Australian Government. AusAID: Office of Development Effectiveness

Policy dialogue

ODE's Annual Review of Development Effectiveness 2009 identified a need for AusAID to be more robust, broad and frequent in its policy dialogue. It found that AusAID's achievements from policy dialogue are patchy, reflecting a lack of organisational capacity or clear strategy to improve engagement.

Good policy dialogue is becoming increasingly important to achieving results from the Australian aid program, but practices within AusAID remain erratic. Before AusAID can improve its approaches, there is a need to look at what good policy dialogue is and how it can be applied in the different contexts in which AusAID works.

ODE has commissioned an independent evaluation to build on the findings in the Annual Review of Development Effectiveness by identifying the internal and external factors that make policy dialogue successful in the varied contexts in which AusAID works, and providing specific operational lessons for AusAID staff.

The evaluation commenced in June 2011, and is expected to be completed in early 2012.

Key evaluation documents

Terms of reference

The evaluation terms of reference provide detail on the evaluation scope, approach and timeline.

Literature review

This review of literature and international practice introduces key concepts relating to policy dialogue between donors and recipient governments to inform the wider analytical framework for the evaluation.

Theory of Policy Dialogue Success

The evaluation team have developed a broad theory of policy dialogue success that will be tested during the evaluation.

Think pieces

The following documents from members of the international aid community provide insight and opinion into engaging in policy dialogue in developing countries.

Donor engagement in policy dialogue: navigating the interface between knowledge and power – Harry Jones

Many aid agencies and international development organisations are increasingly engaging in policy dialogue in developing countries. Why is this, and what tools do they need to do this effectively? Harry Jones from ODI RAPID (external website) poses these questions. He provides some challenges to common ways of understanding this area, followed by some tools with which to grapple with the issues.

How to win friends and influence policy in the Pacific – Derek Brien

In our region we have over one thousand languages, and a cultural make up that is as diverse as it comes. Rules of engagement have some common elements that cross cultural boundaries, and some that don’t. The way one person says something, is not necessarily the way the other person hears it. Engaging in policy dialogue in this context is about effective communication: building trust, understanding and consensus for action. Derek Brien from the Pacific Institute of Public Policy (external website) presents a Pacific perspective on more effective donor engagement in policy dialogue.

Podcast interview with Peter Bazeley

January 2012

Increasingly, agencies like AusAID are working closely with partner governments to improve the way they make policy to govern their own development. Peter Bazeley visited Indonesia and the Solomon Islands as part of ODE’s evaluation into what makes for good policy dialogue. He outlines key elements for success: policy can develop in unpredictable ways, solid relationships between donors and partner officials are key, and the importance of being responsive to changing circumstances.

Interview with Peter Bazeley (12 mins) [MP3 10.9mb]

Transcript

 

Last reviewed: 16 February, 2012

Top of Page