Writing for Policy Change

8/13/2019 Writing for Policy Change

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Writing science fornfluencing policy: insights

from Nepals forest sectorHemant R OjhaNaya Sharma Paudel


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Outline1. Context

- Forest policy field in Nepal?- Role of research and science writing?

2. Concepts

-policy?

- research?

- research-policy link?

3. Reflections

- what we did?

- how we did?

- Insights / dilemmas?


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Contex


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Communities

Forest

Communities

Forest

Gover

nment

Communities

Forest

Govern

ment

Donors

Forest

Communities

Governme

nt

Donor

NGOsCommunities

Forest

NGOs

Donor

Markets

INGOs

CFUG

networks

Go

ent

Before 1957

nationalization

of forest

Between 1957 -

1978 until early

forms of CF

initiated through

Panchayat Forestry

Regulations

Between 1957 - 1978

until early forms of CF

initiated through

Panchayat Forestry

Regulations

Between 1978 - 1995

when the new Forest

Act was enforced

After 1995 till

diverse actors,

complex field,

issues

More policy actors in forest governance than in the past, with

diverse knowledge and power forms

Increasing

space forpolicy

writing?


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Diverse policy actors in forest governance

Donors

Ministry,

Dept

Research

institutions

Privatesector

Citizen

networks

NGOs

Communicating

researchWho

benefits fromthe research

we write?


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Who makes policy decisions? Parliament

Sole decisions by the minister

Public Pressure

Bureaucratic wisdom

International influence/donor conditionality

Instructions by prime minister

National Planning Commission

Too diverse policy

Processes

Does science/Evidence

have a role?

It is th

who sh

polic

unders

people

gove

talking

here in

(A retired

a poli

organis

Nepal a

A


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What drives forest policy change in Nepal?

Expertpolicy analysis with little community voice (e.g Master Plan for theForestry Sector, Agriculture Perspective Plan )

Administrativeimperative (Forest Policy 2000, Forest Inventory Directives

2000) Community movement(e.g withdrawal of recent amendment proposal of

Forest Act 1993)

Collaborative worksbetween civil society and the government: e.g CFGuidelines 2008, Forest Inventory Directives 2005

Community resistanceto top-down policy processese.g AgricultureDevelopment Strategy2013

Policies pushed by political leadersparties, ministers, parliamentarycommittees

Policies made by Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies(CIAA)

Policies pushed by aid agenciesand international processes - LAPA?

Informed by a rich pool ofknowledge, experience, and deliberatione.gForest Act 1993, Rules 1995

If r

limion

wh

ta

role

cha

Knowledge


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In the current state of political transitionthe role of research in policy is even lesssignificant.

Muscles and violent resistance

Political negotiations

Politicized identity ofresearchersloss of epistemicauthority

Political leaders areinterested to do any

So as an expert what

do?

(ex NPC vice-chair pe


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So how can we become effective science writers to influencWe need to better understand why research / writing is not

as expected.


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Policy dilemma: burden or means of empowerment?

M

born

a

every

he

cha

-Rou

L t f k h h d h ld t ib t t li


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Lots of works on how research can and should contribute to polic

Ojha and Shrestha 2013


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E


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Should sciencewriting be done

more at a

particular stage

of policy cyclethan others?


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The political field of forest policy process


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Social

science

ScienceNatural

science

Citizens

Cultural

groups

Economic

groups

Elected

leaders

Ideological

groups

Institutionalforms

Policymaking

as

deliberative

process and

social

learning

Local Contexts

Global Discourse and Policies

Bureaucracy

The political field of forest policy process

H d f ilit t li h ?


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How do we facilitate policy change?(Start and Hovland 2004)


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Reflectionfrom practice

13 years of research at Forest Action Nepal

3 years of research South Asia Institute of Advanced S

(SIAS)

3 years of research networking at Nepal Policy Resear

Network (NPRN)


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Leaflet

Peer reviewed

articles

Discussi

Pappe

Policy Briefs

Journal of Fores

and LIvelihoos

Media

blogs/editorials

Varieties of

writing

Posters

Letters

Which form of writing for which

Policy making?

Publications typespolicy relevance


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Which policy actors value which

form of science writing?

- Language?

- Style?

- Length of writing?

- Presentations?

- Evidence versus argument?

ub cat o s types po cy e e a ce

Research and science writing does influence policy


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Research and science writing does influence policyprocesses and outcomes

Policy issues Level Our contribution Outco

Special forest policy (for

Terai) 2000

Policy Action researches

Dissertations

Book

Journal articlesSpecial issue of Journal on Terai forest

Carte

gover

Community Forestry

Guidelines

Guidelines Actively participated in taskforce

Analysis and papers focusing pro-poor and

inclusive provisions

Pro-p

Forest Act amendment

Attempts

Act Field study

Discussion paperPolicy roundtable

Gove

amen

New Conservation Area

(2010-2011)

Regulations Field study

Policy roundtable

Ensur

rights

inventory guidelines

(2000)

Guidelines Field study and report

Review article in JFL

Simp

guide

change? Timely critical strategic rapid


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change? Timely, critical, strategic, rapidanalysis can help

Media reportsFECOFUN protes

Policy round table Discussion paper

Government proposal

Field rese

Amendment bill

withdrawn


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r t ng or n uenc ng po cy: severa


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r t ng or n uenc ng po cy: severachallenges

Single case?

Generalization

Critical?

Appreciative?

Qualitative

Quantitative

Attention to

details?

Too familiar

contexts?

Evidence

driven?

Theory

driven?

Diagnosis?

Specific

recommendations?

Identity?

Limits of NGO-

based researchEngagement?

Neutrality?

Summary


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Summary

Writing can make a lot of difference to policy, but only when don

- time

- relevance- quality

- presentation / form

- identity

Policy writing is an engaged, political actnot just a disengagedpractice

Writers need to manage their identitybeyond NGOs, as wider engaged public intellectuals

Documents

Writing for Policy Change