To improve the policy analysis skills of the Centre for Policy Analysis/Pusat Analisis Kebijakan (PAK) Bappenas, in May KSI and the University of Melbourne organised a three-day workshop on policy analysis methodology. KSI involved participants from the Research and Development Agency, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Centre for Research and Development, as well as the Ministry of Village, Disadvantaged Region Development and Transmigration to provide space for a learning exchange within and among ministries.
KSI began supporting the ad hoc Policy Analysis Team (TAK) in 2013. This has now become institutionalised as the Centre for Policy Analysis of Bappenas, with a formal structure and resources. PAK has produced 13 policy briefs on various issues through a mechanism called ‘Quick Response Analysis’ (QRA). This workshop was seen as critical to sharpen the current policy analysis (QRA) process in developing policy briefs. The resource persons were from the University of Melbourne and had different backgrounds and experience. Yehudi Blacher is a professorial fellow with experience as a civil servant, and Professor Andrew Rosser has a strong academic background and perspectives.
Participants learned both theoretical and practical aspects of policy analysis. The theoretical aspect elaborates the importance of understanding context, concepts, steps and approaches used in policy analysis. Participants also engaged in exercises aimed to apply the theoretical aspects of developing advocacy policy briefs.
Dr. Herie Sasono, M.Si, from the Research and Development Agency, Ministry of Home Affairs, said the workshop was very beneficial. “This workshop was very good. We will send the results of our group exercise on advocacy policy briefs to the Bappenas journal or other journals because the policy issue that we worked on is very relevant now.”