It is being generally alleged that researches hardly reach policy makers. It is thus no wonder to receive the allegation that research results barely see implementation. There are apparently two reasons at work from supply and demand side. On the one hand, there is the acute dearth of research results written in a language that policy makers would understand quickly (supply-side constraint), and on the other, lack of interest of policy makers in research outputs (demand-side constraint). The lack of communication between the two parties has emerged as a major constraint in putting the cup and the lip together.
Arguably, evidence-based policy making is crucial for designing and implementing policies and programmes that will help in the development process. It is also key to implementing policies that focus on increasing agricultural productivity, better market access to small farmers and enhancing diversification of crops, better diet and nutritional wellbeing, and empowerment of rural women. Yet, much of the research-based knowledge remains unused by the policy makers largely because they are not communicated well. Communicating policy research at the right time, to the right audience and through the right medium is both an art and science. We reckon that workshops, seminars, even trainings could be organised to contribute to improving the capacity of the researchers, policy advisors and policy communicators to better connect with the policy process and in the process strengthen the capacity of the policy making process in the country.
There is an increasing concern among the policy makers that policy communication is distorted due to lack of evidence-based research, and at times reporting and writing with political and ideological bias either supporting or condemning the government in power. Such reporting and communication are also not squarely based on research evidence. This is partly due to lack of skills in reading and synthesising existing knowledge into readable policy communication material that can be taken seriously by the policy makers. This requires not only the skills in writing but to understand the policy system and the process of policy making and combining that knowledge to see when and how the knowledge can make a difference in the policy making process.
The policy making process in food, agriculture, and natural resources sectors involves a multidisciplinary set of actors and players from different backgrounds -- agriculturalists, economists, scientists, journalists and so on. One could easily imagine the importance of training workshop in this regard. One broad purpose of training workshops would be to develop policy communication skills of the policy researchers, policy analysts, policy advisors and policy makers. Based on the experience gained over the years, a team of resource persons should be pulled together to offer such courses. The participants will come from the public and private sectors including from the media. The contents of the training courses may aim to build the oral and written capacity of the actors and players in the policy process. More importantly, it should focus on how to translate the research and findings into information to facilitate the policy process.
Although trained as an economist, few of the Nobel Laureates such as Paul Samuelson, Paul Krugman, J Stiglitz etc turned out to be columnists along with the economist's cap. In fact, this writer was encouraged by the writings of great economists like Paul Samuelson, Paul Krugman, J. Stiglitz and others who turn tricky and technical researches into policy tablets through judicious use of newspaper columns. Economists often fail to understand that policy makers rarely understand their frightening models, equations and technical jargons. Apparently, it might sound that column writing is a very easy thing but as someone has argued, column writing is the hardest type of writing of all because it requires a high degree of precision in thinking. "To write a good column one requires more than just the ability to articulate an opinion. Your opinions must make sense, provide insight and be convincing. And you must do all this in an entertaining way".
It may be pertinent to refer to few tips on column writing: (1) one should write a column on any issue with conviction; (b) focus should be maintained through out. For example, writing on breastfeeding, one should not dwell on sexual harassment or empowerment of women. That could make columns less focused; (c) columns should be evidence-based. This does not mean that it should be loaded with statistics; (d) use of analogy in illustrating a point is illuminating. Using a simple analogy from everyday life makes the issue more understandable and relevant to the reader; (e) make critical assessment of the issue at hand instead of merely highlighting the issues; (f) localising or personalising to "make an otherwise esoteric and distant topic more real, relevant and memorable to the reader, and finally (g) "generally, people don't like to hear a soft or passive voice when they read a column. So be aggressive - even arrogant, to an extent".
Abdul Bayes is a former Professor of Economics at Jahangirnagar University.