Working Paper 131 - Linking Research to Policy: The AfDB as Knowledge Broker

The Medium Term Strategy (2008-2012) of the African Development Bank is seeking to position the institution to become the preferred development partner in Africa. Apart from providing development finance, the Bank is uniquely positioned and has the convening power to play a catalytic role in providing policy advice to Regional Member Countries (RMCs) by conducting high quality evidence based research and leveraging policy-relevant innovative knowledge that are aligned to the Bank’s priority areas of operational policies and programs to generate a deeper understanding of the development challenges facing the continent. The African Development Bank engages with RMCs at both the project and policy level and is well positioned to be a Knowledge Broker by linking different entities or individuals that otherwise would not have a relationship and have them connected to share and exchange knowledge for development and structural transformation of African economies. The Bank possesses all the essential knowledge brokering characteristics in African policy space such as trustworthiness, credibility, political neutrality and subject expertise to take on this role. This paper highlights areas of bridging the gap between research and development policy and practice and discusses some pertinent issues and relevant roles as well as the Bank’s comparative advantage as a “Knowledge Broker” as it mainstreams knowledge management strategy to institutionalize knowledge and learning culture in the Bank by strengthening partnerships with National think tanks and policy research institutions that will facilitate knowledge creation, knowledge generation, knowledge management and knowledge utilization that anchors ownership at the country level