Harnessing research for development to tackle wicked problems - Water Scarcity, Livelihoods and Food Security - page 70

A successful model—the fellowship program
In the Mekong, the main thrust of the CPWF's training was through a fellow-
ship program started in Phase 1. Funded by AusAID, the CPWF, partnered
with the Mekong Program on Water, Environment and Resilience, launched
the program to address governance issues. A total of 60 year-long fellowships
were awarded, with the fellows being nationals of one of the countries of the
Mekong Basin.
The initiative increased the research outputs of the Mekong BDC, and
diversified its research. This was important to encourage regional scientists to
perceive gender and poverty as issues in water governance. In addition, the
way in which the fellowships work was novel. Fellows were assigned mentors
who worked together with them to assure the quality and relevance of the
research. Fellows were required to participate in CPWF regional events,
engage with other research institutes and present their results to potential users.
The program provided each fellow with a support system within which to
learn, investigate and engage. Fellowships were implemented without fellows
having to give up their day jobs
The program helped CPWF to expand its networks, with 60 new contacts
working in regional universities, government agencies and NGOs. Fellowship
research contributed to on-going CPWF initiatives. Moreover, Fellows are
unlikely to leave the region as they often do with training programs leading
to higher degrees.
Changing attitudes and behavior of researchers toward R4D
A major effort within CPWF was made to introduce the R4D tools to help
research move research outputs to development outcomes.
The first was to introduce tools related to ToC such as PIPA into CPWF
research. Lead researchers used a number of tools to analyze what types of
impacts their research was supposed to have and who they had to target in
order to make this happen (Box 3.8). Many researchers had never used PIPA
and these tools. Through network analysis exercises, one senior researcher
realized that they were teaming up with the wrong partners if they wanted to
achieve impact. Many researchers realized that if their research was to have
impact, they must include stakeholders from the outset.
The second approach focused on training and mentoring young researchers.
In Phase 2, we replaced the term “student” with “young professional.” The
change reflected the understanding that young professionals often challenge
the established order and encourage the new thinking needed in R4D. In some
cases, after graduation they took up key positions within national systems,
which extended the influence of the CPWF's R4D.