The need for AusAID to identify, define and practice good policy dialogue was highlighted in ODE's 2009 Annual Review of Development Effectiveness and the 2008 OECD Development Assistance Committee peer review of Australia's aid program.
This evaluation recommended that policy dialogue be better incorporated into AusAID's practices by promoting a common understanding and providing senior direction on policy dialogue, embedding policy dialogue into aid management practices, ensuring policy dialogue is properly resourced, and supporting the skills development of staff. Findings from this evaluation also led to the development of the first official policy dialogue guidelines for AusAID as well as formal mechanisms to improve policy dialogue capacity.
Evaluation report
- Thinking and Working Politically: An evaluation of policy dialogue in AusAID [PDF 1.4mb]
- Thinking and Working Politically: An evaluation of policy dialogue in AusAID [Word 1.7mb]
Case studies
The evaluation team conducted two case studies of successful and contrasting examples of AusAID's policy dialogue.
- Providing the environment for evidence-based policy making in Indonesia [PDF 566kb]
- Providing the environment for evidence-based policy making in Indonesia [Word 606kb]
- Working collaboratively for economic reform in Solomon Islands [PDF 548kb]
- Working collaboratively for economic reform in Solomon Islands [Word 624kb]
Other resources
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.
Think pieces
Two think pieces from members of the international aid community provide insight and opinion on 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 poses these questions. He outlines some challenges in this area, followed by some tools with which to grapple with the issues.
- Donor engagement in policy dialogue: navigating the interface between knowledge and power [PDF 274kb]
- Donor engagement in policy dialogue: navigating the interface between knowledge and power [Word 163kb]
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. Some rules of engagement cross cultural boundaries, and some 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 presents a Pacific perspective on more effective donor engagement in policy dialogue.
- How to win friends and influence policy in the Pacific [PDF 201kb]
- How to win friends and influence policy in the Pacific [Word 115kb]