In 2020 when I asked you about lead policy work, you weren’t optimistic that people without strong networks and expertise could make much progress on policy advocacy. Has your view changed?
Yes! I’ve updated on how quickly smart and driven people can build networks and expertise to make an impact on policy, especially in neglected areas.
I do think lead exposure (and particularly paint) was a wise choice for LEEP’s founders who were starting out with less previous policy experience. It’s a fairly technocratic regulatory intervention without much opposition, the area’s neglected so it’s easier to build your network, and there are already model laws and various international agreements in place. And I also think LEEP’s team is unusually capable!
Other kinds of policy advocacy (e.g. global aid policy in countries like the U.S.) are pretty different in my experience. Speaking loosely, it’s a more crowded space with many established players, and often involves navigating complex political landscapes and competing priorities. I wouldn’t want to write off less experienced people having an impact here, but coming in cold does seem tough. The Partnership for a Lead-Free Future shows we can have an impact there as well, but I think that story relied at least in part on strong networks and subject matter expertise.
In 2020 when I asked you about lead policy work, you weren’t optimistic that people without strong networks and expertise could make much progress on policy advocacy. Has your view changed?
Yes! I’ve updated on how quickly smart and driven people can build networks and expertise to make an impact on policy, especially in neglected areas.
I do think lead exposure (and particularly paint) was a wise choice for LEEP’s founders who were starting out with less previous policy experience. It’s a fairly technocratic regulatory intervention without much opposition, the area’s neglected so it’s easier to build your network, and there are already model laws and various international agreements in place. And I also think LEEP’s team is unusually capable!
Other kinds of policy advocacy (e.g. global aid policy in countries like the U.S.) are pretty different in my experience. Speaking loosely, it’s a more crowded space with many established players, and often involves navigating complex political landscapes and competing priorities. I wouldn’t want to write off less experienced people having an impact here, but coming in cold does seem tough. The Partnership for a Lead-Free Future shows we can have an impact there as well, but I think that story relied at least in part on strong networks and subject matter expertise.
Question for either James or Julia: Is this specifically for lead policy or just policy advocacy in general? And can you elaborate why?