Thomas Davis - Research Use in Australian Aid Program

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Research Use in the Australian Aid Program Dr Tom Davis Office of Development Effectiveness [email protected]

Transcript of Thomas Davis - Research Use in Australian Aid Program

Page 1: Thomas Davis - Research Use in Australian Aid Program

Research Use in the Australian Aid Program

Dr Tom DavisOffice of Development Effectiveness

[email protected]

Page 2: Thomas Davis - Research Use in Australian Aid Program

ODE evaluation of research uptake

To what extent is the Australian aid program managing research investments appropriately and effectively? • Nature and value of research investments?• Enablers of, and barriers to, the uptake of

research in the Australian aid program?• How can the Australian aid program optimise

its broad range of investments in research toward more effective aid?

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Evaluation approach

1. Framing: initial interviews & literature review – NB ‘research’ excludes mandatory evaluations

2. Mapping: research database analysis + web-based survey of research commissioners + group interviews of non-commissioners

3. Assessing: elite interviews (including with ‘providers’) + 10 case studies + donor comparison

4. Evaluating: analysis against appropriateness and effectiveness criteria + verification workshop(s) & telephone interviews

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Research spend compared with total program spend

2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12$ m

$500 m

$1000 m

$1500 m

$2000 m

$2500 m

$3000 m

$3500 m

$4000 m

$4500 m

Country Programs

Global Programs

Aid program total (excl. de-partmental)

Research total

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% change in research v program funding from 2007/8

2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/120%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

Australian aid program

Research

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Research spend 2007/8-2011/12

2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12$ m

$20 m

$40 m

$60 m

$80 m

$100 m

$120 m

$140 m

Research total

Country Program research

Global Program research

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2011/12 country, thematic, global research spends as % of whole

Country programs

65%

Thematic Groups

25%

Global6%

Research Section3%

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Top 5 country programs’ research spend

2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12$ m

$5 m

$10 m

$15 m

$20 m

$25 m

IETPNG & SolMPMBSABAFR

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Thematic/global branches’ research spend

EDGEB

Fragil

ity &

ConfGSD

HIWRB

HPRBM

DPBODE

Public aff

airs

RESCH

SEDB

$ m

$5 m

$10 m

$15 m

$20 m

$25 m

2007-20082008-20092009-20102010-20112011-2012

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Research spend by theme 2007/8-2011/12

Aid Effective

nes

Economics

Education

Environment

Fair D

evelopment

Food Se

curit

y &

Govern

ance HIV

Health

Human Se

curit

y &

Infrastr

ucture

Mining

Researc

h0

20,000,000

40,000,000

60,000,000

80,000,000

100,000,000

120,000,000

140,000,000

160,000,000

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Research spend by recipient type

2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-20120

10,000,000

20,000,000

30,000,000

40,000,000

50,000,000

60,000,000

70,000,000

80,000,000

AustralianDeveloping CountryInternationalMulti/bilateral

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Recipient types per branch 2007/8-2011/12

48%

6,6%

46%

3,7%

80%

11%,23%5,3%29%

1%27%

44%

3,8%

93%

3,1%

22%3,9%

22%23%

29%

85%

2,8%1,2%11%

29%

65%

6,2%3,5%

56%14%6,4%

20%

27%

31%11%12%

20% 1,5%

40%

12%2,7%

43%

1,4%

52%48% 53%45%

,82%1,5%

35%

4,9%45%

15% 2,9%

48%28%

,96%19% 4,9%

71%

5,7%2%16%9,8e-02% 4,9%

54%13%10%

17%,73%

AFG AFR EDGEB Fragility & Conflict Branch

GSDB HIWRB HPRB IET

MPMB PAC PAC Bil PNG&SOL

RESCH SAB SEDB Total

Austr.govern AustralianDeveloping Country International

Multi/bilateral Various

Graphs by Branch

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Agreement types

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

0

10,000,000

20,000,000

30,000,000

40,000,000

50,000,000

60,000,000

70,000,000

80,000,000

Commiss.

Compet. scheme

Grant

Partnership

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Agreements by partner type

7%

17%

17%59%

14%

23%

42%

21%

15%

16%

40%

29%

1%3%

47%49%

Australian Developing Country

International Multi/bilateral

Commiss. Compet. scheme

Grant Partnership

Graphs by Partner type (Aust, Int'l, multi, Dev Cntry)

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The story from the data

• 2007/8-2011/12 is an unusual period of aid expansion

• Research as % of total program spend over period was 3.1% (DFID is 2.9%) and increased faster than total spend

• Country program research spend is larger and more volatile than global/thematic + individual projects 80% larger in country programs

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The story from the data

• Food security/rural development & health the largest research spend; low investment in education research

• Australian recipients receive 3 times the funding developing country recipients receive

• Mix of recipients differs across branches – availability, disciplines, modes

• Australian recipients increasingly link thru’ partnerships

• Competitive funding schemes decreasing + lack of ARC/NHMRC engagement

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The story so far from key interviews

Perceptions• Divergent views about what research is & its purpose • General agreement greater use could be made of

research evidence in forming program strategies, designs & initiatives

• Some wary of academic research – uncertain results, limited immediate use, time – others see value for strategy & design

• Uncertain of capacity of development ‘discipline’ in Australia (whereas CGD, Brookings etc have ‘credentials’)

• ‘We don’t have time’• ‘Some people don’t have the capacity to use research’

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The story so far from key interviews

Experience• Formal research governance structure relatively

weak, but there are a number of good examples of effective research usage

• Formal & ‘social’ knowledge networks – latter are ‘champion’ based & suffer when champions move

• Aid program knowledge management systems patchy • Programs specialists relationship• Limited time institutional incentives

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The story from the survey

• Initial results may be available by 21 November