2010 ALLIES Learning Exchange: Naomi Alboim - Making Change Happen: Building a Policy Agenda

Making Change Happen: Building a Policy Agenda Naomi Alboim 2010 ALLIES Learning Exchange May 7, 2010 Halifax

Session Overview
Introduction
What is Public Policy?
The Policy Development Cycle
Who’s Responsible for What?
Federal/Provincial Government Structures and Decision Making
Public Policy Instruments and Processes
Over to you…

Introduction
Objective:
to enhance participants’ understanding about how governments make public policy decisions so that you can participate more effectively in the public policy process;
Continuum of involvement in policy process from being informed, being consulted, initiating, collaborating, to participating in decision making

Assumptions
Public Policy matters
Legitimate but not exclusive Government role
Civil Society involvement improves policy
Better understanding of how governments make policy= more influence
Better policy proposals = better advocacy
Cross sectoral collaboration recognizes interconnectivity of policy issues and strengthens impact
Increased NGO policy capacity strengthens democracy

What is Public Policy?
A public policy is a deliberate decision made by government(s) that addresses identified objectives and concerns for the public good .
End may be clear but means to get there may be hotly contested
Range of possible actions need to be identified and analyzed against number of factors before considered choice is made about the most appropriate and workable means to a desired end
Always trade-offs , compromise , different “publics ” effected
Increasingly complex, interconnected, horizontal

… What is Public Policy?
Public policies best expressed as vision and goals, associated strategic objectives, workplan, activities, resources and leadership to achieve that choice
Public policy sets out the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of something that is to be done and may be expressed through a variety of policy instruments (eg laws, regulations, programs, procedures, expenditures, etc)

The Policy Development Cycle
identifying the issue
research and consultation
developing policy options and recommendations
influencing government decisions
implementation, monitoring and evaluation

Policy Development Cycle

Policy Development Cycle
Organic vs linear/cyclical
Iterative, parallel vs sequential processes
Can be quick but generally not
Role for community at every stage
Earlier the better for full impact

Issue Identification, Recognition and Agenda Setting
Most important to get the issue right
Must be recognized by the government as an issue that needs to be addressed in the broad public interest: both demand and support present
Issues can be identified internally and externally: you have competition!
Remember your added value: emerging trends from the ground, direct experience
Must fit the government agenda
Issue refinement may be ongoing

Timing and Context are Everything
International and domestic context
Constitution and jurisdiction
State of the economy
Fiscal Situation
Competing demands
Political culture
Public opinion
Stage of mandate
Players

Research and Consultation
Have the facts
Primary and/or secondary research
Play to your strengths
Use your networks and beyond: Who’s effected? Who can help?
Keep it simple
Collect evidence re the problem: stories and data
Collect ideas re possible solutions:What’s worked where, how, why

Option Development, Analysis and Recommendation
Always more than one option to achieve objective
Don’t narrow too soon
Analyze from variety of perspectives: eg. maximum impact, least harm, speed, cost, resources, doability, support, sustainability, legality, ‘saleability”, etc
Be prepared for incrementalism, compromise

Influencing Decisions
Building and maintaining relationships
Know what you want
Demonstrate demand and broad support
Tell your story well: use the evidence
Go to the right people
Use variety of tactics

Implementation
Implementation is key to good policy
Often range of implementation options can be influenced
Delivery experience, knowledge of communities: your added value
Pros and cons of community delivery
Program design, resources, accountability framework, values and mandate compatibility

Monitoring and Evaluation
Measurable inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes identified at outset
Community role in identifying performance measures, formal and informal monitoring and evaluation, identifying unintended impacts
Reporting burden vs gathering the evidence
Feedback/input loop

Who or what kicks off the action in Ottawa/Provincial capitals?
Policy initiatives are triggered by a variety of forces such as:
Party commitments
Caucus and constituent concerns
Opposition pressure
Priorities of other levels of government
Lobbying by interested organizations (individual/coalition)
Media coverage of domestic and international events
Public opinion (polling)
Success stories (other jurisdictions, other sectors, communities)
Policy analysis (internal/external: civil servants, think tanks, academics, task forces)
Individual ‘champions'

Who should we influence? Who’s responsible for what?
What level of government?
Who in government?
Who are the influencers?

Constitutional Division of Powers: Who’s Responsible for What?
Jurisdiction quintessential Canadian issue
Division of powers murkier given federal spending power
Complexity of issues/ changing roles
Interest of all levels of government but different powers, resources and levers to effect change
Subsidiarity vs national programs
Asymmetrical federalism
Role of Municipalities as “Creatures of the Province”

Labour Market Integration of Skilled Immigrants: Whose responsibility?
Federal departments:
CIC
HRSDC
Service Canada
Industry Canada
Regional Development Agencies
Provincial ministries:
Immigration
Training
PSE
Labour
Economic development
Cities
Existing agreements don’t necessarily work: LMDA, LMA, Immigration

Who influences decision-making? POLICY MP/ MPPs/ Sena-tors Parliamentary/Legislative Committees Parliamentary Secretaries Caucus Committees First Minister & Cabinet Political Assistants Munic/Provs/ Territories Coalitions, Advocacy Groups, NGOs Public Opinion Firms /Think Tanks Media Mid-level Officials (i.e. directors, policy analysts, researchers) Senior Officials (i.e. Clerk/Secretary, Deputy Ministers, ADMs)

The Main Events – What are the key decision-making points in government ?
Party Platform
Speech from the Throne
Budget
Cabinet Decisions and Minutes
Treasury Board/Management Board Submissions

Public Policy Instruments and Processes
Federal and provincial governments have variety of levers available to effect change
legislation (Parliament)
regulation (Cabinet)
tax and fiscal policy (Finance)
spending: transfers to individuals,organizations, institutions,governments (Departments, Finance, Treasury Board)
capital expenditures
programs and services: deliver, contract, privatize (Departments, TB)
public education and information (Departments)
research and knowledge transfer (Departments)
coordination and leadership capital

… Public Policy Instruments and Processes
Not all instruments necessary or equally effective for different issues
Pros and cons of different instruments from different perspectives
Jurisdictional and political constraints

Why does the community voice matter?
Early warning system and first to respond in a crisis
Creative solutions to intractable problems
Better results; realize that one size fits all policy prescriptions don’t usually work
Key partners in delivering on governments’ agendas; both on policy, and program and service delivery
ESSENTIAL to the democratic process

Now over to you…
What are some policy issues you think need to be addressed to expedite labour market integration for skilled immigrants?
What’s the problem to be addressed?
What do we know and need to know about the problem?
Who needs to be consulted? Involved?
What are some options/instruments to deal with the issue:
Is legislative or regulatory change needed?
Program criteria changes?
Funding enhancements?
New program(s)?
New processes?
What are the pros and cons of each?
What’s your recommendation?
How can it be implemented?
Which department in which level of government is responsible?
Who in and out of government are the key players to influence?
How do we get our message across?
What would be an indicator of success?

2010 ALLIES Learning Exchange: Naomi Alboim - Making Change Happen: Building a Policy Agenda

by Maytree on Jun 21, 2010

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2010 ALLIES Learning Exchange: Naomi Alboim - Making Change Happen: Building a Policy Agenda — Presentation Transcript