Evidence based advocacy : NGO research capacities and policy influence in the field of international trade

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132438.pdf (429.34 KB)

Date

2006

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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

Keywords

RESEARCH CAPACITY, ADVOCACY, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, DISADVANTAGED GROUPS, TRADE POLICY

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URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10625/45959

DOI

Collections

IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2000-2009 / Années 2000-2009
Research Results (GGP) / Résultats de recherches (MCP)