Facilitating use of Research Evidence by Parliamentarians and Journalists: Experiences and Lessons from APHRC Rose N. Oronje, Communications Officer, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) December 4, 2008

APHRC in Brief Pan-African organization that conducts research on population, health & education to inform policy & practice 3 core priorities: Generate research evidence Inform policy & practice Strengthen research capacity Research focus: Urbanization & wellbeing; Population & RH; Health challenges & systems; and Education

Pan-African organization that conducts research on population, health & education to inform policy & practice

3 core priorities:

Generate research evidence

Inform policy & practice

Strengthen research capacity

Research focus:

Urbanization & wellbeing; Population & RH; Health challenges & systems; and Education

Introduction Research done to solve problems MPs’ role – oversight, legislation & representation Journalists expand the reach of development information, thus promote its uptake

Research done to solve problems

MPs’ role – oversight, legislation & representation

Journalists expand the reach of development information, thus promote its uptake

Engaging MPs with Research Actively involving MPs in research dissemination meetings Forming & working thru partnerships around issues Identifying & working with champions Working closely with clerk assistants to parliamentary committees Demonstrating the benefits to MPs

Actively involving MPs in research dissemination meetings

Forming & working thru partnerships around issues

Identifying & working with champions

Working closely with clerk assistants to parliamentary committees

Demonstrating the benefits to MPs

Engaging MPs with Research cont’d Demonstrating the extent of the problems that their constituents face Explaining what the problem means for the development of their constituents Stating clearly the role MPs can play in addressing the challenges Understanding & responding to the challenges that MPs face in accessing & using research evidence

Demonstrating the extent of the problems that their constituents face

Explaining what the problem means for the development of their constituents

Stating clearly the role MPs can play in addressing the challenges

Understanding & responding to the challenges that MPs face in accessing & using research evidence

A Kenyan MP addresses participants at an MPs meeting organized by APHRC & other partners

Engaging Journalists with Research Working through journalist networks & associations Working with individual journalists Awards of excellence Media briefings & releases Trainings & sensitization sessions Journalist field visits Writing media pieces – features/letters to the editor/piggy-backing

Working through journalist networks & associations

Working with individual journalists

Awards of excellence

Media briefings & releases

Trainings & sensitization sessions

Journalist field visits

Writing media pieces – features/letters to the editor/piggy-backing

Engaging Journalists with Research Developing media engagement skills of APHRC researchers Ensuring that APHRC researchers are easily reachable for interviews/comments Understanding & responding to the challenges that journalists face in reporting research

Developing media engagement skills of APHRC researchers

Ensuring that APHRC researchers are easily reachable for interviews/comments

Understanding & responding to the challenges that journalists face in reporting research

Journalists at a Media Briefing organized by APHRC in Nairobi

Achievements Establishment of the Kenya Parliamentary Network on Population and Development Introduction of a budget line for FP services in Kenya’s national budget Increased media coverage Increased interest among journalists to cover research

Establishment of the Kenya Parliamentary Network on Population and Development

Introduction of a budget line for FP services in Kenya’s national budget

Increased media coverage

Increased interest among journalists to cover research

Challenges Frequent changes in MPs after every election MPs priorities Media deadlines Media priorities Limited funding

Frequent changes in MPs after every election

MPs priorities

Media deadlines

Media priorities

Limited funding

Conclusions Sustained engagement is critical Frame research in clear & accessible ways - the way research is packaged & communicated influences its uptake by MPs & journalists Frame research messages to align with bigger political or development issues

Sustained engagement is critical

Frame research in clear & accessible ways - the way research is packaged & communicated influences its uptake by MPs & journalists

Frame research messages to align with bigger political or development issues

Conclusions cont’d Work in partnerships with a range of actors – build coalitions – to get MPs to focus on what research is revealing Foster demand for research among MPs & journalists Continuously sensitize MPs & journalists on research processes & the role of research in development

Work in partnerships with a range of actors – build coalitions – to get MPs to focus on what research is revealing

Foster demand for research among MPs & journalists

Continuously sensitize MPs & journalists on research processes & the role of research in development

Thank you

Thank you