Anne Blenkinsopp Department for International Development, UK - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

Anne Blenkinsopp Department for International Development, UK

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

What is SPLASH?

• An Era Net - a National Government level

collaboration 16 partners from 11 different European countries

• Funded EC FP 6

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

Where, why here?

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

Who?

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

Involvement of Southern researchers is weak and asymmetric.

• Benefits: Better problem definition; Research findings likely to

be more relevant; Access to local knowledge; Greater

• wnership 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 scientists; longer term engagement.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

Dissemination is inadequate Problems: rarely is enough time/money allocated,

• r 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.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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

• f Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Legal libraries, The

steering committee and project team, Key stakeholders

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

Improve coordination, prevent duplication:

• Databases. http://www.splash-

era.net/search_dbs.php

• Ethiopia.
• Volta and Niger

Basins.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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!

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

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

• bjectives. Emphasis on dissemination, stakeholder

engagement.

www.splash-era.net Coordinating European water research for poverty reduction

See also:

http://www.splash-era.net/ Email: a-blenkinsopp@dfid.gov.uk