Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8
From research outputs to
development outcomes—
selected stories
Terry Clayton
a*
and
Michael Victor
b
a
CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food—Mekong CPWF,
Vientiane, Lao PDR;
b
CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and
Ecosystems WLE, Vientiane, Lao PDR;
*
Corresponding author,
clayton@redplough.com.
Introduction
The CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) was a time-
bound program with an end date of December 2013. The project adopted
research-for-development (R4D) approaches only in its second Phase (2009-
2013). This complicated its efforts to get from outputs to outcomes because
decision-making is often a long process, vulnerable to multiple influences and
driven by personalities. Credible and relevant research can increase the
likelihood—but does not ensure—that outcomes will be achieved.
The overall purpose of the CPWF has been to address “wicked problems”
1
of water and food in complex adaptive systems. The project used a dynamic
approach (R4D) to translate research outputs to development outcomes,
defined as changes in policy or practice. To get from outputs to outcomes, the
CPWF has used engagement strategies to influence decision-maker know-
ledge, attitudes and skills and facilitate negotiation.
Who are the decision-makers whose changes in policy or practice comprise
outcomes? They can be officials making decisions on government policy. But
they can also be community leaders deciding on collective management of
resources, parties to negotiation about resource use, or development assistance
agencies deciding on investment priorities. They can also be individual farm
families deciding on agroecosystem management, or researchers deciding on
research priorities.
Earlier chapters touched on examples of success in translating outputs to
outcomes. This chapter presents some of these examples as outcome stories.
The selection of stories is incomplete but covers five categories of decision-
making: policy change, community resource management, negotiations
regarding resource use, development investment and research priorities.
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