Annex A: DFID research influencing policy
decisions
Influence on DFID and HMG policy and practice
Collaborations with UK Research Councils have leveraged
additional funding for development research and brought in new
partners to support DFID's efforts in achieving the MDGs.
Migration research is used to support DFID's increasingly
active role in cross-Whitehall discussions, promoting policies
and practice to maximise the benefits for poor people. "Moving
out of poverty—making migration work better for poor people",
a DFID policy paper, drew heavily on DFID's migration research.
DFID funded research on the Future State significantly
informed DFID's thinking on the Capability, Accountability and
Responsiveness (CAR) framework, that formed the base of DFID's
White Paper III—Making Governance Work for The Poor (2006).
Influencing international development policy and
practice
The OECD Development Assistance Committee's Working
Group on Governance (GovNEt) singled out a DFID governance research
publication, Signposts, as an important document in discussion
and the tax and accountability and state-building themes directly
emanate from this work.
DFID research on chronic poverty provided evidence
for the Commission for Africa for contextualising the extent and
meaning of poverty, by mapping where the world's poorest people
are located.
DFID health research has fed directly into World
Health Organisation guidance. For instance, DFID research showed
that providing a commonly available antibiotic to all HIV positive
children in hospital reduced death from all causes by 43%. Prescribing
the antibiotic has now been included in WHO guidance. The results
have led to WHO and UNICEF both revising their policy on standards
of care.
DFID funded research has influenced the WHO Global
Malaria Guidelines. The research is also helping policymakers
in India to reconsider their national malaria guidelines control
programmes
DFID's research on the range of measures to promote
better road safety in developing countries is now being used systematically
in programmes by the World Bank and the Global Road Safety Partnership.
DFID research in South East Asia has influenced the
content of World Bank road construction programmes in the region.
Results of DFID research have informed the core design components
of a rural road programme in Vietnam costing more than $100 million.
Influencing national development policy and practice
DFID has supported research on integrated floodplain
management in Bangladesh over a number of years. The concept is
incorporated into the Inland Capture Fisheries Strategy for the
country, which was approved in 2006.
DFID research on Tuberculosis (TB) control has influenced
national TB programmes in Bangladesh, China and India.
DFID research is showing that routine worm treatment
of school children in India is not effective. This research is
beginning to influence policy decisions in this area.
DFID research on maternal and child mortality in
Nepal has influenced national policy on support for maternal health
services.
Central Research Department
January 2008
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