CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
2.12 FRAMEWORKS FOR RESEARCH POLICY PROCESSES
with international organisations, especially the donor agencies (e.g. USAID) and most of these organisations have research divisions. (eThekwini Municipality Integrated Development Plan, 2002:8). The eThekwini Municipality Health Unit should, therefore, engage with the research divisions of these
organisations with a view to collaboration and capacity building in health research.
Figure 12:Holistic Approach Between Research and Policy
Source: The Council on Health Research for Development, WHO 2000:2
Research Process
International context
Funders Stakeholders
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Decision Making Process
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The focus on these components is in the eThekwini Municipality Health Unit context.
• The Process
This consists of two inter-related processes, namely research generation and decision making. This means that both the researcher and policy maker are interacting from the planning stage of research to the implementation stage of the policy.
According to the Council on Health Research for Development, WHO (2000:2) neither researchers nor decision makers should expect a one-way, linear, one-for-one relationship between research and policy.
In the case of the eThekwini Municipality Health Unit, the process means that the researchers, councillors and senior management (municipal manager and deputy municipal managers) should interact from the research-planning stage to the policy-development and implementation stage. Currently the interaction is ad hoc and seems to be mainly at the planning stage.
> The Stakeholders
The stakeholders include the various local groups of people concerned or affected by the issues being addressed in the processes. The Council on Health Research for Development, WHO (2000:3) argues that research will have a greater likelihood of being used in decision-making if the intended users are identified and engaged at various stages in the processes of research planning, management and dissemination. All stakeholders need to be identified and involved. The results of research studies need to be communicated effectively to each group, bearing in mind their roles, perceptions and orientation to the issues.
The Council on Health Research for Development, WHO (2000:3) argues that supply-driven research, in particular that led by external research teams, may be perceived as being imposed on decision-makers. In the case of the eThekwini Municipality Health Unit, the
management and service users are all affected by both research and policy processes.
The Product
The product refers to the research study results and how they link to the decision-making process. One needs to think of the research products not only as final reports at the end of research projects, but outputs within an ongoing integrated programme, which combines research and action. For instance, sometimes several studies carried out within a programme lead to a single decision. Currently it is only researchers who regard research results as a product whereas councillors and management also need to treat results as a product to be used for the benefit of the community as a whole (The Council on Health Research for Development, WHO, 2000:4).
The Mediators
The Council on Health Research for Development (2000:4) defines mediators as individuals who play an active role in gathering linkages between research and processes while making sure that all relevant stakeholders are involved. The influence of institutions with the right attitudes, connections and capabilities is crucial. In the South Africa context, the mediators are found mainly at national level, as for example, the
Essential National Health Research (ENHR). These structures have not yet been replicated at the provincial and local level. A co-ordinating mechanism or structure is needed at the eThekwini Municipality Health Unit as it will facilitate the link between research and policy processes.
> The Context
According to the Council on Health Research for Development, WHO (2000:4), context refers to the environment surrounding the research and decision making processes. The prevailing nature of the decision-making process and perceptions of the research community are important aspects of the environment that should be taken into account. The funding structures and socio-economic and political situation can contribute both positively and negatively to the effective use of research for action. Some of the ways that facilitate interaction between stakeholders are:
• Periodic newsletters distributed to researcher and municipalities.
• Development of local needs and expertise databases.
• Periodic local research symposiums or workshops for municipalities and researchers.
• Use of the Internet by both parties to facilitate on-line discussion groups.
Since the 1994 democratic elections the environment in all three spheres of government has improved and a number of forums at community level have been established in order to make the environment more conducive to participation and interaction of all stakeholders regarding service delivery. The eThekwini Municipality is no exception to these developments.
2.12.2 A MODEL FOR RESEARCH TRANSFER
Anderson et al (1999:1007-1019) argues that given the limitations apparent in the ability of local health agencies (such as municipalities) to develop their own internal research capacity, there is a significant need to enhance the mechanisms of research transfer to the local level. The model identified three key areas through which more effective transfer can be developed, namely, awareness, communication and interaction as reflected in Figure 13. Ideally, locally-based research transfer occurs primarily as a result of the interface between community-based decision makers and their research needs and the interest and expertise held by researchers.
Figure 13: A Model for Research Transfer Development Source: Anderson, et al, 1999:1015
Community- based decision
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Locally Based Research Transfer
Researchers:
Community-based
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Research Interest and
Expertise
Current level of Research by Community Agencies
Less Effective
Research Transfer
Most Effective Research Transfer