IDRC in the Public Policy Process: A Strategic Evaluation of the Influence of Research on Public Policy

Evaluators are studying how to make sure research reaches the policymakers who can most use it. (IDRC Photo: Y. Beaulieu)

Go to the study website.

This study aims to examine the extent to which and the ways in which the research supported by the IDRC influences policy; and to examine the factors which affect the extent of policy influence resulting from IDRC projects. Two elements were central to the study's methodology: 1. case studies using a common methodology and questions designed to allow depth and richness in each qualitative case, but also to lend themselves to cross-case analysis; 2. the engagement of staff and partners in the analysis including a series of workshops to carry out preliminary analysis of the findings. The website provides: Design Documents, Background Studies, Case Studies, and Workshops and Findings. The 22 case studies are grouped as follows: Poverty Monitoring, Trade and Finance, Resource Management, Water Management, Health and Education Reform, Network and Innovation, and Information and Communication Technologies for Development. Eight papers available online, published from 2003 to 2005, give results from the study. International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada.