Policy; Definitions, Overview and Importance

Policy

A set of rules or norms governing behaviour in a particular area of activity - established by an organisation (the “policy-maker”) accepted as having authority to set such rules or norms. The basis of this authority is usually, but not universally, statutory in nature. It may also include authority to enforce the rules

Public policy

Policy developed by governmental bodies and officials. Process by which governments translate their political vision into plans and actions to achieve the changes they desire to make in the real world.  Includes not only the decision to adopt a law or make a rule on some topic, but also the subsequent actions aimed at implementing and enforcing the law or rule.

Who Forms Policy?

Law-makers, the bureaucracies that support lawmakers, statutory bodies with sectoral responsibilities, statutory bodies with regional responsibilities, statutory bodies with subject-matter responsibilities

What Shapes Policy?

Scrutiny of policy-makers by legislative bodies such as Select Committees, Consultation exercises by Government Departments, Debate and scrutiny during the passage of legislation Consultation exercises by Statutory Bodies, Government supported enquiries and reviews, manifestos of political parties, reports from think-tanks, lobby groups or interest groups, legal judgements, Crises or high profile events.

An effective policy must be based on facts, but it is also influenced by cultural values and politics.

Policy engagement can be described as the interaction between researchers and the policy community. This community may include politicians, civil servants, and other stakeholders responsible for shaping the policy process.

Policy engagement definition

Policy engagement is an umbrella term describing the many ways that researchers and policymakers connect and explore common interests at various stages in their respective research and policymaking processes. From informal enquiries to formal inquiries, in consultation or sustained collaboration, policy engagement enables researchers and policymakers to improve public policy through making the most of their evidence, expertise and experience.

Policy engagement can be helpful for the following:

·       Advocating or providing support for proposed policy

·       Highlighting an unaddressed need in the community for policymakers to focus on

·       Influencing the direction of policy

·       Securing funding from government agencies and other funders for research

·       Investigating whether governmental, corporate, or actions elsewhere is harming public safety or against public interest

The other key term with which engagement is often coupled is impact. Researchers aim to engage with those involved in the processes of making public policy in order to have an impact on the quality of the resulting policies. This may be driven by both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations.

Impact

 Impact is defined more elaborately as “an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia.” It includes “an effect on, change or benefit to:

• the activity, attitude, awareness, behaviour, capacity, opportunity, performance, policy, practice, process or understanding

• of an audience, beneficiary, community, constituency, organisation or individuals

•  in any geographic location whether locally, regionally, nationally or   internationally

The measurement of impacts on policy is notoriously difficult, for reasons which are excellently summarised in the FCO’s June 2020 ARI update:

“. . . measuring the impact of any particular individual or academic department, whether inside or outside the Civil Service, faces significant challenges, for example:

• in the policy process, outcomes tend to be the result of many different voices and factors rather than of the ideas or actions of a single person or team

• impact can be gradual, taking a long time to be realised

• ongoing relationships allowing for ad hoc learning by FCO staff are often more impactful than single articles or books, but can be harder to evidence

• where academics publish or broadcast in the traditional or social media the impact they have on diplomats’ understanding of the world may be significant, but similarly hard to evidence

• however good a piece of research is in its own terms, it may ultimately not affect the course of policy because it is weighed against other important factors

• conversely, research methods or conclusions which are widely challenged could nevertheless have impact by sparking debate and bringing new questions to the fore, even where this was not the researcher’s primary intent.”

Successful routes to impact through policy engagement include:

• Targeted publications such as policy briefings, industry journal articles and on-line materials which present research findings in a format that is accessible to policy-makers.

• Advisory roles, such as contributing to government inquiries, reports, panels and committees

• Partnerships with stakeholders enabling the research to be tested in real-life contexts and providing access to these organisations’ networks of policy contacts

• Presentations and workshops with Government, industry and practitioners: face-to-face discussion with key individuals is a powerful way to get research noticed

SAMA Policy Event:

Preparation for the event:

Initially we studied about project SAMA, policy documents of NEP, NSPP & NMHP and other polices related to youth.  Worked for identification of key stake holders and how to contact them.

Participants and their contact numbers were identified and contacted them through E-Mails and Phone calls, SAMA team members trained us in using Handycam and making short films.

Attended few interviews conducted by SAMA team and got first hand learning about filming, editing & developing short films with the help of SAMA team.

On the day of the event:

Event began by welcoming dignitaries and orientation about SAMA  and screening short movies was done.

Participants were divided into 6 groups and topics were given to them to discuss and present their opinions and queries to Panelists.

Groups presented their views and experts gave their opinions.

Lay Councillors shared their positive experiences and YAB members voiced their opinions’ about youth involvement.

Participants opined that SAMA is needed for 8th and 10th Students  also and it should be extended across the country, NEP should be implemented and parents need to be trained to address the issues of adolescents.

Reflections:

Knowing about policy, short film making, Editing and developing short movies was very interesting and exciting.

Initially there were lot of Questions and pessimistic views about event but success of the event taught me that fruitful discussion among stake holders, decision makers & policy makers can happen and got more insights about policies, adolescents mental health.

Throughout this journey it was great learning for me. 

I extent my sincere thanks to SAMA team for their help and guidance.