Actionable learning from a review of DeSIRA projects’ contributions to policy change

This learning brief presents findings from a review of 21 DeSIRA research and innovation (R&I) projects that have made significant contributions to policy change, to understand how such projects can effectively contribute to policy change in agriculture and natural resource management. This is an important endeavour because influencing policy change is a crucial pathway by which research can contribute to impact. The review found that successful policy influence emerges from long-term “outcome trajectories” - ongoing interactions between diverse actors, knowledge, and institutions in pursuit of a common mission. Projects play important roles in advancing these trajectories.

The review finds that the dynamic driving policy outcome trajectories can be modelled by using adapted Policy Window theory, namely that trajectory actors engage in one or more of four streams: 1) Conducting research to demonstrate policy needs and solutions 2) Building capacity to advocate and implement policy solutions 3) Building enabling environments for the policy solutions, while, 4) Leveraging windows of opportunity.

The review also finds that the successful cases used an average of four out of seven empirically identified strategy components when working one or more of the streams, namely: 1) Building on previous projects, relationships, and evidence base 2) Aligning with and responding to government priorities and policy windows 3) Facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement and coalitions 4) Generating and communicating policy-relevant evidence 5) Developing local capacity and ownership for policy implementation 6) Providing technical assistance and piloting solutions 7) Adapting to changing contexts and learning iteratively.

The review found that projects contributed to five types of policy changes: 1) Creating and strengthening institutions, 2) Changing laws and regulations 3) Shifting government investment priorities, 4) Modifying operations of public agencies 5) Engaging with global treaties.

Nearly half the projects contributed to institutional strengthening, which often precedes more substantive policy changes. Based on these findings, the learning review developed a Policy Influence Theory of Change (PIToC) to guide research and innovation (R&I) projects seeking to inform policy. The PIToC guides actions for both project staff and donors to enhance policy influence. For project staff, it informs initiative design through stakeholder mapping and policy window alignment, guides monitoring with specific indicators, supports capacity building, and structures reporting. For donors, the PIToC provides criteria for proposal evaluation, helps shape flexible funding mechanisms and guides the choice of evaluation approaches.