies

Evidence for a new development model

• The Yasuni Natural Reserve is a 982.000 ha. area

located in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

• The Yasuni National Park has reserves for

approximately 944 million barrels of oil, the country's

second largest untapped oil reserves.

• It hosts two scientific stations where natural sciences

research is constantly carried out.

Case 1: The Yasuni – ITT proposal

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Scientific evidence at work…

Source: Bass MS, Finer M, Jenkins CN, Kreft H, Cisneros-Heredia DF, et al.

(2010) Global Conservation Significance of Ecuador's Yasuní National Park.

PLoS ONE 5(1): e8767. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008767.

The emerging of the Yasuni Initiative….

Yasuni

Source: Bass MS, Finer M, Jenkins CN, Kreft H, Cisneros-Heredia DF, et al.

(2010) Global Conservation Significance of Ecuador's Yasuní National Park.

PLoS ONE 5(1): e8767. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008767.

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Evidence for a new development model

• Using the evidence portrayed in this research, civil

society organizations (CSO) and universities

developed a policy proposal to protect this area.

• The proposal entails stopping any new oil activities

and road construction in Yasuní; giving value to non-

emission of CO2; and, asking the rest of the world to

pay half the potential income in the carbon market

(USD. 3.5 billion).

Case 1: The Yasuni – ITT proposal

Uncovering the politics of the poor

• In 2005, former President Lucio Gutierrez was ousted

because, among other accusations, he uses social

programs to gain political support.

• Since the new administration was willing to implement

social and political reforms, Grupo FARO created an

index to measure opportunities for political clientelism.

• Political clientelism entered the public agenda uncovering

this phenomenon that had remained hidden.

• Between 2005 and 2006, we worked with social

programs increasing their level of transparency as well as

accountability.

Case 2: Clientelism in Social Programs

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Uncovering the politics of the poor

Case 2: Clientelism in Social Programs

Lessons Learned

• Evidence is still scarce and plays a small role in the

policy process in Ecuador.

• However, with the right evidence at the right time using

the right strategy to communicate it convincingly, it

could spark creativity and improve the design and

implementation of both short and long term policies in

different sectors.

• Evidence is not enough. Grupo FARO also focuses its

efforts to promote more informed dialogues as well as

build capacities to successfully translate ideas into

actions.

Policy process in the tropics

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¡Muchas

Gracias!

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