Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Timelines and dilemmas
The time-bound nature of the CPWF complicated its engagement in policy
processes and its legitimacy to do research and enable change. Decision-making
is a long process, vulnerable to multiple influences and driven by personalities.
Who can take credit for which outcomes is therefore problematic and not
always relevant.
Local partners will continue to engage in the change processes as long as
there are sufficiently high levels of trust, credibility and legitimacy. Credible
and relevant research used by stakeholders in effective R4D increases the
likelihood—but does not ensure—that outcomes will be achieved.
CPWF anticipated these vulnerabilities by ensuring that the BDC's coordi-
nation and change programs were either led by local institutions or had strong
partnerships. In some cases, outputs will likely be translated to outcomes after
the CPWF ends (see Chapters 5 and 6 for more on engagement in policy
processes).
Inclusive and participatory communication
[C]ommunications is not just one element in the struggle to make science
relevant. It is the central element. Because if you gather scientific know-
ledge but are unable to convey it to others in a correct and compelling
form, you might as well not even have bothered to gather the information.
(Olsen, 2009)
Conventionally, communication has been perceived as something to do at the
end of the research cycle. Research produces results, which are disseminated as
a poster, a manual, a policy brief, or a glossy brochure for donors. But this
approach has not proven to be up to the task (PANOS, 2007) in ensuring that
communication processes support moving research results to outcomes. Each
basin took a strategic approach to communications, which focused not just on
the products but on processes for engagement.
In the Volta one project implemented an explicit communications strategy
that combined:
•
One-on-one interviews with key stakeholders, such as the local admini-
stration, to engage them in the full R4D process.
•
A consultation process with groups including presentations of the project
at the District Assembly in Ghana and at the Plan d'Action pour la Gestion
Intégrée des Ressources en Eau (PAGIRE, the official program to support
integrated water resources management (IWRM) in Burkina Faso),
workshops with stakeholders at various levels at the community, district
and regional levels in Ghana (Kizito, 2012).
•
Establishment of a group of experts from administration, researchers,
NGOs and universities, all experienced in IWRM. The aim was to help
build the strategy for the participatory process.
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