Qualitative Policy Analysis Research Articles

New standards of action in foreign policy: can Brazil still be considered a regional power?

During the administrations of Cardoso (1995-2002) and Lula da Silva (2003-2010), Brazil considerably increased its activism on international issues, seeking to consolidate a leadership position among South American countries. Especially in recent decades, the diplomatic tradition has reiterated the need to obtain the region’s support as an instrument to boost international projection. In this sense, based on qualitative research analysis of Brazilian foreign policy, this article aims to answer the following question: Can Brazil be considered as a regional power? To this end, the article examines how the governments of Rousseff (2011-2016), Temer (2016-2018) and Bolsonaro (2019-2022) have changed the patterns of foreign policy action, leaving little room for more effective action by the country as a regional leader.

Incentivisation practices and their influence on physicians' prescriptions: A qualitative analysis of practice and policy in Pakistan.

Focus on profit-generating enterprise in healthcare can create conflicts of interest that adversely impact prescribing and pricing of medicines. Although a global challenge, addressing the impacts on quality of care is particularly difficult in countries where the pharmaceutical industry and physician lobby is strong relative to regulatory institutions. Our study characterises the range of incentives exchanged between the pharmaceutical industry and physicians, and investigates the differences between incentivisation practices and policies in Pakistan. In this mixed methods study, we first thematically analysed semi-structured interviews with 28 purposively selected for-profit primary-care physicians and 13 medical sales representatives from pharmaceutical companies working across Pakistan's largest city, Karachi. We then conducted a content analysis of policies on ethical practice issued by two regulatory bodies responsible in Pakistan, and the World Health Organization. This enabled a systematic comparison of incentivisation practices with what is considered 'prohibitive' or 'permissive' in policy. Our findings demonstrate that incentivisation of physicians to meet pharmaceutical sales targets is the norm, and that both parties play in the symbiotic physician-pharma incentivisation dynamics. Further, we were able to categorise the types of incentive exchanged into one of five categories: financial, material, professional or educational, social or recreational, and familial. Our comparison of incentivisation practices with policies revealed three reasons for such widespread incentivisation linked to sales targets: first, some clear policies were being ignored by physicians; second, there are ambiguous or contradictory policies with respect to specific incentive types; and third, numerous incentive types are unaddressed by existing policies, such as pharmaceutical companies paying for private clinic renovations. There is a need for policies to be clarified and updated, and to build buy-in for policy enforcement from pharmaceutical companies and physicians, such that transgressions on target-driven prescribing are seen to be unethical.

Alignment of National Forest Policy Frameworks with the EU Timber Regulation Requirements: Insights from Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

The Western Balkans represent a priority area for improving forest legality monitoring systems in line with the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR). However, research on EUTR implementation in Western Balkan countries is still sporadic with a limited geographical scope; therefore, the preparedness of forestry sector actors for the EUTR in the region is largely unknown. The main objective of this study is to determine to what extent the forest policy frameworks of Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) are aligned with the EUTR requirements. To achieve this aim, we applied a qualitative content analysis of policy documents identified via an expert-based approach. Our results show that both countries have well-developed policy frameworks addressing illegal logging and preventing illegal activities in forestry, especially through dedicated action plans. Key actors in both countries are public, including the ministries responsible for forestry, public forest enterprises, and forestry inspectorates. The forestry sector in Montenegro is facing significant changes due to the termination of forest concessions and the reorganization of the management of state forests, including forest certification. The Republic of Srpska has relatively well-established institutional bodies for EUTR implementation but, in some cases, insufficient exchange of information and cooperation among them. Our findings indicate that the forestry sectors in Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska (as well as in Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia, as per previous research) are dynamic, undergoing various changes, so there is room for improvement in terms of capacities (e.g., human, technological, infrastructural), legal responsibilities, and information access and availability. With an increasing focus on “deforestation-free” commodities within the EU and global policy arena, a new, more demanding, and broader regulation is expected at the EU level, replacing the EUTR. The incoming regulation will expand existing EUTR requirements, likely posing severe challenges to many EU member countries. This could be even more challenging for countries with less developed or advanced systems to enforce legality requirements, including Western Balkan countries.

Measures against right-wing extremism in an illiberal populist country: The case of Hungary

Abstract The paper focuses on the question of what it means both conceptually and practically to talk about counter right ‑wing extremism (RWE) measures in an illiberal populist regime while the dominant political ideology or narratives are very close to those of right ‑wing extremists. Through a qualitative analysis of policies in the Hungarian context, the paper explores both the political and the policy scene to understand how the political context and policies identified as counter ‑RWE measures interact. Relying on the categorisation of counter ‑measures, different sets of policies are scrutinised: legal, security, anti ‑terrorism, and public order measures including education, prevention, exit, deterrence, training, and communication programmes. It was concluded that there is a lack of government strategy and policies for countering RWE including almost all relevant policy fields. It was also observed that hate crime incidents have increased under the illiberal regime while at the same time previously strong extremist militant activities have declined. However, as it is argued, it is not due to effective policies but the manipulating political strategy of the incumbent party.

Abstract 45: How Did States Adapt Their Cancer Control Plan During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Abstract Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic upended the delivery of cancer services across the care continuum. In the United States, the federalist system of governance led to health policy changes by federal, state, and local jurisdictions. At the intersection of these levels of government are state cancer control plans. Funded by the federal government, state cancer control plans are developed by state health departments in collaboration with healthcare providers, public health agencies, and community organizations. By outlining specific strategies for addressing cancer in the state, these plans serve a critical role during a public health emergency. This policy analysis aims to understand how states updated their cancer control plan as a response to COVID-19. Methods: This qualitative policy analysis began by reviewing the cancer control plans of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The inclusion criteria required that each plan be updated after March 2020 and included language related to “COVID”. These plans were then analyzed for COVID-19 related adaptations along three themes: 1) cancer care continuum, 2) service delivery, 2) population health and equity. Results: Among the 51 cancer plans analyzed, seven plans met the inclusion criteria (IL, IA, ME, NV, NC, UT, VT). Three states (IL, IA, ME) adapted their plans to increase cancer screenings, two plans to increase clinical trials (IA, ME), and one plan each targeted increased treatment (NC) and prevention activities (NV). Three states identified telehealth as a priority for service delivery (IL, NV, UT), but only two (IL, UT) identified telehealth equity as a barrier. Two states (IA, NC) prioritized addressing workforce shortage and disruptions caused by the pandemic. Health insurance loss and public health investments were also identified as service delivery concerns. Two states (IL, IA) acknowledged the role of social determinants of health exacerbating COVID-19 and cancer inequalities. Food insecurity (NV, UT) and job loss (ME, NV, UT) were also components of equity within these plans. Utah explicitly acknowledged the role of racism and gender as related to the disparate impact of COVID-19 on cancer care. Conclusion: This analysis highlighted how states adapted their cancer control plans in response to COVID-19 and may inform ongoing policy debate. Continued policy surveillance and evaluation could ensure that cancer patients receive timely, appropriate care during public health emergencies. Citation Format: Jason Semprini. How Did States Adapt Their Cancer Control Plan During the COVID-19 Pandemic? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 11th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Closing the Research-to-Implementation Gap; 2023 Apr 4-6. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 45.

Demolition, Division and Displacement: Examining the Preservation of Whiteness in Rotterdam Municipal Housing Policy

Recent gentrification policies from the municipality of Rotterdam have involved the demolition of social housing, resulting in the displacement of migrant communities. These developments have been criticised by several United Nations Special Rapporteurs as violating the human right to adequate housing. Through qualitative content analysis of municipal policy documents and expert interviews, this article examines how whiteness is preserved in Rotterdam municipal housing policies between the years 2006 and 2022. Using critical race theory, this study identifies three key stages through which whiteness is preserved: in the conceptualisation of theories underpinning policies; the language codified in policy documents, and the implementation of the policy. This research offers a clear example of systemic racism today; how it operates through policies that villainize low-income migrants and justifies the maintenance of the status quo of racial hierarchy in Rotterdam.

“We are the ones who will have to make the change”: Cuban health cooperation and the integration of Cuban medical graduates into practice in the Pacific

BackgroundThis paper responds to Asante et al. (in Hum Resour Health, 2014), providing an updated picture of the impacts of Cuban medical training in the Pacific region based on research carried out in 2019–2021, which focused on the experiences of Pacific Island doctors trained in Cuba and their integration into practice in their home countries.MethodsThe research focussed on two case studies—Solomon Islands and Kiribati. Study methods for this research included multi-sited ethnographic methods and semi-structured interviews as well as qualitative analysis of policy documents, reports, and media sources.ResultsThe Cuban health assistance programme has had a significant impact on the medical workforce in the Pacific region increasing the number of doctors employed by Pacific Ministries of Health between 2012 and 2019. Qualitatively, there have been some notable improvements in the medical workforce and health delivery over this period. However, the integration of the Cuban-trained doctors into practise has been challenging, with criticisms of their clinical, procedural and communication skills, and the need for the rapid development of bridging and internship training programmes (ITPs) which were inadequately planned for at the outset of the programme.ConclusionsThe Cuban programme in the Pacific is an important model of development assistance for health in the region. While Cuba’s offer of scholarships was the trigger for a range of positive outcomes, the success of the programme has relied on input from a range of actors including support from other governments and institutions, and much hard work by the graduates themselves, often in the face of considerable criticism. Key impacts of the programme to date include the raw increase in the number of doctors and the development of the ITPs and career pathways for the graduates, although this has also led to the reorientation of Cuban graduates from preventative to curative health. There is considerable potential for these graduates to contribute to improved health outcomes across the region, particularly if their primary and preventative health care skills are utilised.

Health Workforce Development Policies in Iran: A Study of In-service Training Policies

Background: In-service training is one of the requirements for developing health workforce skills and providing quality services to patients. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the policy formulation of in-service training for the health workforce in Iran. Methods: In this qualitative policy analysis study, semi-structured interviews with key informant persons and document analysis were used to gather data. Interviews were conducted with 12 informed people about health system policies, experts, and managers of in-service training centers of medical universities and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) selected purposively. Targeted and snowball sampling was used to identify the participants. Data analysis was performed using the MAXQDA10 software, and framework analysis was run using the Kingdon model. Results: Centralized planning, lack of access in rural and remote areas, and the inability to use the potential of universities in staff training were the most frequent problems in in-service training of the health workforce. Establishing the Board of Trustees for universities affected the opening of the opportunity window to policy-making, and political entrepreneurs in MOHME took advantage of it and developed policies for in-service training. Conclusions: The development of policies has created a suitable platform for medical universities to increase the number of training hours and develop the skills of the health workforce. It also seems that policymakers' attention can lead to improving processes and using new approaches in the continuous development of health professions.

Housing accessibility in densifying cities: Entangled housing and land use policy limitations and insights from Oslo

Several cities have introduced densification policies to counteract urban sprawl, protect natural land and resources, and create socially diverse and inclusive urban areas. The common assumption, present especially in policy recommendations for sustainable urban development, that densification is the most favourable way to achieve urban sustainability in a broad sense, including economic and social dimensions, powerfully depoliticizes densification. However, within the housing sector, the implementation of densification policies might be linked to the intensification of existing - and the creation of new - social and spatial challenges. In Oslo, the case study of this investigation, urban densification has been implemented since the 1980 s, and has produced strongly exclusionary housing markets with negative socio-spatial implications. In this article, I explore the mechanisms behind such outcomes. Specifically, employing a qualitative analysis of policy documents and interviews with key-informants, I explore how the systematic prioritization of environmental sustainability and green growth goals in planning for densification, together with the lack of legal tools and economic resources to provide affordable housing, have shaped the production of exclusionary outcomes, limiting the possibilities to combine urban densification and housing accessibility at the local level.

Emergence and Structuring of the Clean Energy Regime Complex

Abstract While many have observed a regime complex for global clean energy governance, research has not yet accorded sufficient attention to the interplay of multiple streams of politics that have led to the structuring of overlapping governance initiatives and, ultimately, the articulation of a set of norms that hold this regime complex together. To understand these dynamics, this article argues that with the visibly increased agency of transnational actors and international organizations, four mechanisms together are likely to shape regime complexity: divergent state preferences, the agency of transnational actors, practices of intergovernmental organizations, and interorganizational recognition and normative legitimation. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of policy documents and interviews, and a social network analysis, it studies global clean energy governance from 1980 to 2014 to illuminate these dynamics. The findings suggest that the combination of these four mechanisms can explain the evolution from a nonregime to a loosely coupled governance system for clean energy.

Invisible public spaces: The role of cemeteries in urban planning and development in Moscow

ABSTRACT The role of urban cemeteries is highly context-dependent and varies greatly across cities and countries. Despite the growing body of literature on the cemeteries’ potential for urban development, Eastern Europe, and in particular Russia, remains underrepresented. Seeking to fill this empirical gap, this paper brings forward the case of cemeteries in Moscow, the capital of Russia. Using the concept of public space as a theoretical lens, I aim to explore the extent to which cemeteries are envisioned as public spaces in planning policies and development practices in Moscow. The study builds on a critical qualitative analysis of relevant policy documents and semi-structured interviews with experts, supplemented by field observations. The empirical material is analyzed through the prism of four dimensions: liminal, spiritual, commercial and multifunctional. The findings show that planning policies and development practices view cemeteries primarily in terms of disposal provision. Regarded as an “unspectacular” part of the urban environment, cemeteries are excluded from the authoritarian programs of improvement of public spaces in the city. However, Moscow cemeteries have a range of qualities which make them valuable—although invisible at the policy level—public spaces with a multifaceted role.

Environmental policy integration in a newly established natural resource-based sector: the role of advocacy coalitions and contrasting conceptions of sustainability

Contributing a new South American case study, this paper seeks to advance the research agenda on processes of policy integration by developing a better understanding of how nascent subsystems become integrated into mature ones and the role that changing beliefs of advocacy coalitions play in fostering policy integration. The paper examines environmental policy integration in Uruguay’s forestry sector since the 1990s and is based on an inductive qualitative analysis of policy documents, sector reports, parliament hearings and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. This demonstrates that environmental policy integration has increased continuously since the 1990s, accelerating particularly during the 2000s. We can derive three insights that specifically address this path of integration: a change in the policy beliefs of the dominant advocacy coalition, international salience of the minority coalition`s beliefs and participatory policy processes that foster interactions between opposing coalitions. Despite this, the two advocacy coalitions have crystallized with fundamentally different deep core beliefs about what a sustainable forestry sector should be. While one coalition argues that commercial tree plantations are sufficiently regulated in environmental terms, the other coalition maintains that the way that the pulp industry has developed in Uruguay is fundamentally unsustainable and therefore seeks to change the forestry sector as a whole.

A public value typology for public service broadcasting in the UK

ABSTRACT Rapid changes in audience habits, media technologies and market dynamics have prompted searching questions about the role and relevance of public service broadcasting (PSB) in the modern digital media landscape. In the UK, where cultural policymaking is increasingly politicised, the normative ideals traditionally associated with PSB are being openly contested. This article evaluates how PSB generates varied forms of “public value” of benefit to viewing and listening publics, policy stakeholders and the creative sector. On the basis of its qualitative analysis of policy documents and related research literatures over two decades, a typology of six values – social, cultural, economic, industrial, representational and civic – is identified and critiqued across regulatory and institutional frameworks. In assessing the challenges, risks and opportunities for sustaining these public values, this article offers its typology for informing cultural and media policy debates on the future of PSB in the UK and beyond.

Academic Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Triarchic Analysis of Education Policy Developments across Canada

This study employed a qualitative content analysis of provincial policy documents, following deductive methods, to examine academic resilience and education policy developments across Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, the study explicates the nature and scope of provincial policy responses to the global pandemic that address academic issues, physical health and well-being, and mental health issues for K–12 students. The pan-Canadian analysis revealed a total of 62 documents were issued between January 2020 and December 2021 that addressed one or more of the triarchic dimensions of academic resilience. The findings suggested greater attention was devoted to academic issues and there was a general lack of policy differentiation in terms of how specific resources and supports were to be directed within provincial educational jurisdictions.

TÜRKİYE’DE DEVLET VE SURİYELİ MÜLTECİLER: ÇELİŞKİLİ POLİTİKALAR VE ARAÇSAL RASYONELLİK

Amaç: Bu makalenin amacı Türkiye’nin Suriyelilere yönelik iç ve dış politika alanlarında ortaya çıkan çelişkili politikaları, devletin “araçsal rasyonellik” (instrumental rationalism) bakış açısından kaynaklanan politika tutarsızlığı teorik çerçevesi ile açıklamaktır. Yöntem: Araştırmanın yöntemi, politika belgelerinin ve internet haber sitelerinin sistematik ve kapsamlı bir nitel analizine dayanmaktadır. Makale süreç izleme (process tracing) metodu ile, “araçsal rasyonellik” teorik çerçevesinin Türkiye devletinin Suriyelilere yönelik politikalarını açıklamaktaki geçerliliğini test etmektedir. Bulgular: Bulgular son on senede Türkiye’de devletin Suriyelilere yönelik uyum üçüncü ülkeye yeniden yerleştirme ve geri gönderme politikalarını zaman içinde değişen - hatta çelişen - söylemlerle birbirlerini alternatifi olarak dile getirdiği yönündedir. Başlangıçtaki Suriye’deki krizin kısa süreceği ve gelen sığınmacıların ülkelerine geri döneceği beklentisi ile edinilen “misafir” bakış açısı; daha uzun süre kalacakları anlaşılınca, önce “geçici koruma” statüsü verilerek (2014), sonra da çok sınırlı da olsa “çalışma izni” ve “vatandaşlığına geçiş” sağlanarak (2016) nerdeyse onlar için bir entegrasyon sürecinin öngörülmesine evirilmiştir. 2017 yılından sonra ise devlet söyleminde, Suriyeliler için hızla “geri gönderme” eğiliminin yükselişine tanıklık edilmiştir. 2019 yılında bir yandan bu “geri gönderme” söylemlerinin somut politikalara doğru evirildiği, diğer yandan ise “11. Kalkınma Planı”(2019-23) ve “Uyum Strateji Belgesi ve Ulusal Eylem Planı” (2018-23) gibi temel politika belgelerinde Suriyelilerin entegrasyonu için somut planlamalar yapıldığı görülmüştür. Bu örneklerden de deneyimlendiği gibi Türkiye’de devlet sığınmacıların geleceğini çoğul bir dizi politika seçeneği ile uluslararası iltica rejiminde normatif kabul gören üç politika seçeneğine paralel olarak düzenleme eğiliminde olmuştur. Bu politika ve söylemlerdeki iç ve dış politik konjonktüre cevaben ortaya çıkan ani değişiklikler, göç politikalarındaki birbiri ile çelişen uyumsuzluğun, Türkiye’de devletin göç politikalarını araçsal bir rasyonalite ile şekillendirmesinden kaynaklandığını göstermektedir. Ana bulgu bu rasyonalitenin Türkiye’de devletin Suriyeli mülteciler üzerine olan politikalarında bir tutarlılık problemine yol açtığı yönündedir.Özgünlük: Makalenin özgün değeri, Türkiye’de devletin Suriyelilere yönelik ulaşılabilir kıldığı politika seçeneklerine yönelik eleştirel bir bakış açısı sunmasıdır. Türkiye’de devletin Suriyeli mültecilere yönelik, uyum ya da geri gönderme gibi mevcut tüm politika seçeneklerini ulaşılabilir kılma çabası, politika yapıcılar tarafından olumlu bir durum olarak ortaya konulmaktadır. Bu politika tutarsızlığının olası siyasi, toplumsal ve bireysel sonuçları bu makalede irdelenmiştir.

English

The study sought to explore the extent to which agricultural policies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries incorporate Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and its impact on the efforts to document and share agricultural IK through communication efforts. A qualitative content analysis of policy documents from seven SSA countries and eight key informant interviews with knowledge management officers from the seven countries was conducted. Purposive sampling was used to select the countries, determine documents examined, and for the selection of key informants for the interviews. The results revealed that IK was not included in several SSA countries’ governmental agricultural policies. Activities aimed at capturing, documentation and sharing IK in SSA countries were not found despite the presence of evidence of its importance to agricultural research and development. These results provide insights on the need for researchers, communicators, educators, and decision makers to consider incorporating IK into policy associated with agricultural information dissemination to improve technology generation and adoption. Key words: Indigenous knowledge, agriculture, adoption, policy, research, development.

Current Situation and Prospects of Higher Education of Engineering and Technology in Mongolia

In this study, we conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the development policy and planning documents of our country, the quantitative and statistical data of the last 5 years of studies of students in this field, and the research data obtained from 86 educational institutions to determine the status and prospects of higher education of engineering technology in Mongolia. Due to the growing demand in the labor market for higher education specialists in engineering technology at the level of Mongolia, it is necessary to develop material and human resource planning for training qualified engineers and technicians in accordance with the development policy of active economic sectors.

Regional Governance for Food System Transformations: Learning from the Pacific Island Region

The unsustainability of food systems is a global policy challenge. There is an urgent need for the improved coordination and integration of policies across sectors to improve food system outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the role and opportunities for regional governance in strengthening policy for food system transformations, using the Pacific Island region as a case study. We conducted a qualitative policy analysis, drawing on data from 21 interviews with experts and participants in Pacific Island regional food system governance, and the analysis of 17 key regional commitments (policy documents) relating to food systems. The findings indicate that the Pacific Island region has made significant progress towards improved regional food systems governance. Regional governance has been used to address multiple shared and inter-related challenges associated with food systems, improve coordination across silos, and facilitate constructive engagement on policy issues between international, regional, and national actors. However, food systems outcomes related to the economy, nutrition, and environment continue to be mixed, and there are challenges to policy coordination and effectiveness at the regional level. Interviewees envisaged a regional approach characterized by being rooted in regional values, meeting multiple objectives, balancing tensions, and providing meaningful support and resources for countries. Following food systems disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, this study suggests that there is an opportunity to strengthen regional food system governance through paradigm change, the development of new modes of coordination, and increasing the dynamic interactions between regional institutions, countries, and communities.

A distributive environmental justice index to support green space planning in cities

Environmental justice (EJ) raises concerns about just allocating environmental harms and goods. It has been mainly analysed from a distributive lens through indicators and screening tools that have underlined communities' proximity to pollution and risk sources. However, for urban areas, existing gaps relate to the need for more comprehensive assessments of green space benefits distribution (e.g., flood mitigation, air pollution control and recreation, etc.) as well as aligning EJ indicators to local planning and policy efforts for simultaneously addressing planning issues and reinforce the evaluation of existing unjust realities.To address these issues, we developed a composite distributive environmental justice index (DEJI) structured into three sub-indices that reflect locally relevant patterns of environmental risks, disadvantaged communities, and the provision of green space benefits. The construction of this index also relies on a qualitative content analysis of planning and policy documents to contextualise EJ priorities relevant to the planning administration, and a detailed methodological rationale for composite indicator building. Applying the DEJI in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain) at the census tract level, we identified a complex city-wide pattern of distributive injustices driven by the historical segregation patterns of insular contexts. Based on our results, we discuss how using the DEJI could help planning and policymakers reach specific goals, including those related to enhancing greening interventions in urban areas. Moreover, we argue that EJ composite indicators are needed to support environmentally just trajectories in cities with realities and planning patterns different from those found in mainland territories.

Analyzing forest policy mixes based on the coherence of policies and the consistency of legislative policy instruments: A case study from Ecuador

Due to widespread over-exploitation, tropical forests became a priority issue on the political agenda in the 1990s. Policy frameworks incorporating forest aspects in different policy sectors and building on existing structures have been implemented in many tropical countries. This poses challenges to policy design, including the consistency of policy instruments and policy instrument mixes. Such instruments need to be coherently integrated across various policy domains affecting forests. The Ecuadorian government has been striving for improved policy design by adjusting the policies and policy instruments over time, considering the multifunctionality of forests and the maintenance of the related ecosystem services. This study aims to amend methodologies of existing policy analysis in tropical forestry, taking into account the increasing complexity of the forest policy domain and applying this in a case study in Ecuador. We present an approach that links overarching sectoral policies with policy instruments and considers structures (mainly objectives and contents of the policy mix), actors and their interactions. The work is based on two empirical components: a qualitative content analysis of policy documents, and key informant interviews. Results for the case of Ecuador show a formally largely coherent and consistent forest policy framework. Challenges are mainly related to institutional responsibilities. The stakeholder perceptions deviate from the results of the content analysis. These deviations are interpreted as being based on specific values and beliefs. We conclude that policy development and design need to take into account these stakeholder perceptions. Based on the key informant interviews, we also highlight challenges, provide recommendations for specific thematic policy areas in Ecuador, and conclude that a specific focus needs to be kept on implementation.