Young Lives experiences in Young Lives experiences in mainstreaming children into mainstreaming children into Ethiopia’s national poverty Ethiopia’s national poverty

reduction strategy reduction strategy Nicola Jones (SCUK London) Nicola Jones (SCUK London)

Bekele Tefera (SCUK Ethiopia)Bekele Tefera (SCUK Ethiopia)Tassew Woldehanna Tassew Woldehanna

(Dep. Of economics, AAU, Ethiopia )(Dep. Of economics, AAU, Ethiopia )For SARPN Workshop For SARPN Workshop

20-21 November 2006, Pretoria, SA20-21 November 2006, Pretoria, SA

Presentation formatPresentation format

• ingredients of success ingredients of success – Quality evidenceQuality evidence– Intent mattersIntent matters– Policy and advocacy environmentPolicy and advocacy environment– Networking and identifying key Networking and identifying key

playersplayers– Framing research messages Framing research messages

• Aligning MDG and PRSPAligning MDG and PRSP

• Conclusions: lessons learned Conclusions: lessons learned

Mainstreaming children into Mainstreaming children into national poverty strategiesnational poverty strategies

• This presentation draws on research to This presentation draws on research to evaluate efforts made by YL in Ethiopia evaluate efforts made by YL in Ethiopia to look at the impact of PRSP I (SDPRP) to look at the impact of PRSP I (SDPRP) on child welfare on child welfare

• IDRC grant was given to assess impacts IDRC grant was given to assess impacts of PRSP I (2002-5) on child well-being: of PRSP I (2002-5) on child well-being: structured around MDG themes: structured around MDG themes: education, nutrition and child labour education, nutrition and child labour

• We also carried out child-sensitive We also carried out child-sensitive critiques of PRSP I and compare it with critiques of PRSP I and compare it with other 10 countries other 10 countries

Mainstreaming children into Mainstreaming children into national poverty strategiesnational poverty strategies

• It was an 18 months program involving It was an 18 months program involving – Multi-disciplinary mixed method research: economists, Multi-disciplinary mixed method research: economists,

sociologist, political scientists and use of Qsociologist, political scientists and use of Q22 – Quantitative analysis of YL first round data with 3000 Quantitative analysis of YL first round data with 3000

childrenchildren– New qualitative data (sub sample of 20 sites) New qualitative data (sub sample of 20 sites) – Analysis of national and sub national policy framework Analysis of national and sub national policy framework

and implementation practicesand implementation practices– Develop video documentary and photograph projectsDevelop video documentary and photograph projects– We engaged in multi-pronged communication, We engaged in multi-pronged communication,

dissemination: seminars with key stakeholders; dissemination: seminars with key stakeholders; capacity building workshops with national and state capacity building workshops with national and state level policy practitioners level policy practitioners

• Coincides with development of PRSP II (PASDEP)Coincides with development of PRSP II (PASDEP)

Category/ termCategory/ term(300 pages long document(300 pages long document))

Frequency ofFrequency of

Children Children (food poverty: wasting/ stunting/ malnutrition; (food poverty: wasting/ stunting/ malnutrition; education; dependency ratio; family health services)education; dependency ratio; family health services)

5959

Infants – (mortality and morbidity)Infants – (mortality and morbidity) 99

Child labour / work Child labour / work 00

ChildcareChildcare 11

Child-headed household Child-headed household 00

Violence (against women impacting on children)Violence (against women impacting on children) 22

Girls (education, Girls (education, fetching waterfetching water, harmful , harmful traditional practices)traditional practices)

2424

BoysBoys 1212

Daughters (education)Daughters (education) 33

HIV/AIDS education and prevention for out-of-HIV/AIDS education and prevention for out-of-school youth and street adolescents school youth and street adolescents

22

Women or Male/female head, or gender Women or Male/female head, or gender 165165

Ingredients for successIngredients for success

• Literature on research and policy Literature on research and policy influencing has identified a # of key influencing has identified a # of key ingredients (Court and Maxwell, 2005): ingredients (Court and Maxwell, 2005): – Importance of credible quality research Importance of credible quality research – Intent to shape policyIntent to shape policy– Understanding the socio-political context of Understanding the socio-political context of

research up-takeresearch up-take– Identifying and networking with key actors Identifying and networking with key actors – Importance of context-appropriate framing Importance of context-appropriate framing

of messages of messages • We have evaluated our efforts to We have evaluated our efforts to

mainstream children in national PRS mainstream children in national PRS based these 5 criteria. based these 5 criteria.

Quality evidenceQuality evidence

• In Young Lives project, we have sought to ensure quality of the In Young Lives project, we have sought to ensure quality of the research across 3 dimensions: research sample, integration of research across 3 dimensions: research sample, integration of quantitative and qualitative methods, analysis from multidisciplinary quantitative and qualitative methods, analysis from multidisciplinary perspectives perspectives

• Research sampleResearch sample– 3000 households in five most-populous regions: cover wide diversity of agro-3000 households in five most-populous regions: cover wide diversity of agro-

ecologocal zone, livelihood pattern, cultural and religious traditions, human ecologocal zone, livelihood pattern, cultural and religious traditions, human deve. levels and ethnic compositions deve. levels and ethnic compositions

– Qual. Using sub sampleQual. Using sub sample• Integrating quantitative and qualitative methods Integrating quantitative and qualitative methods

– Quantitative (econometrics): Aggregating determinants of childhood povertyQuantitative (econometrics): Aggregating determinants of childhood poverty– Qualitative research provides richer definition of poverty, provides us a Qualitative research provides richer definition of poverty, provides us a

greater explanation of the results obtained from quant, which otherwise greater explanation of the results obtained from quant, which otherwise looks counter institutive. E.g. education, child labour, caring younger sibling looks counter institutive. E.g. education, child labour, caring younger sibling

• Multi-disciplinary analysisMulti-disciplinary analysis– Involve economists, political scientists, sociologist. And anthropologists Involve economists, political scientists, sociologist. And anthropologists – Helps us to provide convincing cases to wider audience Helps us to provide convincing cases to wider audience – Econometric analysis provided currency in the language of power (MF, WB)Econometric analysis provided currency in the language of power (MF, WB)– Contextual sociological analysis (in-depth case studies) enables us to Contextual sociological analysis (in-depth case studies) enables us to

translate the more technical analysis into a more compelling human-translate the more technical analysis into a more compelling human-cantered narrativecantered narrative

– Hence it enables us to reach broader civil society and public audience, Hence it enables us to reach broader civil society and public audience,

Intent mattersIntent matters

• Through the process of Knowledge creep, research may reach Through the process of Knowledge creep, research may reach policy stakeholders (Crew et al., 2005), perhaps by chance. policy stakeholders (Crew et al., 2005), perhaps by chance. However, this will take more time and it may not be timely. However, this will take more time and it may not be timely. Message may not reach in a way we want them. Message may not reach in a way we want them.

• But research explicitly designed to influence policy will have But research explicitly designed to influence policy will have better chance of success than research that relies upon chance or better chance of success than research that relies upon chance or accident to shape policy (Saxena, 2005). accident to shape policy (Saxena, 2005).

• Understanding this, YL partnership is designed with DFID’s spirit of Understanding this, YL partnership is designed with DFID’s spirit of getting research to users and beneficiariesgetting research to users and beneficiaries

• YL is a partnership project between research consortium and an YL is a partnership project between research consortium and an international NGO aimed at explicitly producing policy-relevant international NGO aimed at explicitly producing policy-relevant research in order to improve policies that will enhance child research in order to improve policies that will enhance child welfare. The same at country level welfare. The same at country level

• Our research initially aimed to critically look at PRSP I and Our research initially aimed to critically look at PRSP I and influence PRSP II influence PRSP II

• Time constraints: we had to finish our working paper and conduct Time constraints: we had to finish our working paper and conduct dissemination before government’s drafting deadline dissemination before government’s drafting deadline

Context: Ethiopian policy contextContext: Ethiopian policy context

• In order to engage effectively with policy makers and In order to engage effectively with policy makers and practitioners, it is important to understand how policy practitioners, it is important to understand how policy decisions are made; who have the more political power, decisions are made; who have the more political power, and which issues are politically sensitive. and which issues are politically sensitive. – Hence see if the policy process consultative or technocratic. Hence see if the policy process consultative or technocratic. – What is the balance of power among key political What is the balance of power among key political

institutions? Where are the best points of entry for dialogue institutions? Where are the best points of entry for dialogue and influence? and influence?

– Are Civil society-state relationship Are Civil society-state relationship constructive/complementary or antagonistic? constructive/complementary or antagonistic?

• Ethiopia:Ethiopia:– disproportionate influence of MoFED (sector ministries) disproportionate influence of MoFED (sector ministries)

technocrats technocrats – limited civil society consultations in PRSPI process; limited civil society consultations in PRSPI process; – limited awareness of need for child-sensitive development limited awareness of need for child-sensitive development

policies among CSOspolicies among CSOs– Government was well aware of child rights Government was well aware of child rights – Donors have a negotiation power with the GODonors have a negotiation power with the GO

Context: Ethiopian policy contextContext: Ethiopian policy context

• Elections – strain civil society-state relations Elections – strain civil society-state relations and overshadow PRSP consultationsand overshadow PRSP consultations– Which one to approach CSO or MoFED and how to Which one to approach CSO or MoFED and how to

do with Donors? do with Donors?

• Dilemma of seeking path of greatest influence Dilemma of seeking path of greatest influence versus solidarity with local civil society versus solidarity with local civil society

• Be more flexible and use situation specific Be more flexible and use situation specific approach approach

• Importance of cooperative but separate Importance of cooperative but separate identity for research-policy initiativesidentity for research-policy initiatives– We learned to advocate separately : CSO, Donor We learned to advocate separately : CSO, Donor

and GOand GO– And conduct dissemination at the very local level And conduct dissemination at the very local level

Identifying and networking with key Identifying and networking with key playersplayers

• Experience tells us that research result has to be owned by GO, Experience tells us that research result has to be owned by GO, community and the public at large community and the public at large

• In Ethiopia this issue was handled by making the research be In Ethiopia this issue was handled by making the research be housed under EDRI and dissemination by SCUK and MOLSA and housed under EDRI and dissemination by SCUK and MOLSA and all get guidance by advisory panel (PRSP technical committee all get guidance by advisory panel (PRSP technical committee chairperson members and representative of NGOs and CSOs). chairperson members and representative of NGOs and CSOs).

• YL strategy of promoting stakeholder buy-inYL strategy of promoting stakeholder buy-in– Government partnersGovernment partners– Advisory panel Advisory panel

• Formal and informal discussion with key decision-makers get Formal and informal discussion with key decision-makers get advice on how to disseminate advice on how to disseminate

• We involved people from advisory panel in the dissemination at We involved people from advisory panel in the dissemination at national and local level national and local level

• We have leaned also to We have leaned also to – work with sector ministries and make child mainstreaming be work with sector ministries and make child mainstreaming be

presented by sector ministries to MOFED; presented by sector ministries to MOFED; – and use known but politically independent (by the eyes of GO) and use known but politically independent (by the eyes of GO)

academicians and researchers academicians and researchers

Framing research messagesFraming research messages

• Culturally and audience-appropriate Culturally and audience-appropriate discursive tactics discursive tactics – Use of international standards and conventionsUse of international standards and conventions

• Construction of pithy but not overly simplified Construction of pithy but not overly simplified messagesmessages– Borrowing from the language of gender Borrowing from the language of gender

mainstreamingmainstreaming• Proactively teasing out policy implications Proactively teasing out policy implications

from research messages from research messages – e.g. ADLI may result into child labour ; hence child e.g. ADLI may result into child labour ; hence child

labour as to be monitored over time labour as to be monitored over time • Specificity of policy-related messagesSpecificity of policy-related messages

– Productive safety net example Productive safety net example

Linking MDG to PRSPLinking MDG to PRSP

• Young Lives has not face problem in the Young Lives has not face problem in the regardsregards

• During PRSP I GO started to link itDuring PRSP I GO started to link it– Wrote report Wrote report – UNDP provide awareness workshopsUNDP provide awareness workshops– GO is very positive on MDG GO is very positive on MDG

• PRSP II already worked with MDGPRSP II already worked with MDG

• Young Lives choose it research topics Young Lives choose it research topics around MDG themes around MDG themes

ComponentComponents of s of

WelfarWelfaree

Intermediate Intermediate /outcome /outcome

IndicatorsIndicators

Millennium Millennium Development Goals Development Goals

(MDGs) and Targets(MDGs) and Targets

Current Status in Current Status in EthiopiaEthiopia

(2004/05) (2004/05)

SDPRP SDPRP IndicativIndicativ

eeTargetTarget

Poverty & Poverty & InequaInequalitylity

Poverty Poverty headcount headcount (P(P

00))

MDG 1: Halve, MDG 1: Halve, between 1990 and between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of 2015, the proportion of people whose income people whose income is less than one dollar a is less than one dollar a dayday

PP00=39 by =39 by

2004/052004/05PPoo=34 in =34 in

2009/102009/10

Food Food povertpoverty y

% of people % of people below the below the food poverty food poverty lineline

MDG 1MDG 1

MDG1 : MDG1 : Halve, between Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the 1990 and 2015, the proportion proportion of people who suffer of people who suffer from hungerfrom hunger

PP00=39 by =39 by

2004/052004/05

PP00=39 by =39 by

2009/102009/10

EducationEducation Net Enrolment Net Enrolment ratioratio

MDG2: Ensure that, by MDG2: Ensure that, by 2015, children 2015, children everywhere, boys and everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able girls alike, will be able to complete a full to complete a full course of primary course of primary schoolingschooling

Conclusions: lessonsConclusions: lessons

• Need for flexible advocacy and Need for flexible advocacy and dissemination strategiesdissemination strategies

• Research-based advocacy can Research-based advocacy can help to by-pass “the political”help to by-pass “the political”– Critiques are palatable if backed by Critiques are palatable if backed by

evidence from a large, diverse evidence from a large, diverse samplesample

– E.g. PANE versus YLE.g. PANE versus YL

New lessons cont. New lessons cont.

• Importance of sustainability of researcher/ Importance of sustainability of researcher/ advocacy linkages advocacy linkages – Can build on credibility rather than establishing Can build on credibility rather than establishing

anew for each research endeavouranew for each research endeavour

• Proactively fostering research ownership Proactively fostering research ownership through a “stakeholder as partner” modelthrough a “stakeholder as partner” model– Invite policy-makers to present on your topicInvite policy-makers to present on your topic

• Capacity building as a tool to shape the Capacity building as a tool to shape the politico-institutional context politico-institutional context – Civil society, weak political institutions, mediaCivil society, weak political institutions, media

New lessons cont. New lessons cont.

• PRSP is the main national PRSP is the main national development plandevelopment plan– Federal GOsFederal GOs– NGOsNGOs– Sub-national GOSub-national GO– Ordinary peopleOrdinary people