Research and advocacyBharath Jairaj

Joint effort of WRI and Prayas Energy Group (India)

• Builds on TAI methodology as well as sectoral research by Prayas and WRI

A framework to assess governance of the electricity sector in the context of global restructuring and reform• Privatization• Climate change

Electricity Governance Initiative (EGI)

Who gets electricity?

At what price?

What role should the private sector play?

WHO DECIDES?

What is the right mix of coal, hydro, and other renewable energy sources?

EGI

Getting from

Research to advocacy

Provide tools and analysis to empower the poor and maginalized to understand and challenge status quo (decision-making processes) and help them define problems and priorities

Acting to address and resolve them; to achieve specific and measurable outcomes

To

Uphold high standards for the sector Increase citizen awareness of

challenges Expand coalition Identify opportunities to make better

choices to meet energy needs Manage conflicts and promote

progressive new agendas

Potential EGI outcomes:

Ingredients

Ideal coalition of CSOs: broad-based + technically competent + active advocacy experts (‘AND’ proposition)

Partnerships and collaborations are key; but often difficult (different language, competing for resources, history, leadership)

Issue-based coalitions evolve into longer-term partnerships

Complementing vs. competing skills

Research and Advocacy Does not happen on its own: needs

planning and strategy Strengthening evidence base of

advocacy and ‘advocacy potential’ of research:• Identify and involve partners early• Explore co-ownership, avoid contractual• Defer to expertise, but stay on same page• Articulate “right” messages (audience based)• Identify intervention avenues

Examples Save creek campaign: environment advocacy

CSO built coalition with university remote sensing team, fisher communities, marine biologists; evidence based campaign on loss of ecosystem

Challenge PPA for coal power plant: research CSO provided opportunity to advocacy partners to sit in (though not participate) at expert meetings

Budget analysis by coalition: spills into the streets asking for more child-focused budget allocation (South Africa)