Providing technical input, supporting, advising on interactive policy processes
Policy development is a complex process in a world where sectors and actors sometimes overlap, sometimes compete and usually influence each other. One-solution policies are few and far between. Those that do exist usually have a limited lifespan, and their objectives and strategies are often contested. A good policy in a complex and largely unpredictable world consists of a set of hypotheses that need to be tested to see whether they provide answers to the problems in question. Good policies therefore evolve gradually in learning-oriented processes in which all stakeholders, including scientists and government representatives, play a role. Inclusiveness not only encourages more innovation, but is also likely to prepare the stakeholders for change.
The Centre for Development Innovation (CDI) supports policy development in this way in a variety of sectors, by providing technical input from Wageningen UR and by assisting stakeholders to design and facilitate interactive policy development processes.
Policy Support in Practice Examples
Competing claims in Ghana’s forests
CDI coordinates an action research programme to advise the EU and the Ghana Government on the impact on the livelihoods of forest fringe communities of a trade protocol (FLEGT/VPA) that guarantees the export of legally produced timber from Ghana to the EU. We facilitate the multiple stakeholder process, in which representatives of both parties play active roles, so that the research findings are translated into policy response. |
Policy advice
CDI provides policy advice to Dutch government, for example on matters relating to biodiversity conservation and natural resources management. CDI participated for over 15 years in a permanent policy support group to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) on policies, programmes, and project development and evaluation, and helped DGIS to develop a knowledge strategy for its environmental department. The Ministry of Agriculture received support for the development of its international biodiversity policy. |
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Evaluation of programmes
CDI participates in programme evaluations undertaken to adapt or fine-tune environmental policies. In 2006 DGIS organised a series of evaluations of its program to support NGOs. CDI carried out the external IUCN Review for 2007. CDI staff also participated in the evaluation of the GTZ-DGIS environmental programme to support the Organisation of the Amazon Treaty (OTCA). |
Publications and Portals
CDI produces publications on subjects that are relevant to natural resource management policy such as forest plantation policies, governance and accountability. These publications support processes such as the EU FLEGT program against illegal logging.
Together with FAO’s national forest program facility, CDI developed a portal and module on “Financing Sustainable Forest Management”. The module was used in Suriname, Guatemala, El Salvador and Namibia to organise workshops with key stakeholders. These workshops were the start of national processes to define policies for diversifying the financing of forest management |
