KNOWLEDGE TO POLICY - Making the Most of Development Research

“……Does research influence public policy and decision-making and, if so, how? This book is the most recent to address this question, investigating the effects of research in the field of international development. It starts from a sophisticated understanding about how research influences public policy and decision-making. It shows how research can contribute to better governance in at least three ways:
- by encouraging open inquiry and debate,
- by empowering people with the knowledge to hold governments accountable, and
- by enlarging the array of policy options and solutions available to the policy process.

Fred Carden, currently the Director of Evaluation at the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa, Canada.
Sage/IDRC 2009 ISBN 978-81-7829-930-3 e-ISBN 978-1-55250-417-8
International Development Research Centre (IDRC), 2009

IDRC website: http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-135779-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

“……Does research influence public policy and decision-making and, if so, how? This book is the most recent to address this question, investigating the effects of research in the field of international development. It starts from a sophisticated understanding about how research influences public policy and decision-making. It shows how research can contribute to better governance in at least three ways:
- by encouraging open inquiry and debate,
- by empowering people with the knowledge to hold governments accountable, and
- by enlarging the array of policy options and solutions available to the policy process.

Knowledge to Policy examines the consequences of 23 research projects funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre. Key findings and case studies from Asia, Africa, and Latin America are presented in a reader-friendly, journalistic style, giving the reader a deeper grasp and understanding of approaches, contexts, relationships, and events.

CONTENTS

SECTION I: THE FINDINGS
1. Making Research Count
2. Policy Matters
3. What Works, What Doesn’t
4. Managing Research, Exploiting Contingencies
5. Research and the Politics of Policy
6. Conclusion

SECTION II: THE CASE STUDIES
7. Introduction
8. Poverty Monitoring
9. Trade and Finance
10. Resource Management
11. Water Management
12. Health and Education Reform
13. Networks and Innovation
14. Information and Communication Technologies for Development

SECTION III: TECHNICAL NOTES
15. The Multiple Case Approach: A Methodological Overview
16. Changing Practice: A Note on Using Evaluation for Organizational Change

Acronyms
References
Annotated Bibliography
Index