Strengthening Research Uptake – Examples

from the CSIR

Nikki Funke

Senior Researcher

Natural Resources and Environment Unit

What is the science-policy gap?

© CSIR 2011 Slide #

Godfrey et al., 2010

© CSIR 2011 Slide #

Funke and Nienaber, 2011

Complexity of the South African policy-making

process

© CSIR 2011 Slide #

CSIR Mandate

“The objects of the CSIR are, through directed and

particularly multi-disciplinary research and technological

innovation, to foster, in the national interest and in fields

which in its opinion should receive preference, industrial

and scientific development, either by itself or in co-

operation with principals from the private or public

sectors, and thereby to contribute to the improvement

of the quality of life of the people of the Republic, and

to perform any other functions that may be assigned to the

CSIR by or under this Act."

Conducting research for impact: some challenges

• Focus in NRE still seems to be on producing high quality

scientific outputs sometimes at the expense of end-user

engagement and relevant and targeted research outputs

• However, things are changing slowly but surely because

of:

– CSIR-wide focus on research impact, and

– Role played by social scientists and natural scientists

with an interest in research uptake in the NRE Unit

• Some examples to illustrate

Research Uptake Strategy for the Upper Olifants River Study

• The Upper Olifants River Study focused on identifying sources of

pollution, impacts of pollution and mitigation strategies in the Upper

Olifants River Catchment.

• The study’s technical team expressed a need for the development of

a research uptake strategy in order to:

To link technical research findings with stakeholder needs

To set out the need for further research and activities to optimise

the uptake of research findings

Purpose of the Upper Olifants Research Uptake Strategy

The purpose of this strategy is to suggest separate but

inter-connected activities for a way forward when it

comes to:

transferring the research findings of the Upper Olifants

River Study,

strengthening stakeholder relationships,

creating public awareness, and

obtaining clarity on the issues of co-operative

government and government departments’

environmental management responsibilities.

Research Uptake Strategy and Pillars of Support

Lessons learned

• Importance of a research uptake strategy

• Need for early planning of uptake and

sufficient funding to implement such a

strategy

• Need to manage stakeholders’

expectations about what the strategy can

achieve

National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas Project

• Important national-level initiative that offers concrete tools to improve and

facilitate freshwater conservation management and planning in different

sectors by identifying a national network of freshwater ecosystem priority

areas.

• The project was based on a high level of technical inputs and endorsement

by scientific experts from a range of organisations and engagement with

end-users from government and non-government sectors.

• The NFEPA products include:

a set of digital maps of the priority areas at the national and Water

Management Area (WMA) level,

a NFEPA atlas aimed at creating awareness among the end-user

community and a more generalist audience,

and an implementation manual targeting government actors in different

sectors.

• Aim for products to be taken up into existing legislative tools and policy

National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas Project

Lessons learned

• The “Who” and “How” of targeting government departments:

– Target all levels of government

– Target various levels of the political hierarchy

– Target a wide range of government departments

• Design of research outputs:

– Some degree of entrepreneurial logic is important

– Products must fit into existing legislative tools and policy and must be

timely.

• The politics of targeting high-level decision-makers

– Target individuals who “have the ear” of high-level decision-makers

– Products need to suit the political climate within which decision-makers

work

– Importance of bridging actors

Parting Thoughts

• Not just one-sided communication (speaking at your

target audience)

• About use of relevant products to inform every-day

decision-making and strategising at higher levels

• Importance of being self-reflexive and learning from each

experience to improve on the next one

• How do we monitor that there is uptake and that

research products are being used?