The Agency of Recipient Countries in Transnational Policy-Related Knowledge Transfer

Abstract

Current research on transnational knowledge transfer has a strong bias toward (often conditionality-based) advice originating in the core OECD world and focuses nearly exclusively on the link from a source to a target of knowledge transfer. This contribution provides a broader and more nuanced picture by looking at the reverse logic of non-OECD countries proactively searching abroad for policy advice and assessing this advice based on their own requirements. Based on the role of conditionality and on the attitude of the recipient country toward cooperation with foreign sources of advice, five demand-side strategies in transnational policy-related knowledge transfer are distinguished, each of which is analyzed utilizing the example of health reform. The results highlight systematic differences in the attitude toward and employment of foreign advice.

Determinants of health and education equality: evidence from post-Soviet states

“…This empirical evidence is in line with a recent strand of research according to which CSOs operating in the Caucasus and Central Asian countries do not aim to politicise policy decisions; rather, they fill gaps in the state's capacity by providing social services and benefits to their constituencies (Johnson, 2014;Ziegler, 2015). In this view, the success of CSOs to promote more equal social outcomes is due to the increasing role of international donor organisations which in most cases require cooperation between the state and CSOs as a condition of donor support (Heinrich et al, 2021;Johnson, 2014). Overall then further research should be devoted to investigate the dynamics of CSOs-foreign donors cooperation and the capacity of the state to promote equality in the social field.…”