Research and Policy in Development (RAPID)

The Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) programme was created to build understanding and capacity in how research can contribute to better policies for development. It seeks to examine how policy-makers can best use research, for evidence-based policy-making; how researchers can best use their findings in order to influence policy; and how to improve the interaction between researchers and policy-makers. It does this through programmes that include research, gathering experience and advice and encouraging discussion and debate. The RAPID programme works on four main themes:

• The role of evidence in policy processes - In order to improve understanding and awareness of the links between research and policy, RAPID has developed both a conceptual framework and collected a number of case studies. RAPID has found that researchers need to develop a detailed understanding of the policymaking process, the nature of the evidence they have, or hope to get, and all the other stakeholders involved in the policy area. They also need to develop an overall strategy for their work and become more entrepreneurial. Projects to support this programme area have included a civil society partnership programme, a policy mapping project in Eastern Europe, and reasearch to identify lessons in evidence based policy from the United Kingdom.
• Improved knowledge management (KM) and learning for development agencies - effective use of information, knowledge and learning is central to ODI's mission to lock together high-quality applied research, practical policy advice, and policy-focused dissemination and debate. RAPID's second focus area is improved knowledge management and research to learning systems in Southern and Northern development agencies. In 2001, ODI established an Information and Communications Committee to advise on the development and implementation of a strategy to improve internal knowledge and learning processes and systems. The strategy aims to improve the integration of ODI's work, facilitate a more productive dialogue on development issues within the institute, and improve ODI's capacity to engage development policy-makers and partners in the North and South. RAPID has produced a literature review on KM and organisational learning in the international development field.
• Improved communication and information systems for policy and practice - According to the project website, the economically poor are marginalised not only in relation to economic processes in society, but also in relation to information and communication processes. They are often not able to make their voice heard and so are not able to communicate accurate descriptions of their reality or engage in decision-making processes that affect their lives. RAPID's third focus area is communication. The aim is that Southern and Northern researchers, practitioners and advocates will improve their communication capacity and their ability to influence policy.
• Improved institutional capacity for policy influence - development policies and practices are formulated and implemented by agencies - ranging from multilaterals, through bilaterals and governments, to non-governmental organisations. Organisational capacities therefore have a significant impact on the links between research, policy and practice. RAPID has identified a need for staff who are able to translate field-level experience into usable information and persuasive policy briefs, and are able to communicate effectively. There is a need for organisational systems and processes that will facilitate these activities, instead of hampering them. The RAPID programme has included workshops to help build capacity in this area and has identified networks as a key strategy for organisations to come together to influence poicy. Projects around this theme have included a civil society partnerships programme, regional consultations, focusing on research-policy linkages and the role of community service organisations in contributing to evidence-based, pro-poor policies; as well as several research projects.

The RAPID website also aims to be a resource for those working on linking research to policy. The tools page provides links to a wide range of information resources, case studies, frameworks and tools that have been developed by the programme itself and by other organisations working in this area.

Research, Policy

According to the RAPID organisers, better utilisation of research and evidence in development policy and practice can help save lives, reduce poverty and improve the quality of life. For example, the results of household disease surveys in rural Tanzania informed a process of health service reforms which contributed to a 28% reduction in infant mortality in two years. On the other hand, the HIV/AIDS crisis has deepened in some countries due to the reluctance of some governments to implement effective control programmes despite clear evidence of what causes the disease and how to prevent it spreading. Although evidence clearly matters, there is no systematic understanding of when, how and why evidence informs policy. A better understanding of how research can contribute to pro-poor policies, and systems to put it into practice are urgently needed, and the RAPID programme aims to address this need.