Anne Blenkinsopp Department for International Development, UK Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
What is SPLASH? • An Era Net - a National Government level collaboration 16 partners from 11 different European countries • Funded EC FP 6 Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
SPLASH Objectives Jan 07 – Dec 2010 1. Improve coordination of water research for development between European countries, to reduce duplication, exploit synergies and enhance progress to MDGs 2. Understand and synthesise good research management & practice, and ensure it is used 3. Speed up transfer of results into practice and policy through improved dialogue 4. Agree jointly funded activities, including new research which will benefit from a trans-national approach Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Where, why here? Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Who and How? • 3 management platforms: Tech Com/Partners, Funders (SMB), Stakeholders (SAC). Intranet. • Desk studies, interviews, side events/workshops in international meetings Stockholm, WEDC Conferences Ghana and Ethiopia, Africasan, Mekong Flood forum, Netsaaf W.Africa, East Africa Water Association, e-conferences etc. Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Who? Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Too much duplication, do not use existing knowledge: Problems: fragmented, rarely published, weak national coordination. Solutions: Improved connectivity, online journal access, UN Progs – AGORA (agriculture), OARE (environment), HINARI (health) http://www.splash-era.net/search_dbs.php National/Basin level mechanisms. Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Involvement of Southern researchers is weak and asymmetric. • Benefits : Better problem definition; Research findings likely to be more relevant; Access to local knowledge; Greater ownership of findings and Increased chance of uptake • Difficulties: Consortia building based on personal networks – need to be known to be known; No access to funds; internal communication often poor, funding and roles are not transparent so commitment is low. • Solutions: Funds available locally for research, international networking, proposal development. Increase numbers of Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction scientists; longer term engagement. www.splash-era.net
High Administrative burdens prevent involvement Problems : Procedures differ and are complex. Solutions: Pool funds with simple transparent procedures. Capacity development in research management processes, applying for funds through to evaluation. Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Engagement with relevant stakeholders is weak Problem: Identification – who can potentially impact the achievement of success? This is then a barrier to uptake and use of research results, not involved throughout the process. Solution: Map in terms of power, legitimacy and urgency, then design a plan for engagement. Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Objectives are often unclear Problem: poor communication and internal management processes Solution: Develop management capacity. Discuss and define roles and responsibilities, establish effective communication, intranet, monthly calls. Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Dissemination is inadequate Problems: rarely is enough time/money allocated, or outputs tailored to audience. Solutions : Plan at the beginning, audiences and access to them through schedule of relevant events and literature, tailor and format accordingly. Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Good practice: Water Research Council South Africa http://www.wrc.org.za/ Outputs : Research reports, technical brief, policy brief, Ministerial brief, water wheel magazine, Water South Africa, Special Publication – software etc, Annual Report, Educational document. Audience : Each has a defined audience: for example a report: National Bibliography, All University and Technical University libraries, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research library, Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Legal libraries, The steering committee and project team, Key stakeholders Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Capacity development impacts are unclear Problems: Often conducted at an individual level – MSc or PhD programmes, little institutional development or sector. Solutions : Define expected outcomes, pay attention to management not just research career development, and ensure links with professional networks. Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Impact and outcomes assessment is weak Problem: Difficult for policy makers to understand the value of research and prioritise funding of research. Difficult to attribute impacts. Solution: SPLASH conducting further work in this area. Attempted to consolidate evidence to show the value of water research to economic development, to advocate for availability of funding. See quiz on website. Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Address these lessons?: Concept notes of ideas to take forwards lessons, meet SPLASH objectives, and where there is developing country demand, a problem in a developing country, likely to achieve impact. Work with existing institutions to ensure long term sustainability. Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Improve coordination, prevent duplication: • Databases. http://www.splash- era.net/search_dbs.php • Ethiopia. • Volta and Niger Basins. Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Good research management practice is known and used: 1. Developing open access training materials in research management, in consultation with potential users. 2. Impact and outcome evaluation from research 3. Support to the African Centres of Excellence in water science and technology 4. Water and Energy in the Mekong (Finland) 5. Support prioritisation of research Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Ensure that research results are used: • Support to the AGWN – Africa Ground water Network (Germany, Switzerland) • Dialogue platform and coordination mechanisms at River Basin level • Disseminate SPLASH findings! Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
Jointly funded Research Pooled funds from Austria, France, Sweden, Swizerland and UK. 2 Million Euro. Common procedures Sustainable delivery of sanitation services in urban environments. Incorporates our lessons learned. Transparent procedures, equality of Northern and Southern partnerships. Clear objectives. Emphasis on dissemination, stakeholder engagement. Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
See also: http://www.splash-era.net/ Email: a-blenkinsopp@dfid.gov.uk Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction www.splash-era.net
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