Evidence based advocacy : NGO research capacities and policy influence in the field of international trade
Date
2006
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Publisher
IDRC, Ottawa, ON
Abstract
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are showing that they can produce policy-relevant
research and influence the international trade policy debate, and some of the policies themselves,
despite having limited access to trade negotiations fora. They do so with the aim of improving the
lives and living conditions of the poor and marginalized. NGOs have put themselves on the map
of political influence in trade policy matters by increasing the depth and breadth of their research
and advocacy, improving the dissemination of their research, building long-term relationships with
policymakers, forming coalitions and networks, building capacity with local and international
partners, mobilizing broad constituencies for policy change, influencing negotiating agendas and
engaging in all stages of the policy process. This report first reviews what studies of the
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
have revealed about the relationship between research and policy influencing. It then describes
the capacities and characteristics of NGO research and influencing work in the specific area of
trade policy, based on a prior study employing web searches and interviews with 22 international
NGOs. It discusses lessons learned on the factors that enhance the uptake of research by
policymakers, and looks at four kinds of research-supported policy influence NGOs have exerted.
Several criteria for assessing the competence of NGO policy research and influencing are
followed by suggested areas for further investigation. The study is a first attempt to understand
NGO research and policy influence in one particular area, trade policy. Further work is needed to
more fully to understand NGO production and use of knowledge in this field.
Description
IDRC GGP working paper series
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Working Paper
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Keywords
RESEARCH CAPACITY, ADVOCACY, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, DISADVANTAGED GROUPS, TRADE POLICY