Mendizabal Ltd
Independent research, ideas and adviceAbout Enrique Mendizabal
Download Enrique Mendizabal’s CV.
I am an independent researcher and advisor on think tanks and policy research networks, currently working on two books: the first one is an extended version of the RAPID Outcome Mapping Approach (ROMA) for planning, monitoring and evaluation of policy influencing strategies; and the second one is a study of the short and long term decisions and strategic choices made by think tanks. Both will be completed by December 2011. I am also publishing a blog on think tanks: www.onthinktanks.org to accompany the research for the books and my on-going advisory work.
Until December 2010, I headed the Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) programme at the Overseas Development Institute. I joined ODI in 2004 and since then have led the organisation’s research and practice on think tanks, networks, research communications and policy influence, including the development of the Network Functions Approach (NFA) for supporting networks and the RAPID Outcome Mapping Approach (ROMA) for planning, monitoring and evaluating policy influencing strategies. As Head of Programme I was also responsible for the Outcome Mapping Learning Community (www.outcomemapping.ca) and the Evidence based Policy in Development Network (www.ebpdn.org). More recently, my focus has turned towards the political economy of research uptake. In 2009 I published a book on the links between think tanks and political parties in Latin America and in 2010 a paper on the relation between think tanks and politics in East and Southeast Asia. Also in 2010 I launched, through the ebpdn, a series of studies on the relative role of research-based evidence in political debates in Latin America (published August 2011) and Africa (currently being researched but planned to be published in early 2011).
As a research associate I continue to collaborate with the RAPID programme on think tanks and the further development of the programme –particularly its partnership and decentralisation strategy.
Since 2006, I have been working closely with DFID, IDRC, GDN, the Danish Development Research Network and other global agents in the study of policy influence and the development of approaches and tools to support the development, monitoring and evaluation of influencing strategies.
Before joining ODI, I worked for Development Alternatives Inc. Europe (then known as Bannock Consulting) between 2003-2004, and at the Research Centre at the Universidad del Pacífico in Perú (Centro de Investigación de la Universidad del Pacífico) between 1998-2002.
During the last 10 years I have published extensively and developed an excellent portfolio of workshops and seminars –including invitations to provide keynote speeches at high-level events and TEDx in Peru. I have worked with well over 1000 researchers and practitioners from across the developing and developed world through mentoring, training, collaboration and consultancies that have contributed to my own personal and professional development.
Academic qualifications
MSc Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries, London School of Economics and Political Science, 2003
BA Economics, Universidad del Pacífico, 1999
Previous Positions
December 2009-December 2010: Head of Programme, RAPID, ODI
Principal achievements: Consolidated the RAPID programme team and successfully secured funds to further its work (RAPID’s annual budget is about GBP 800,000); mentored four young Research Officers to help them to develop their areas of expertise and recognition; secured funds for a third phase of the Outcome Mapping Learning Community; developed a strong link with DFID’s policy and evaluation departments and produced a how to note on policy influence and a how to note on M&E for DFID; developed the programme’s ground-breaking research agenda on the political economy of research uptake; began the decentralisation of the RAPID programme to include staff based overseas, associates and partner organisations.
2007- 2008: Research Fellow and PACT Programme Leader, RAPID, ODI
Principal achievements: Led the development of the RAPID Outcome Mapping Approach (ROMA) to plan, monitor and evaluate policy influencing interventions. The approach was later adopted by DFID in the form of a how to note on policy influence and served as the basis for a how to note on M&E of policy influencing. As Research Fellow I was also in charge of the Partnerships and Capacity Development (PACT) programme within what was at the time called the RAPID Group (this was the basis of the RAPID Programme). As PACT lead I was responsible for developing RAPID’s capacity development work on research communications, networking, policy influencing and monitoring and evaluation as well as managing the evidence based policy in development network (ebpdn).
Also as Research Fellow during this period, I led the ODI Latin America and the Caribbean group and delivered the Trade and Poverty in Latin America Programme (COPLA), which was a successful application of RAPID’s research on evidence-based policy influence and policy research networks.
2004-2007: Research Officer, RAPID, ODI
Principal achievements: As a Research Officer at ODI I developed the Network Functions Approach (NFA) which has been used across the world by networks and their supporters to better understand and work with networks. The approach was based on a series studies including a literature review and several case studies. Subsequently, I worked with colleagues to develop the NFA into a practical series of tools and steps
2003-2004: Research Analyst, Bannock Consulting (now DAI Europe)
Principal achievements: As a Research Analyst I was charged with developing Bannock’s poverty reduction strategy and securing new business. I also participated in the evaluation of the IDRC funded SISERA network –a network of think tanks in Africa- and undertook research that provided the foundations of the NFA.
2000-2002: Research associate, Universidad del Pacifico Research Centre, Peru
Principal achievements: As research associate I was charged with managing the research assistants working in the social policy area. Most significantly, I was co-author of a study on the Peruvian government’s policies towards children between 1990-2000 that led to the development of a programme (Children first?) that has been applied across Peru as well as in Africa.
1999: Research Assistant, Andean Community (CAN) Headquarters, Peru
Principal achievements: Provided direct support to the negotiation sessions on trade in services.
1998: Research Assistant, Universidad del Pacifico Research Centre, Peru
Principal achievements: Developed excellent working relationships with influential Peruvian researchers –Mercedes Araoz, my boss at the time, has, for example, moved on to become Minister of Finance and now a presidential candidate (2011 elections)
Selected research and advisory projects undertaken over the last 5 years
Advisory:
Develop Economic Policy Research Debate and Organisational Assessment of the Zambian Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (2011)
Funder -DFID
Work with DFID Zambia to encourage the development of public economic policy debate by supporting think tanks and other policy players. The study included an organisational assessment of ZIPAR.
How to Note on Policy Influence and How to Note on M&E of Policy Influence for DFID (2009-2010)
Funder –DFID
Two programmes of research and advice that led to the development and dissemination of the two How to Notes based on RAPID’s RAPID Outcome Mapping Approach (ROMA).
Policy influencing and research communication workshops and mentoring (2007 – on-going)
Funders – DFID, IDRC, GDN, DDRN, 3ie, World Vision, etc.
Project leader and main facilitator, mentor
Governance and Transparency Fund (GTF) Mwananchi Programme (2008 – 2013)
Funder – DFID
Programme Leader
Outcome Mapping Learning Community (2007 – on-going)
Funder – IDRC
Programme Leader for the Outcome Mapping Learning Community (www.outcomemapping.ca).
Evidence based Policy in Development Network (2005 – on-going)
Funder – DFID
Overall management and the facilitation and development of a Latin American network on bridging research and policy with over 300 members in the region (www.ebpdn.org).
Trade and Poverty in Latin America (2007-2009)
Funder – DFID
Management of 4 partners in Latin America to develop and implement the COPLA programme (www.cop-la.net)
ODI Latin American and the Caribbean group (2005 – on-going)
Funder – various
Chair: Initiating and managing several initiatives (www.odi.org.uk/latin-america).
Research:
Carried out ongoing research and communications on think tanks, networks and their role in bridging research and policy in development –working closely with partners and overseeing the entire process. Recent work includes a multi-country research programme on the relationship between think tanks and political parties in Latin America as well as the political economy of research uptake.
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