Presentation given at the Sixth RENEWAL Regional Workshop: A decade of work on HIV, food and nutrition security. By Scott Drimie

1. Crossing boundaries: from evidence to impact?
Some reflections.
Scott Drimie
Regional Network on AIDS, Livelihoods and Food security

2. Objectives
• Focus on the challenge of translating this
emerging evidence into large-scale action, and
ultimately better impact.
• Discuss the pathways for policy influence when
dealing with such complex interactions.
• Highlight some of the lessons from RENEWAL
activity in eastern and southern Africa.

3. Science – Policy Interface
• Interface not well understood, and is often
assumed.
• At least three distinctive perspectives:
– a linear and logical approach;
– an iterative and incremental approach; and
– an approach centered more on discourse.

4. Moving in the Divided Space
Improved
Research Policy
Multi-Directional
“Evidence” Dialogue
Programming

5. Diversity of experiences
• Network centred around a focal institution and
advisory group in each country
• Network waxes and wanes around issue/ project
• Partners diverse approaches: research
objectives, learning
• Evolution of thinking

6. Malawi MOA Capacity Strengthening
NAC: 2008
Irish Aid: 2009
MOA: Ext Services
HIV and Agriculture Task Force
Strategy – based on
Capacity limitations
scientific evidence
RENEWAL / Bunda
SADC VAC training on HIV/FS
Science Modules for MOA
FAO Funding
Sam Bota RENEWAL Malawi

7. TB and HIV in Mbekweni, South
Africa
Participant feedback
Community engagement
ZAMBART Research Policy “dialogue” with NAC, DoH
Project RENEWAL National Fora
MSc degrees, publications
Collaboration – build on strengths
Feedback Meeting:
“march on the councilors”

8. Working as a network: lessons
• The nature of politics and political engagement:
– peculiar politics of HIV&AIDS
– labyrinthine institutional issues
– focus on sustaining relationships

9. Working as a network: lessons
• The maintenance of integrity of interactive
research:
– adherence to principles of science whilst maintaining
close relationships with those with political authority
– ensuring accountability to the communities within which
the research is conducted.
– To “reach-in” to what individuals and organisations share
rather than to focus on differences.
– Need for a strong centre (presence)

10. Working as a network: lessons
• Selecting and nurturing ‘champions’ in government
and scientific organisations:
– senior officials regularly move to new posts
– scientists have a ‘natural’ reticence against use of their
research in different forms and ways
– Need to engage in critical commentary and interpretation
with different ‘non-science’ parties

11. New Ways of Working
The “U-Process” in Mamelodi, South Africa:
– Urban-rural links research
• Urban epidemic
• Urban informal settlements have double the HIV
prevalence of urban formal areas in South Africa
• Risk factors (Weiser et al)
• Mobility and spatial connections

12. Sickness and HIV:
if the individual in Johannesburg becomes too
sick to work, the majority will return back home
54 %
67%
Urban livelihood Support
Importance of
that supports
another household food Burden on the
household back
‘back home’ would
be affected. home.

13. The “U-Process”: Phase 1
“
Co-Sensing
“Learning to see… the Co-
first schooling” – Realizing
Nietzsche
Activities: foundation
workshops, learning
journeys.
Output: Documented
shared understanding
of reality. Co-Presencing

14. The “U-Process”: Phase 2
“
Co-
Retreat and Reflect Sensing
Getting in touch with own Co-
relationship to the Realizing
system, ‘inner knowing
about it.
Activities: Innovation
retreat, Wilderness solos
Output:: Clarity and
commitment about what
to do to create new reality Co-Presencing

15. The “U-Process”: Phase 3
“
Co-
Bringing the new Sensing
reality into existence Co-Realising
Activities:
Implementation of
innovations with
potential to change
the system,
prototyping, piloting,
learning by doing
Co-Presencing

16. Working as a network
• The seemingly interminably slow process of
influencing policy requires a long-term perspective:
– Need to be persistent, to adopt an informed, supportive,
flexible and adaptive approach.
– gradual strengthening of networks allows trust to be built
while securing diverse representatives as a key source
of legitimacy and, hence, influence.