En base a la evidencia se promueve mejor el diálogo y la propuestas de política pública en el Ecuador. Esta fue la ponencia de Orazio Bellettini, Director Ejecutivo de Grupo FARO, en el marco de la 12va Conferencia Internacional de la GDN

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Independence
Transparency
Public policy
Social Change
Using research to promote a more
informed dialogue and better policies in
Ecuador
Orazio J. Bellettini
Bogota, January, 14th, 2011
Background
Policy process in Ecuador
Policy process in Ecuador is characterized by its
ideological fragmentation, volatile coalitions and
weak institutions.
Ministers of Finance last, on average, six months in
office.
Timeline of Ministers of Finance appointed
Rodas Serrano
Correa Barreiro Borja Jouvín Patiño Ortiz Viteri Rivera
April ‘05 April ‘06 April ‘07 April ‘08 April ‘09 April ‘10
19 de enero de 2011
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Towards more evidence-based policies
The first step is to have evidence...
• In addition to political instability, research has
played a small role in the policy process in Ecuador
because evidence is scarce and, when it exists, it is
disperse, highly technical and difficult to access for
policy makers.
• However, there are cases in which research has
generated a kind of evidence that has captured
social and political imagination and promoted
institutional reforms.
19 de enero de 2011
Case 1: The Yasuni – ITT proposal
Evidence for a new development model
• The Yasuni Natural Reserve is a 982.000 ha. area
located in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
• The Yasuni National Park has reserves for
approximately 944 million barrels of oil, the country's
second largest untapped oil reserves.
• It hosts two scientific stations where natural sciences
research is constantly carried out.
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Scientific evidence at work…
Source: Bass MS, Finer M, Jenkins CN, Kreft H, Cisneros-Heredia DF, et al.
(2010) Global Conservation Significance of Ecuador's Yasuní National Park.
PLoS ONE 5(1): e8767. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008767.
The emerging of the Yasuni Initiative….
Yasuni
Source: Bass MS, Finer M, Jenkins CN, Kreft H, Cisneros-Heredia DF, et al.
(2010) Global Conservation Significance of Ecuador's Yasuní National Park.
PLoS ONE 5(1): e8767. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008767.
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Case 1: The Yasuni – ITT proposal
Evidence for a new development model
• Using the evidence portrayed in this research, civil
society organizations (CSO) and universities
developed a policy proposal to protect this area.
• The proposal entails stopping any new oil activities
and road construction in Yasuní; giving value to non-
emission of CO2; and, asking the rest of the world to
pay half the potential income in the carbon market
(USD. 3.5 billion).
Case 2: Clientelism in Social Programs
Uncovering the politics of the poor
• In 2005, former President Lucio Gutierrez was ousted
because, among other accusations, he uses social
programs to gain political support.
• Since the new administration was willing to implement
social and political reforms, Grupo FARO created an
index to measure opportunities for political clientelism.
• Political clientelism entered the public agenda uncovering
this phenomenon that had remained hidden.
• Between 2005 and 2006, we worked with social
programs increasing their level of transparency as well as
accountability.
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Case 2: Clientelism in Social Programs
Uncovering the politics of the poor
Lessons Learned
Policy process in the tropics
• Evidence is still scarce and plays a small role in the
policy process in Ecuador.
• However, with the right evidence at the right time using
the right strategy to communicate it convincingly, it
could spark creativity and improve the design and
implementation of both short and long term policies in
different sectors.
• Evidence is not enough. Grupo FARO also focuses its
efforts to promote more informed dialogues as well as
build capacities to successfully translate ideas into
actions.
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www.grupofaro.org
¡Muchas
Gracias!
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