Louise Clark - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Louise Clark

This document presents learning from the pilot to provide Community Embedded Decision Support Sys... more This document presents learning from the pilot to provide Community Embedded Decision Support Systems (CEDSS) delivered by the EU-funded Smart Data for Inclusive Cities. The pilot was conducted through a partnership of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS, UK); National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA, India), Samarthan-Centre for Development Support (India) and GRADE (Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo; Peru), in close collaboration with authorities of the Smart Cities Mission in Bhopal and community groups in the Banganga informal settlement between May and October 2021.

A focus on how to achieve impact is often a key aspect of policy-relevant social science research... more A focus on how to achieve impact is often a key aspect of policy-relevant social science research in international development settings. Done well, planning for impact from the outset of the project is based upon informed thinking and reflection on how research teams can draw upon and strengthen their networks and relationships to develop, share, and promote their research findings. However, it may be several years before the relevance of some research is fully recognised and implemented, or for changes to take place in social and economic systems.

This learning paper presents an initial analysis of the emerging research to policy linkages with... more This learning paper presents an initial analysis of the emerging research to policy linkages within the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) programme of the Future Agricultures Consortium, which is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). APRA has an innovative monitoring, evaluation and learning approach known as the ‘Accompanied Learning on Relevance and Effectiveness’ (ALRE), which is being delivered by a small team of embedded evaluation specialists. This paper discusses how ALRE has applied the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behaviour) (Mayne 2018; Mayne 2016; Michie, van Stralen and West 2011) model of behaviour change to explore the interactions and influencing strategies between researchers and policymakers in the context of agricultural policy research in Africa. These insights have produced the Diamond of Influence, a new ALRE-adapted model, which applies each of the COM-B elements to discuss the different aspects of resear...

This summary shares the results of a stakeholder survey on the policy issues and demand for evide... more This summary shares the results of a stakeholder survey on the policy issues and demand for evidence related to inclusive agricultural commercialisation across Africa by the Accompanied Learning for Relevance and Effectiveness (ALRE) team of the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) programme. The survey collected data between January and March 2020 on a series of closed questions to i) understand the top five policy priorities to support agricultural commercialisation and the most effective communication methods, and ii) the different factors and the role of research to influence inclusive agricultural commercialisation.

What is Theory of Change (ToC)? SDC defines Theory of Change (or impact hypothesis 1) as a narrat... more What is Theory of Change (ToC)? SDC defines Theory of Change (or impact hypothesis 1) as a narrative "describing the whole chain of influences (from outputs to impacts) of a project or programme up to its intended contribution to improve the lives of people in poverty, which is the ultimate aim of all our interventions" (SDC, 2015). Using ToC as a participatory reflective process rather than as a one-off product enables it to inform programme learning and adaptive management. This is because, as a process, ToC can create a better understanding of the programme's context, including its inherent assumptions, and which different possible approaches the programme can take.

Theory of change is a narrative of change, a hypothetical projection of the future. It is both a ... more Theory of change is a narrative of change, a hypothetical projection of the future. It is both a vision of the future and a plan for how to get there. Both our vision and understanding of how change happens are influenced by our values, experiences and priorities. So a theory of change conversation should be a space to bring stakeholders together to reflect on different perspectives and world views. Such a conversation aims to identify different perspectives and to build consensus and shared ownership of the priorities and processes among the different stakeholders involved in delivering change.

Open data programmes-that support the access, distribution, and effective use of data by everyone... more Open data programmes-that support the access, distribution, and effective use of data by everyone for free-are a relatively new area in global development. As more initiatives emerge, there is a need for stronger evidence to inform effective design and implementation that can mitigate inequities in access and maximise the development potential of open data. To address this evidence gap, this IDS Policy Briefing draws lessons from a performance evaluation of the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN) initiative to make recommendations for funders and managers of similar open data development programmes, as well as for those influencing governmental or organisational data policy. Open data ecosystems are complex. Programmes should invest time in understanding the needs and motivations of each stakeholder group, paying particular attention to those that may be marginalised.

Tropical-CIAT, y el auspicio del Ministerio de Asuntos Campesinos y Agropecuarios-MACA, Bolivia, ... more Tropical-CIAT, y el auspicio del Ministerio de Asuntos Campesinos y Agropecuarios-MACA, Bolivia, en el marco del Sistema Boliviano de Tecnología Agropecuaria-SIBTA. Los resultados de la investigación-acción realizada han mostrado la utlidad del Análisis de las redes sociales como una herramienta diagnostica para entender los flujos de información entre las diversas actores que actuan en las cadenas productivas. Este documento es un bien público y las copias que se hagan del mismo se deben distribuir sin costo alguno.

Knowledge Management for Development Journal, 2010

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or s... more This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.

Knowledge Management for Development Journal, 2010

The aim of this paper is to highlight the complex networks that support information flows in rura... more The aim of this paper is to highlight the complex networks that support information flows in rural communities of Bolivia by providing a visual representation of the heterogeneous organisational structures that characterise different ethnic groups. The social structures within rural communities provide development agencies with key insights into the support networks created by community-based organisations which can be used to identify strategies to reach marginalised groups. This preliminary analysis of the mechanisms through which the rural poor access new information is particularly important for agricultural development projects which aim to increase producers' awareness of new technologies or provide them with market information. This paper uses social network analysis (SNA) to demonstrate how the bonding ties of affiliation to community-based organisations and the bridging ties of relationships with local institutions demonstrate the different structural properties of rural communities. Development projects which promote local development need to understand these community structures and how they support information flows to marginalised groups.

This document presents learning from the pilot to provide Community Embedded Decision Support Sys... more This document presents learning from the pilot to provide Community Embedded Decision Support Systems (CEDSS) delivered by the EU-funded Smart Data for Inclusive Cities. The pilot was conducted through a partnership of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS, UK); National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA, India), Samarthan-Centre for Development Support (India) and GRADE (Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo; Peru), in close collaboration with authorities of the Smart Cities Mission in Bhopal and community groups in the Banganga informal settlement between May and October 2021.

A focus on how to achieve impact is often a key aspect of policy-relevant social science research... more A focus on how to achieve impact is often a key aspect of policy-relevant social science research in international development settings. Done well, planning for impact from the outset of the project is based upon informed thinking and reflection on how research teams can draw upon and strengthen their networks and relationships to develop, share, and promote their research findings. However, it may be several years before the relevance of some research is fully recognised and implemented, or for changes to take place in social and economic systems.

This learning paper presents an initial analysis of the emerging research to policy linkages with... more This learning paper presents an initial analysis of the emerging research to policy linkages within the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) programme of the Future Agricultures Consortium, which is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). APRA has an innovative monitoring, evaluation and learning approach known as the ‘Accompanied Learning on Relevance and Effectiveness’ (ALRE), which is being delivered by a small team of embedded evaluation specialists. This paper discusses how ALRE has applied the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behaviour) (Mayne 2018; Mayne 2016; Michie, van Stralen and West 2011) model of behaviour change to explore the interactions and influencing strategies between researchers and policymakers in the context of agricultural policy research in Africa. These insights have produced the Diamond of Influence, a new ALRE-adapted model, which applies each of the COM-B elements to discuss the different aspects of resear...

This summary shares the results of a stakeholder survey on the policy issues and demand for evide... more This summary shares the results of a stakeholder survey on the policy issues and demand for evidence related to inclusive agricultural commercialisation across Africa by the Accompanied Learning for Relevance and Effectiveness (ALRE) team of the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) programme. The survey collected data between January and March 2020 on a series of closed questions to i) understand the top five policy priorities to support agricultural commercialisation and the most effective communication methods, and ii) the different factors and the role of research to influence inclusive agricultural commercialisation.

What is Theory of Change (ToC)? SDC defines Theory of Change (or impact hypothesis 1) as a narrat... more What is Theory of Change (ToC)? SDC defines Theory of Change (or impact hypothesis 1) as a narrative "describing the whole chain of influences (from outputs to impacts) of a project or programme up to its intended contribution to improve the lives of people in poverty, which is the ultimate aim of all our interventions" (SDC, 2015). Using ToC as a participatory reflective process rather than as a one-off product enables it to inform programme learning and adaptive management. This is because, as a process, ToC can create a better understanding of the programme's context, including its inherent assumptions, and which different possible approaches the programme can take.

Theory of change is a narrative of change, a hypothetical projection of the future. It is both a ... more Theory of change is a narrative of change, a hypothetical projection of the future. It is both a vision of the future and a plan for how to get there. Both our vision and understanding of how change happens are influenced by our values, experiences and priorities. So a theory of change conversation should be a space to bring stakeholders together to reflect on different perspectives and world views. Such a conversation aims to identify different perspectives and to build consensus and shared ownership of the priorities and processes among the different stakeholders involved in delivering change.

Open data programmes-that support the access, distribution, and effective use of data by everyone... more Open data programmes-that support the access, distribution, and effective use of data by everyone for free-are a relatively new area in global development. As more initiatives emerge, there is a need for stronger evidence to inform effective design and implementation that can mitigate inequities in access and maximise the development potential of open data. To address this evidence gap, this IDS Policy Briefing draws lessons from a performance evaluation of the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN) initiative to make recommendations for funders and managers of similar open data development programmes, as well as for those influencing governmental or organisational data policy. Open data ecosystems are complex. Programmes should invest time in understanding the needs and motivations of each stakeholder group, paying particular attention to those that may be marginalised.

Tropical-CIAT, y el auspicio del Ministerio de Asuntos Campesinos y Agropecuarios-MACA, Bolivia, ... more Tropical-CIAT, y el auspicio del Ministerio de Asuntos Campesinos y Agropecuarios-MACA, Bolivia, en el marco del Sistema Boliviano de Tecnología Agropecuaria-SIBTA. Los resultados de la investigación-acción realizada han mostrado la utlidad del Análisis de las redes sociales como una herramienta diagnostica para entender los flujos de información entre las diversas actores que actuan en las cadenas productivas. Este documento es un bien público y las copias que se hagan del mismo se deben distribuir sin costo alguno.

Knowledge Management for Development Journal, 2010

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or s... more This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.

Knowledge Management for Development Journal, 2010

The aim of this paper is to highlight the complex networks that support information flows in rura... more The aim of this paper is to highlight the complex networks that support information flows in rural communities of Bolivia by providing a visual representation of the heterogeneous organisational structures that characterise different ethnic groups. The social structures within rural communities provide development agencies with key insights into the support networks created by community-based organisations which can be used to identify strategies to reach marginalised groups. This preliminary analysis of the mechanisms through which the rural poor access new information is particularly important for agricultural development projects which aim to increase producers' awareness of new technologies or provide them with market information. This paper uses social network analysis (SNA) to demonstrate how the bonding ties of affiliation to community-based organisations and the bridging ties of relationships with local institutions demonstrate the different structural properties of rural communities. Development projects which promote local development need to understand these community structures and how they support information flows to marginalised groups.