Tools for Policy Impact

This handbook is designed for civil society organisations, or the parts of them, whose activities involve gathering evidence, doing research, learning lessons or advising on strategy for social, environmental and economic development. This group might include think tanks, advocacy groups or research institutes who possess a large body of knowledge that they wish to communicate to policy makers in a constructive, co-operative and influential style.

The handbook presents work-in-progress and will be developed further within the Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) programme at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). ODI and the RAPID programme have been looking at the links between research and policy for several years. A part of this process entails identifying, developing, distributing and delivering tools, resources and training support that can help researchers access policy processes, with the aim of using their research to contribute to more evidence-based and pro-poor policy in the international development field.

This handbook presents work-in-progress on tools for policy impact, specifically geared towards the needs of researchers. The tools are grouped under the headings Research Tools, Context Assessment Tools, Communication Tools, and Policy Influence Tools - as listed below:

Research Tools

• Episode Studies
• Focus Group Discussion

Context Assessment Tools

• The Planning cycle: What, Who, How?
• Force Field Analysis
• Problem Tree Analysis
• Stakeholder Analysis
• Influence Mapping
• SWOT Analysis
• Triangle Analysis

Communication Tools

• Mapping the Product Life Cycle (Diffusion of Innovation theory)
• The Marketing Approach
• Organisational Readiness Assessment
• Market Segmentation and the Battlemap
• The Marketing Mix
• The Promotions Mix
• Positioning and Position Mapping
• The Copy Platform
• Pre-testing Your Message
• Camera Ready: Using the Media
• Writeshops

Policy Influence Tools

• 4X Policy Entrepreneurs
• Boston box
• Policy Papers
• Networking
• A Lobbyist's Hierarchies of Need
• Getting to Yes
• The 4 Ps of Being Influential
• Engaging Public Participation
• Campaigning Alliances: Pros and Cons

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