The Drum Beat 553 - Research into Action
This issue includes:
- Use of ICTs for research-action collaboration.
- THANKS to our CI Associates.
- Research into practice: HEALTH.
- PETITION: Women's participation in peacebuilding.
- Research into practice: THE ENVIRONMENT.
- MORE on research on The CI sites.
This issue of The Drum Beat looks at the practical question of how to "translate" research findings on any development issues into practice: "Now that we know this, how do I use it?" Its focus is on the way in which communication strategies can support this transition, with an opening section illustrating the use of information and communication technology (ICT), in particular, as a tool to foster collaboration. What follows are examples of initiatives in the fields of health and the environment that are working to get research into use.
THE ROLE OF ICTs: COLLABORATION
...an April 2008 paper presenting results from a consultation on research communication, where respondents stated that "research is more likely to be used if it takes local circumstances into account; if it gets the interest, support and contribution of important decision-makers at an early stage; and if big efforts are made to communicate the results in a user-friendly way." There is a need "to keep ahead of technologies that affect access to, and use of research by different users and to exploit opportunities that they present..."
by Niels Keijzer, Wendy Quarry, Ricardo Ramírez, and Florencia Enghel
...a February 2008 article sharing the results of an online discussion exploring the role of online networking and the challenge it poses of how to communicate emerging new ideas to policy makers, practitioners, and other researchers...
3. Reviews Hope to Answer Key Development Controversies
by Mico Tatalovic
...a May 2010 article examining a strategy undertaken by the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID) to foster research in development-related areas beyond education, health, and sanitation. The expected outcome is academic work that will undergo peer review and be published in academic journals - with an eventual database of knowledge on these issues...
4. Radio, Convergence, and Development in Africa Research Programme - Africa
...a project working to identify and support research to better understand the current impact and potential of radio as a development tool in Africa. African researchers are collecting baseline data, formulating pertinent research questions, and building up a body of evidence-based findings...
5. Online Tool Could Aid Global Collaboration
by Jessica Hamzelou
...an August 2009 article announcing Google's launch of an online tool called Fusion Tables enabling free data-sharing that could aid with international scientific research collaborations...
Our thanks to the following CI Associates who have renewed their support for another year.
- Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
- World Association for Christian Communication (WACC)
- World Health Communication Associates (WHCA)
Their contributions go directly to the services we provide to The CI Network through the website, The Drum Beat, and all of our interactive platforms.
Please consider joining these and other CI Associates who are helping preserve, sustain, and advance this growing knowledge sharing and social networking process. Many levels of participation are open!
For a full list of current CI Associates, please click here.
For details and to sign up, please click here. Thank you.
CASE STUDIES: HEALTH
...a web-based internet bulletin in video and print format that presents the role of evidence in policy making as a tool to inform choices in policy formation and implementation. Mostly available in Spanish, the bulletin is specifically geared to help researchers and policy makers, as well as technical officers from the Latin American National Health Authorities, understand the points in policy consideration at which evidence from research can play a role in informing decisionmaking...
7. Sexual Health and HIV Evidence into Practice Group (SHHEP Group) - Global
...a collaboration between United Kingdom, African, and Asian research organisations using research to influence government policy on sexual health and HIV in developing countries, the SHHEP Group draws on both in-person exchanges and ICT in an effort to improve health research communications...
8. South-South Entrepreneurial Collaboration in Health Biotech
...a May 2010 article describing a survey of South-South health biotechnology collaboration that found that developing countries are establishing mutually beneficial relationships to address health issues they share - for example: Brazil, China, Cuba, Nigeria, Russia, Thailand, and Ukraine networking to promote research and development of diagnostics kits, drugs, and vaccines for HIV/AIDS...
...a December 2006 document that reviews case studies from 2 technical consultations on utilisation of sexual and reproductive health research; 8 key factors are discussed as important determinants of research utilisation...
10. The Media Is Crucial in the Global Fight for Health
by David Dickson
...a November 2008 editorial that explores the role the media can play in the global fight against disease by opening up channels of communication between researchers, policymakers, and the general public - e.g., by ensuring total transparency when applying research to health...
11. Strengthening the Link between Research and Practice: An Indian Leprosy NGO
by John Porter
...a June 2004 article arguing that, to make effective international policy on disease control, policymakers need to better understand the needs of communities facing infectious disease. Through partnerships between academic institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), it may be possible to improve the flow of information and create a more direct link between policy and practice...
...findings from 11 years of operations research studies and research tools developed by the Horizons programme have been used to develop policy, guide programme strategies, strengthen voluntary counselling and testing, and improve service delivery...
...a July 2009 report from amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, which "believes that operations research can provide policymakers and national program managers with new options, generating compelling evidence about program models that engage heavily affected populations with an appropriate spectrum of services in a manner that reduces HIV transmission and minimizes the impact of HIV infection..."
PETITION: WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN PEACEBUILDING
The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), along with other UN partners, is organising a petition drive calling for urgent action to ensure women's equal participation in peacebuilding. The petition is part of a larger advocacy initiative on the issue and is available here.
From UNIFEM: Ten years ago, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 to ensure women's equal participation in peacebuilding, but its implementation has been too slow. There are basic, practical steps that all governments can take to make a real difference in women's lives, such as by recruiting more women in police forces and peacekeeping operations, ensuring that more women participate in peace negotiations, prosecuting perpetrators of sexual violence, and excluding perpetrators from armies and police forces after conflict.
Signing the petition tells governments to take 3 steps to implement Resolution 1325. The signatures on the petition will be presented to the UN Security Council when it meets in October to debate the resolution's future.
CASE STUDIES: THE ENVIRONMENT
14. Research Into Use (RIU) - Central Africa, East Africa, South Asia, Southern Africa
...a 5-year programme launched by DFID in 2006 to facilitate the uptake of natural resource management (NRM) research - e.g., by enabling and encouraging economically poor producers to articulate and channel their demand for knowledge, technology, and other resources - all the while building the capacity of all partners in the science community, government, private sector, and civil society to work together in improved, more productive relationships...
15. Research into Use: An Experiment in Innovation
by Andy Hall, Jeroen Dijkman, and Rasheed Sulaiman V.
...a March 2010 document examining the RIU programme (described in #14, above). Amongst the lessons learned to date: research combines public policy with business investment reconnaissance perspectives to ensure that guidance on choices and new opportunities is articulated in ways attractive to the widest possible audiences...
16. Policymakers to Get Hotline to Climate Experts
by Mico Tatalovic
...a March 2010 article describing the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, which aims to help 60 developing countries access and share scientific information on tackling problems caused by climate change. One of its roles is to help policymakers translate knowledge into practical policies...
17. Tools, Principles or Policies?
by Andy Hall, Rasheed Sulaiman, Tesfaye Beshah, Elias Madzudzo, and Ranjitha Puskur
...a September 2009 article that explores a growing trend in the field of agricultural development: thinking in terms of innovation systems rather than just focusing on research...
For MORE Strategic Thinking related to research on The CI website click here.
And also see:
The Drum Beat 520 - Media, Research, and Impact!
This issue of The Drum Beat was written by Kier Olsen DeVries.
The Editor of The Drum Beat is Kier Olsen DeVries.
Please send material for The Drum Beat to The CI's Editorial Director - Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com
The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.
To reproduce any portion of The Drum Beat, click here for our policy.
To subscribe, click here.
- Log in to post comments