Chapter 2 The challenge of evidence-based strategy development: Linkages between evidence, policy and practice

2 The strategy development approach 2.1 Linking research, policy, strategy and practice

As indicated above, the international experience is that there is no neat linear linkage between the evidence generated by research and reflexive practice on the one hand and the development of policy, strategy and its implementation on the other. To help conceptualise how to make these connections, we have drawn on a framework developed as part of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) programme on Research and Policy in Development (RAPID), which aims ‘to better understand how research can contribute to pro-poor policies and improve the use of research and evidence in development policy and practice' (Young 2005). This framework (Crewe & Young 2002) sets out to conceptualise the ways in which evidence-based approaches are mediated by other factors in their bid to influence policy and bring about changes in practice. The framework examines the interrelationships between four elements: The local political context which determines the receptivity of government to the research findings and to changes in its way of working. The quality of the research, its topical relevance, the extent to which it proposes solutions to current problems and the way in which the new messages are communicated. The existence of networks, linkages and facilitation agents which help translate research findings and enable the migration of strategic approaches across disciplinary and institutional boundaries resulting in shared understandings and effective joint programmes. External factors in the broader development context that may influence the research and policy processes.