English While we know of a lot about research-policy links in rich countries, there has been very little systematic work on those in the rest of the world. This article reports on the process, findings and implications of an initiative to collect and analyse 50 summary case studies on research-policy links from developing and transition countries. The discussion is structured around a framework of three interlinked domains: context, evidence, links. The article also refers to other issues that emerge from the case studies, particularly the role of external influences and donors. Finally, it emphasises the impor tance of translating the findings into practical recommendations for policy makers, donors and researchers.Français Bien que l'on connaisse bien les liens recherche-politique dans les pays riches, le reste du monde a très peu travaillé sur ces liens de façon systématique. L'article fait un rapport sur le processus, les conclusions et les implications d'une initiative qui collecte et analyse 50 résumés d'études de cas sur les liens recherche-politique provenant des pays en voie de développement et en transition. La discussion se structure autour de trois domaines reliés : contexte, preuves, liens. L'article se réfère aussi à d'autres points qui émergent des études de cas, particulièrement le rôle des influences externes et de donateurs. Finalement, il met l'accent sur l'importance de traduire les conclusions en recommandations pratiques pour les dirigeants, les donateurs et les chercheurs.Español Mientras que sabemos mucho acerca de las relaciones políticas de investigación en los países ricos, ha habido muy poco trabajo sistemático de tales relaciones en el resto del mundo. Este artículo informa del proceso, resultados e implicaciones de una iniciativa para recoger y analizar 50 resúmenes de un estudio de casos en relaciones políticas de investigación desde países en desarrollo y en transición. La discusión está estructurada alrededor de un marco de tres campos interrelacionados: contexto, evidencia, vínculos. El artículo también se refiere a otros temas que surgen del estudio de casos, sobretodo el papel de las influencias externas y donantes. Finalmente, el ar tículo enfatiza la impor tancia de traducir los resultados a recomendaciones prácticas para los elaboradores políticos, donantes e investigadores.

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Bridging research and policy is a topic of growing practical and scholarly interest in both North and South. Contributions by four experienced practitioners and in four papers by researchers illustrate the value of existing frameworks and add four new lessons: the need for donors and research foundations to foster research capacity and to protect it from political interference; the need for researchers to use detailed case material in order to inform high-level policy debates within and across national boundaries, often by working in cross-country teams; the importance of presenting research results in such a way that they cannot be over-simplified; and the value of creating alliances between researchers and civil society advocacy groups. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.ITDG Publishing is the publishing arm of the Intermediate Technology Development Group. Our mission is to build the skills and capacity of people in developing countries through the dissemination of information in all forms, enabling them to improve the quality of their lives and that of future generations.Designed and typeset by Christian Humphries Printed in the United Kingdom