"Political Science? Strengthening science–policy dialogue in developing countries"

This study by Nicola Jones, Harry Jones and Cora Walsh of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) systematically examines the science-policy interface in developing countries and offers practical strategies and recommendations for strengthening the relationship between scientific knowledge and the policy process.It focuses on three broad questions: What is the patterning of relationships between scientific researchers, policy decision-makers and intermediaries in developing country contexts? What are the challenges and opportunities for strengthening these linkages? What types of strategies exist or could potentially be adopted to improve evidence-informed policy proceses

Representing the views of over 600 respondents from researcher, policy-maker and intermediary organisation communities from the North and South, the findings confirm the need to tackle systemic barriers to institutionalising evidence-informed policy processes in the field of science, technology and innovation for development. They also shed light on ways in which the quality of policy dialogues on science and technology could be strengthened in order to enhance their value for pro-poor sustainable development policy and practices?