Post on 20-Jun-2015
description
Communicating forestry research
for evidence-based policy in Cameroon
Sandrine Ebakisse
Ottawa
January 24th, 2014
Cameroonian forestry sector
Presentation of the research
Results of the study
Discussion and recommendations
Questions and comments
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Cameroonian forestry sector
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Cameroonian forest are part of Congo basin: world’s second-larget
stropical forest Cameroonian forest represents the second
income resource for the state: about 6% of GNP
Cameroonian forestry sector
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Dynamism of policies:
General policy in 1993
Forestry law in 1994
Environnemental law in 1996
PSFE (sectorial program) in 2003
Review process since 2010 for the forestry law
Multiplicity of actors:
Central and local public agencies
Local governments
Civile society organizations
National and international private sector
Donors
International threaties
Large economic projects
CORRUPTION Intersectorial
policies
Participatory process of planning
Presentation of the research
― Research uptake
― Research questions
― Interviewees
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vision Mission Goals Strategy Tactics Outputs Outcomes Impacts
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Depend of our action
Don’t depend of us
Research uptake
R4D: research for change, for better living conditions of poor peoples
Plan Execution of the plan
Research uptake
Research communication: influence rather than impact in people behaviours or Change in policies and practices (Weiss – 1970) .
8 Philip Davies, Is evidence-Based Government Possible?
Evidence
Experience and
expertise
Pragmatitsm and
contingencies
Judgement
Ressources
Values
Habits and traditions
Lobbyists and pressure
groups
Research uptake
Research influence is not a product but a process (Carden – 2011). does not just try to make that the evidences it
brings is used by policies makers. contribute to the decision making process by
promoting evidence based policies and practices.
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Research questions
How can communication better contribute to research influence ? What is the link between research that had policy
influence and communication approaches?
Were these approaches aligned with the general context and the research institution’s Theory of Change?
What best practices of these institutions can help to increase communication’s contribution to research influence?
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Interviwees
Research institutions:
— Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR )
— Centre for Environment and Development (CED)
— International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
Public administrations: Cameroonian ministry of forest and wildlife (MINFOF).
Donors:
― European Union
― French government research Institutions 13
About Research institutions
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Evidence/
science based
Interest / values
based
Confrontation /
outside track
Cooperation /
inside track
Advising
Lobbying Activism
Advocacy
Source: Daniel Start and Ingie Hovland “Tools for Policy Impact A Handbook for Researchers”
CIFOR CED
Results of the study
CED & CIFOR influence through direct and
indirect communication strategies.
Conditions/success factors of influence
throught communication
Limits due to the poor governance of the
forestry sector 15
CIFOR influence throught direct strategy The domestic market of timber
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Evidence (research results)
Lack of regulations about exploitation of domestic timber
Great capacities concerning incomes (50% of total timber production)
Large network of corruption
Communication (direct strategy)
Discussions with the MINFOF based on the first set of data
In collaboration with MINFOF officers:
– Large diffusion of a broader report
– Print and broadcast media
– Public debates
Influence (what happened ?)
Nomination of responsibles in MINFOF
Sollicitation of CIFOR as a resources for the understanding and discussions on this matter
Broader studdy about the economic importance of forests in Cameroon
CED influence throught indirect strategy The Herakles Farm Gate
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Evidence (research results)
Illegal contractual procedures
High environnemental risks
Violation of communities’ rights
Communication (indirect strategy)
Diffusion throught media channel (press conferences, releases…)
Distribution to other NGOs
Broadcasts and public debates
Influence (what happened ?)
Crisis meeting at MINFOF
Pressure from various actors
Public positionning of the ministry
Reconsideration of the term of the contract
Conditions/success factors of influence Communicate continuously and with patience
Respond to the interest of the government / decision makers
Be abble to network and create external pressure
Use informal relations 18
Limits due to the poor governance of the forestry sector
Indicators of poor governance
The double discourse of decision makers
To be In / to gain finances from donors / to keep a hidden agenda / to protect subjective interest.
The poor structure of forestry research Increasing lost of interest about forestry research / difficult access to information.
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Limits due to the poor governance of the forestry sector
How it affects Research Communication
Informal nature of relations between actors. Researcher mainly communicate with decision makers by informal ways.
Informal character of access to forestry information. To know what is going on in the sector you must personally know peoples.
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Discussion and Recommendations
Informal communication or Research objectivity?
Influence by all means or contribution to an evidence based decision making process?
Work on communication but not only
― Security of formal relations
― Importance of institutionnal capacities
― Results of a good structure of forestry research
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Questions and comments
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Thank you for your attention!