Michael Johnson from the International Food Policy Research Institute spoke at a conference in Beirut, Lebanon on collaborating to inform future food security strategies. He discussed (1) how sharing data and research across countries can strengthen policies and growth, (2) the benefits of knowledge spillover between nations facing similar challenges, and (3) generating public goods like reports and tools to improve food security outcomes through regional cooperation.

1. “Collaboration and sharing
of data, tools, and research
capacities to inform future
food security strategies”
Michael Johnson
International Food Policy research Institute
February 7th, 2012
“Food Secure Arab World: A Roadmap for Policy and Research”, UN-
ESCWA, Beirut, Lebanon
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

2. Motivation & Context
 Translating evidence into policy action – to strengthen and
impact on food security and economic growth in the region
 Large benefits to had from enhancing the spillover of
knowledge and analysis across countries facing similar
policy challenges and opportunities
 Generating regional and international public goods
(knowledge products, capacity strengthening, and
outreach)

3. Motivation & Context #1
“Translating Evidence into Action”
 Links between research and policy tends to be weak –
different capacities, cultures and incentives:
• On supply side - capacity to generate sufficient, relevant and
credible evidence
• On demand side – capacity among policymakers to demand and
use research
 Research, including data collection and analysis tend to
suffer from a shortage of attention and resources.
 Knowledge sharing is often minimal, with different
agencies sometimes carrying out parallel and overlapping
processes of information gathering and analysis.

4. Motivation & Context #2
“Enhancing knowledge spillovers”
 Underlying biophysical, climatic, and socio-economic
characteristics – across borders (similar and diverse)
 Political, economic and social ties - variations
 Some common problems and emerging issues, policy, and
investment options for ensuring food and nutrition security
 Diversities in stages of economic development and
experiences
 Variations in state of poverty and food insecurity (depth,
distribution)
 Research and technical capacities (individuals &
institutions)
 Knowledge base and data systems

5. Motivation & Context #3
“Generating public goods”
 Evidence-based dialogue and knowledge sharing among
researchers, practitioners and policy makers on key policy
challenges - to contribute to improved food security
outcomes
 Regional and global platforms for exchange of knowledge,
data, analysis, tools, and outreach - to encourage greater
development partner coordination
 Collaborative research outputs and sharing lessons of
practice and data (working papers, policy briefs, web-based
tools) - strengthening national and regional capacities

6. Translating evidence into action
“when evidence matters”
 It is less politically contentious (e.g. in the design of
policy instruments), thus playing a marginal role to
politics
 It is accidental or purposefully, so long as there is a
policy window of opportunity
 It supports a specific political viewpoint
 It satisfies a number of criteria – it is relevant, credible
and salient by policy makers

7. Translating evidence into action
“Understanding the policy process
matters a great deal”
 Social aspects... multiple actors and actor networks who
are defined by local political, social (cultural and belief
systems), as well as institutional (bureaucratic structures
and capacities) realities.
 Human behavior... because they are rooted in people,
vested interests, corruption, and external influence can
sometimes play a distinct role
 Politics.. Power relations and ideas are particularly
important – easily superseding any credible evidence.

8. One way of bringing evidence into the
policy process - the boundary network
Local policy process External Influences
for planning, Regional , International (e.g. World
implementation, and Bank, UN/FAO, donors, academic
M&E of ARD & research institutions, NGOs,
strategies (not private sector)
necessarily circular or
linear as illustrated
here) Office of the President;
Knowledge System / Government ministries Strategic
of ARD, Finance, and
Dialogue Development Planning; Analysis
departments, agencies
Links
Network
local farmers &
Local academic &
trader associations,
research institutions,
practitioners,
policy analysts,
private
think tanks,
sector,NGOs,
statisticial bureaus
media, civil society
Capacity Strengthening

9. Examples
 Africa Model (ReSAKSS-Africa) – launched in 2006 and
established to support the Africa Union and NEPAD’s
Comprehensive African Agricultural Development
Programme (CAADP).
 Asia Model (ReSAKSS_Asia) – in its infancy, to be
officially launched this year.

10. ReSAKSS-Africa Support to CAADP
 Informing and supporting country and multi-country supra-
natural strategy development processes – integration with
the CAADP agenda and process
CONTINENT-WIDE LEVEL
Support for Policy
Dialogue and
Mutual Review
Providing analysis, data, interactive
REGIONAL LEVEL IT-based tools, and capacity support
Support for to promote evidence-based policy
Regional Coordination and planning and implementation
Peer Review
associated with the CAADP agenda.
COUNTRY LEVEL
Support for planning,
Implementation, &
Progress Review

11. ReSAKSS-
Africa
Website
Tool
(www.resakss.org)

12. ReSAKSS-Asia Conference

13. ReSAKSS-Asia
Web Portal

14. Reflecting on lessons
 Networking and dialogue with local policy makers, analysts,
and existing networks is essential during the early stages
 Having local champions has had an important impact on the
effectiveness and speed of implementation – especially on
Steering/Advisory Committee
 Stronger ties with local partner institutions and government
bodies (ownership)
 Ability to maintain quality products produced in close
collaboration with local partners and institutions—raises
credibility and relevance
 Multiple donor support and sufficient levels of resources

15. Lessons also raise research questions
 What’s the existing tools and network in the region?
 What drives the interactions in ReSAKSS networks?
 What factors constrain their ability to function well (such as incentives,
institutional affiliations and tensions, transaction costs, competitiveness,
different underlying development paradigms, values, and approaches)?
 Does the type of membership mix in the networks affect the credibility of the
analysis?
 How can the ReSAKSS balance the supply of credible information (which is
limited) with its demand (which is almost endless)?
 How to incorporate knowledge and research evidence in policy process?
 Can those who seek the information most also pay for it? If not, what are the
tradeoffs for accepting external donor involvement and influence?