Guiding questions
- What is LLL policy?
- What does the LLL policy-making process look like?
- Which key factors need to be considered to create effective LLL policy?
With the rationale for LLL established in Chapter 1, this chapter shifts focus to LLL policy. Starting with a definition of LLL policy, its common characteristics and an overview of the LLL policy-making process, the chapter then explores several factors for creating effective LLL policy. Specific emphasis is placed on the need for LLL policy to cut across sectors and include a wide range of policy agendas and potential impacts.
Any policy represents a system of principles or directions agreed upon by stakeholders to guide actions and decisions across different fields of societal activity. While each policy ideally expresses the intentions, goals and priorities determined by governments and other organizations, the process through which the policy is developed is complex and subject to a range of direct and indirect influences.
LLL policy design is frequently considered a prerogative of government authorities. However, as LLL takes place across sectors, agencies and the lifespan, it can fall within the responsibility of different ministries and authorities at different levels, corresponding to a wide range of policy and political agendas. Hence, any LLL policy-making is participatory by design, demanding the adoption of a particular systemic and cross-sectoral approach. In addition, targeted populations for LLL policy may vary significantly. These considerations of participatory, cross-sectoral policy-making and diverse target populations are characteristic of LLL policy and important to bear in mind when proceeding through the chapter.