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Case studies

This paper explores ways in which those who are involved in Making Markets Work (MMW) programmes can be effective at influencing policy and practice, whether of government, development agencies, private companies or NGOs.

The paper draws lessons from two case studies: sustainable livelihoods and Drivers of Change. It then considers three issues:

• how to most usefully think about the linkages between researchers and policy makers
• the need to understand the institutional incentives facing policy makers
• the risk of undervaluing communication

The paper suggests adopting an innovation system approach that emphasises the complexity and interconnectedness of the elements involved in linking research with policy and practice. These include:

• recognising the complexity of the system involved in developing and applying the MMW approach
• emphasising the need to encourage continuous interaction between researchers, users, and other stakeholders
• taking advantage of the insights that political economy analysis might offer into the incentives that will make it more likely that different stakeholders will take up the MMW approach
• building communication in which there is a simple but not simplistic narrative, that is timely and comes from a credible and trustworthy source
• understanding the need for good communication should be built in from the start
• recognising that communication involves a range of players, not just researchers and policy makers, and is two-way
• communicating a message that is easily accessible, using the most appropriate media clearly locating the responsibility for maintaining the momentum

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