Policy influence in ICT: experience from Asia - Helani Galpaya

Policy influence in ICT: experience from Asia

Helani Galpaya DIRSI workshopMay 16, 2012

04/08/23 1This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Canada and UKaid from the Department for International Development, UK.

Possible way to think of type(s) of policy influence you want to achieve

Expanding Policy Capacity

Broadening Policy Horizons Affecting Policy Regimes

Improving the knowledge or data of certain actors

Supporting recipients to develop innovative ideas

Improving Capabilities to communicate ideas

Developing new talent for research and Analysis

Providing policy makers with opportunities for networking or learning within their jurisdiction or with colleagues elsewhere

> Introducing new concepts to frame debates, putting ideas on the agenda or stimulating public debate

Educating researchers and other who take up new positions with a broader understanding of issues

Stimulating quiet dialog among decision-makers (and among, or with, those involved in knowledge production)

Modifying Existing programs or policies

Leading to the fundamental re-design of programs and policies

Helping create a new policy regime in an emerging field

Types of Policy Influence (Lindquist)

Example 1 – Mobile tax: a change in policy• Govt. proposes flat LKR 50 tax per month per SIM card• LIRNEasia research data showed that

– The poor are heavy users of mobiles (i.e. mobiles are no longer a luxury item, so this wasn’t a luxury tax)

– The poor spend under LKR 300 per month on calls (so a LKR 50 flat tax would be a huge percentage increase in cost to the poor)

– The flat nature of the tax effects the poor disproportionately (richer spend more, therefore LKR 50 is v. small % of their bill)

• Media article call from Telecom Minister give him data AND gave members of the opposition data (educate them) floor amendment to modify the tax (in parliament)– Documented in Hanzard, specifically mentioning LIRNEasia

…but WITHOUT change in thinking within government (@least not immediately)• One time success for us, and consumers• But thinking within govt. NOT changed– Think of mobile operators a source of “easy revenue”

through high taxation– Don’t account for high tax reduce usage reduced

overall revenue– Don’t view mobile as enabler of other economic activity

• Increased taxes: unto 32% (so 32 cents out of every Rupee users spent went to govt.) with various levies (environment levy, others).– but at least equally applied to mobiles AND fixed (instead

of just mobiles). • Only MUCH later was consumer tax system

rationalized: tax reduced to 20%











Stimulating quiet dialog among decision-makers (and among, or with, those involved in knowledge production





Example 2 - Disaster Early warning: change in thinking (a more sustainable change)• Sri Lanka’s largest CBO, Sarvodaya (in 15,000 villages)– Previously focused in disaster recovery and relieve

• Engagement with LIRNEasia’s “National Early Warning System: Sri Lanka” report/project/concepts

• Change in thinking: – “One of the biggest lessons we learned from the Tsunami

was how lacking Sri Lanka was in terms of an emergency warning system” (p.73), Sarvodaya, post-Tsunami report

• Change in actions: – Projects on disaster preparedness and early warning– Adopted risk-reduction strategy for organization– Included risk reduction in regular induction training

Example 3 - How do we expand policy capacity, sustainably, in the long term? CPRsouth• CPRsouth (Communication Policy Research – South)• Objectives of CPRsouth

– To facilitate the creation, sustenance and continuous advancement of policy intellectuals capable of informed and effective intervention in ICT policy and regulation processes in specific country and regional contexts in the south

– To develop capacity, stimulate interest, and promote research and systematic study in ICT policy and regulatory issues in the South

• Focus on policy– Papers selected based in academic excellence, but with 10% marks

for policy relevance (+several months of mentorship on the paper)– At conference: Policy brief (not abstract) given to audience; asked

to make a “policy presentation” (not a traditional academic) – Training: how to communicate to a policy audience, to write a policy

brief• Now with CPRafrica

• Since 2007: – 6 Conferences (2 days each); – 7 Young Scholar trainings (2 days each). And

Young Scholars attend the conference

• Unique Paper presenters: 92• Young Scholars trained: 188• Graduates from YS to PP: 14

Increasing number of Mode 2 applicants being selected for the conference

Survey 2007 (response rate - 49%)

Survey 2008 (response rate - 41%)

Survey 2009 ((response rate - 38%)

PP YS PP YS PP YS

# of respondents who wrote Policy Papers / brief 11 7 11 11

# of respondents who made Policy submissions / Presentations

2 1 12 5 9 10

# of respondents who wrote Op-ed pieces in the media

1 2 1 4 1

# of respondents who gave Interviews to the media

1 4 2 1 1

# of respondents who Participation in blogs 6 5 6 3

# of respondents who had Journal Publications 4 9 5 7 6

# of respondents who presented Conference papers

5 4 13 7 13 8

# of respondents who submitted their Theses 2 2 2 3 3

# of respondents who submitted Theses proposals

1 3 6 3 4

# of respondents who received Grants 1 5 4 4 6

# of respondents who submitted Grant Proposals 1 7 4 7 5

Academic and Policy Outputs surveyed annually

Academic and Policy Impact of CPRsouth participants (paper presenters and Young Scholars)

All participants in previous years are surveyed each years (so respondent pool increases); participants who have not responded to surveys 2 years in a row are not asked to participated in surveys. 2010 survey received very low responses due to technical err therefore not included

Increase

South-South learning, collaboration, policy interventions
















ImmediateEasy?

Long termDifficult Ease of implementation

Sustainability of Impact

Some lessons to take back…

If we have direct access to regulators and policy makers…

• GREAT! We use it. We make presentation, we do private consultations, we write their speeches

• If we get offers to consult directly (for a fee, or for free)– GREAT! We do it. – E.g. policy advisor to Ministry of Post and Telecom in

Bangladesh, to write new “ICT Policy” for the country• This is often the most direct way • But keeping mind the political realities – don’t

bring cookie cutter policies from the West– In context

But that’s a luxury. What if you want to influence policy as a “policy intellectual”, from the outside• Understand POWER (in a practical way)– Beyond “old fashioned” institutional analysis – Beyond what’s on paper: policy vs. practice

• Do GOOD research– Policy relevant; theoretically and methodologically sound– Situated in developing country context (imperfect

institutions, imperfect people…)• Publish (academically and build brand)– But also have an online presence (pre-publication versions

of research online; have a blog)• But communicate it in simple terms also– Policy brief– Op-ed articles– blogs

• Look for policy windows– And be ready to react quickly– No time to do new research for most policy windows

• Build relationship with media– A big part of building your visibility (among policy

makers)– If you have relevant research, talk to them when they

call (and don’t say “I don’t have time”)– If you don’t have evidence, say you don’t have it – this

is how you differentiate yourself as a public intellectual)

• More than one way to get to policy maker – Reach their symbolic environment (i.e. media + other

people policy makers talk to) if you don’t have direct access

• Sometimes it’s ok to forget about the policy makers – deal with companies, community based organizations, non-governmental organizations. People who DO things. – In developing countries, sometimes good things

happen WITHOUT proper policy backing– Low cost business models in telecom in Asia (only

minor help from government)

Policy influence in ICT: experience from Asia - Helani Galpaya

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