This policy brief summarizes policymakers’ perspectives on what constitutes barriers to evidence-informed policymaking. It also presents strategies for making research results more accessible to high-level policymakers at the country level, based on what they say they want as well as evidence about what information policymakers can and do use in policymaking. Finally, the brief includes examples of how PopPov-supported researchers addressed policy-relevant questions and applied some of the outreach strategies that policymakers suggest.
Solid evidence on the links between preventing adolescent childbearing and alleviating poverty can motivate policymakers and donors to invest in reproductive health and family planning programs for youth. Research that documents the clear cause-and-effect relationship between program interventions and outcomes, such as better health and delayed childbearing among teens, can guide decisions about investments in research or programs.
This report examines the evidence for investing in adolescent reproductive health and family planning programs from the perspective of making an evidence-based argument to guide the investment or spending decisions of public or private organizations. Key steps in developing such an argument—a business case—include:
1. The consequences of relevant trends.
2. Evidence on the potential of particular actions or interventions to change the status quo.
3. The costs associated with different actions.
The document discusses challenges researchers face in communicating their findings to policymakers. It provides examples of 4 research teams' experiences:
1) A South African team studying teenage pregnancy partnered with advocacy groups and presented findings to stakeholders, who provided feedback and requested additional analysis to inform policy.
2) A Burkina Faso team on obstetric costs partnered with an NGO, met with policymakers, engaged media, and produced briefs. Their research informed advocacy and policy debates.
3) A Malawian team on unintended fertility engaged communities and stakeholders to increase understanding of their research and its implications for health policy.
4) A Zambian team on family planning decision-making disse
1. The document discusses gender research at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), outlining their mission, research themes, and strategic directions.
2. Key areas of research include strengthening women's assets and control over resources, and evaluating large-scale interventions. Research uses both qualitative and quantitative methods.
3. A new research program aims to document and address gaps between men's and women's access and control over various asset types, and evaluate policies to build women's assets and achieve development goals.
This study evaluates the impact of a food for education program implemented in Cambodia between 1999-2003. The program provided in-school meals, take-home rations for girls, and de-worming programs. The study finds the program increased school enrollment between 5-14% depending on the type of intervention, with the largest effect from the full package of in-school meals, take-home rations, and de-worming. The program was estimated to cost $85 per additional child enrolled per year, making it very cost-effective compared to similar programs.
1) The document discusses a paper review on the capacity of CSOs to influence policy decisions in Tanzania.
2) It finds that major challenges undermining CSOs' capacity are poor resources, sustainability, political pressures, and weak capacity in policy processes. CSOs in developing countries often fail to use research evidence during policy engagement.
3) The review recommends that CSOs improve by better understanding policy processes, actors, and incentives. It emphasizes using rigorous research evidence at all stages of the policy process to maximize influence.
RECOUP Communication Strategy (2008-09 Revision)RECOUP
The document outlines the communication strategy for RECOUP from 2008-2009, including key messages, target audiences, and activities. The objectives are to create awareness of RECOUP's goals amongst target audiences, inform them of accomplishments, and ultimately influence policy by engaging audiences to use research outputs. Key messages focus on the relationship between education, labor market outcomes, and development. Target audiences include policymakers and development practitioners. The strategy involves relaying information, engaging audiences throughout research, and using feedback mechanisms and events to maximize impact and policy influence.
This project aimed to promote women's rights in Bangladesh through changing mindsets. It had four outputs: publishing studies on (1) the status of women in the national PRSP, (2) budget allocations for women, especially marginalized women, and (3) implementation of national policies and international covenants from a gender perspective. It also aimed to (4) enlarge the civil society advocating for women's rights. The evaluation assessed the project's relevance and impact. While the project strategy was consistent with the development context in Bangladesh, the studies it produced did not introduce specific gender indicators or have a clear plan to influence policy. As a result, the project had little impact on policymaking despite raising awareness among individuals.
Monitoring and evaluation plays an important role in effective policymaking by providing useful data. However, decision-makers often overlook or undermine the importance of data. Data presented is also sometimes complex and difficult to understand. Collecting relevant data is paramount to understanding issues from the beneficiary perspective and designing impactful policies. An evidence-based policy process involves identifying needs through research and situational analysis, using evidence to draft policies, implementing policies while monitoring for gaps, and evaluating impact through ongoing data collection. However, capacity is often lacking, data is collected ad hoc without accountability, and the importance of data is not fully understood. For policies to be effective, quality data collection must be a priority throughout the entire process.
Solid evidence on the links between preventing adolescent childbearing and alleviating poverty can motivate policymakers and donors to invest in reproductive health and family planning programs for youth. Research that documents the clear cause-and-effect relationship between program interventions and outcomes, such as better health and delayed childbearing among teens, can guide decisions about investments in research or programs.
This report examines the evidence for investing in adolescent reproductive health and family planning programs from the perspective of making an evidence-based argument to guide the investment or spending decisions of public or private organizations. Key steps in developing such an argument—a business case—include:
1. The consequences of relevant trends.
2. Evidence on the potential of particular actions or interventions to change the status quo.
3. The costs associated with different actions.
The document discusses challenges researchers face in communicating their findings to policymakers. It provides examples of 4 research teams' experiences:
1) A South African team studying teenage pregnancy partnered with advocacy groups and presented findings to stakeholders, who provided feedback and requested additional analysis to inform policy.
2) A Burkina Faso team on obstetric costs partnered with an NGO, met with policymakers, engaged media, and produced briefs. Their research informed advocacy and policy debates.
3) A Malawian team on unintended fertility engaged communities and stakeholders to increase understanding of their research and its implications for health policy.
4) A Zambian team on family planning decision-making disse
1. The document discusses gender research at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), outlining their mission, research themes, and strategic directions.
2. Key areas of research include strengthening women's assets and control over resources, and evaluating large-scale interventions. Research uses both qualitative and quantitative methods.
3. A new research program aims to document and address gaps between men's and women's access and control over various asset types, and evaluate policies to build women's assets and achieve development goals.
This study evaluates the impact of a food for education program implemented in Cambodia between 1999-2003. The program provided in-school meals, take-home rations for girls, and de-worming programs. The study finds the program increased school enrollment between 5-14% depending on the type of intervention, with the largest effect from the full package of in-school meals, take-home rations, and de-worming. The program was estimated to cost $85 per additional child enrolled per year, making it very cost-effective compared to similar programs.
1) The document discusses a paper review on the capacity of CSOs to influence policy decisions in Tanzania.
2) It finds that major challenges undermining CSOs' capacity are poor resources, sustainability, political pressures, and weak capacity in policy processes. CSOs in developing countries often fail to use research evidence during policy engagement.
3) The review recommends that CSOs improve by better understanding policy processes, actors, and incentives. It emphasizes using rigorous research evidence at all stages of the policy process to maximize influence.
RECOUP Communication Strategy (2008-09 Revision)RECOUP
The document outlines the communication strategy for RECOUP from 2008-2009, including key messages, target audiences, and activities. The objectives are to create awareness of RECOUP's goals amongst target audiences, inform them of accomplishments, and ultimately influence policy by engaging audiences to use research outputs. Key messages focus on the relationship between education, labor market outcomes, and development. Target audiences include policymakers and development practitioners. The strategy involves relaying information, engaging audiences throughout research, and using feedback mechanisms and events to maximize impact and policy influence.
This project aimed to promote women's rights in Bangladesh through changing mindsets. It had four outputs: publishing studies on (1) the status of women in the national PRSP, (2) budget allocations for women, especially marginalized women, and (3) implementation of national policies and international covenants from a gender perspective. It also aimed to (4) enlarge the civil society advocating for women's rights. The evaluation assessed the project's relevance and impact. While the project strategy was consistent with the development context in Bangladesh, the studies it produced did not introduce specific gender indicators or have a clear plan to influence policy. As a result, the project had little impact on policymaking despite raising awareness among individuals.
Monitoring and evaluation plays an important role in effective policymaking by providing useful data. However, decision-makers often overlook or undermine the importance of data. Data presented is also sometimes complex and difficult to understand. Collecting relevant data is paramount to understanding issues from the beneficiary perspective and designing impactful policies. An evidence-based policy process involves identifying needs through research and situational analysis, using evidence to draft policies, implementing policies while monitoring for gaps, and evaluating impact through ongoing data collection. However, capacity is often lacking, data is collected ad hoc without accountability, and the importance of data is not fully understood. For policies to be effective, quality data collection must be a priority throughout the entire process.
Identifying Gender Dimensions In Your Projects Sept17 2008IFPRI Gender
This document discusses the importance of identifying gender dimensions in projects. It notes that doing so can help reduce poverty, comply with donor requests, and meet reporting requirements. Failing to consider gender can cause projects to miss their objectives or have unintended negative effects. The document provides examples of integrating gender considerations throughout the project cycle, from the initial needs assessment and design to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
The impact of Science Literacy delivery methods - what works?NIDA-Net
This report summarizes research on the impact of different methods for delivering science literacy. Over 2,000 impact assessment studies from the 1990s onward were reviewed across 7 categories of delivery mechanisms. The research aimed to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each mechanism and identify gaps. While most studies were small-scale, digital technologies like online learning and social media have increased science communication and raised questions about their long-term impacts, which require more systematic large-scale research. The report recommends standardizing evaluation tools to help consolidate efforts and further improve science literacy delivery.
This document summarizes a project conducted in El Alto, Bolivia that aimed to prevent gender violence towards young women and teenagers in violent or at-risk relationships. The project provided psychological services, workshops in schools, and training for youth leaders. It found that sexual violence is often normalized in romantic relationships for adolescents. While the project faced some obstacles, it contributed to raising awareness of the issue and generating discussion through community activities and media outreach.
The mid-project workshops in Ghana and Malawi sought to update stakeholders on progress developing a decision-makers' guide for inclusive sustainable agricultural intensification. 84 participants discussed draft guides and 5 tools for analyzing gender and youth inclusion. Participants provided feedback on ensuring the tools meet needs and address knowledge gaps. They expressed interest in the tools and subsequent training. Findings from indicator development research in the countries will further inform the guide to provide information on tools for collecting gender-inclusive data and using it to foster equitable sustainable agriculture.
RECOUP Ghana:Work in Progress and Policy implicationsRECOUP
The document summarizes the work of RECOUP Ghana, a research project studying the impact of education on poverty. It discusses RECOUP's goals of understanding how education affects social, economic, and health outcomes, and informing policies to benefit disadvantaged groups. It then overviews RECOUP's research strands on youth, gender, disability, skills training, and partnerships. It concludes by discussing RECOUP's capacity building activities and dissemination of findings to influence education policymaking.
Social media have become essential infrastructure for public debates and the forming of political opinion. In established democracies, traditional media still play a significant role, even if their content is distributed through social media, while in many new democracies or transition countries, social media have become the dominant platform of political exchange. Facebook’s ‘Free Basics’ initiative for 42 developing countries is creating a social media monopoly in these countries. In some countries, people have come to understand Facebook as ‘the internet’, since most online interaction is mediated through Facebook.
The document discusses implications of implementing prior-prior year income data for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Key points:
- Using prior-prior year tax data would provide more accurate financial aid award information earlier, allowing students to make better-informed decisions about college selection.
- Concerns about increased costs are addressed, finding Pell Grant spending would likely not significantly increase and most states would have minimal challenges aligning with the change.
- While there may be initial increased administrative burden, increased FAFSA completion rates and earlier availability would offset this.
- Benefits include an earlier FAFSA release date of September 1st, giving students and families more time to make
Movers, Shakers, and Gatekeepers: The role of intermediaries in evidence-info...HopkinsCFAR
This document summarizes a presentation about evidence-informed decision making and the role of intermediaries. It discusses how decisions are influenced by various factors and defines evidence-informed decision making. It also presents models depicting how research is translated into action. The presentation then focuses on a study conducted in Kenya on the role of academic knowledge brokers in linking research to policy. The study used social network analysis to map networks between universities and government. It identified common attributes of knowledge brokers, including experience and strong interactive skills. Finally, it discusses various strategies knowledge brokers use to engage with policymakers and provides recommendations to strengthen these relationships.
A strategic approach to policy engagement for research organisationsJames Georgalakis
This is the presentation delivered as part of a two day workshop held in Nepal in 2014 aimed at communications professionals or the point person for communication within fifteen South Asian think tanks. Participants explored how they could adopt a systematic approach to planning research or knowledge outputs for policy engagement and influence. They explored the types of influencing outcomes they are focused on and their individual and institutional capacities to deliver strategic communication and policy engagement work. By the end of the workshop it was hoped that each participating institution would have identified a clear set of steps towards the development of a strategic approach to policy engagement and research communication at an institutional or programmatic level.
This workshop formed part of the IDRC funded Think Tanks Initiative South Asia programme. http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Programs/Social_and_Economic_Policy/Think_Tank_Initiative/Pages/About.aspx
Martin J Gunnell has extensive experience in teaching, management, and financial analysis. He received his PhD from Capella University focusing on cultural values and telecommunications change. Gunnell currently teaches dissertation courses for University of Phoenix and has received exemplary reviews from former students. He has over 30 years of experience in management and financial analysis for The Boeing Company, including developing cost models, financial reporting, and project estimating. Gunnell also has a background in production management and has taught business programs for Gonzaga University.
The document provides guidance on designing effective programmes that target adolescent girls. It discusses gathering data to understand which girls to target and why, selecting appropriate venues and delivery methods, and developing relevant programme content. Regarding content, the document stresses listening to girls, focusing on their needs rather than problems, and including best practices while also building girls' assets in areas like social networks, skills, health, and financial literacy. Effective programmes are girl-centred and evidence-based.
1) Social protection programs can play a critical role in facilitating safe transitions to adulthood for adolescents by addressing vulnerabilities during rapid development.
2) However, adolescents are often not directly targeted and their needs are inconsistently reflected in program design, with a focus on younger ages and practical needs over empowerment.
3) Education is a main focus of social transfers for adolescents, which can challenge gender norms by promoting schooling, but impacts vary by context and more can be done to address gendered risks faced by both boys and girls.
India has a long history of discrimination against girls that has led to an unbalanced child sex ratio, with fewer girls than boys. The 2011 Census found only 914 girls for every 1000 boys aged 0-6, the lowest ratio ever recorded. States like Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan had some of the worst ratios. The easy availability of ultrasound technology and its misuse for sex-selective abortions has contributed greatly to the declining number of girls. Other factors include the marriage and dowry system, patriarchal social norms, and a preference for sons. Despite government laws and schemes, the efforts to improve the child sex ratio have not been
The document discusses communication strategies for public figures who are obsessed with media coverage. It suggests that issues management, rather than reactive media responses, is a better approach. Regular issues monitoring and stakeholder analysis can help anticipate problems and prevent crises. Framing issues strategically and maintaining open communication with stakeholders is important for managing media attention in a controlled manner.
Leah Prencipe, Tia Palermo, and Yekaterina Chzhen and presented “Impacts of a Cash Plus Intervention on Gender Attitudes among Tanzanian Adolescents” as part of European Commission Joint Research Center's Seminar Series. (June 2020)
The document outlines a presentation made to the Utah Governor's Office of Management and Budget on creating a culture of evidence-based innovation in government. It discusses applying the principles of evidence-based practice to incentivize public sector innovation and overcome barriers, as well as the strategic opportunities for Utah to become a national leader through a state-level evidence-based innovation plan with independent review of proposals and funding for approved pilots and program evaluations.
Catalyzing Equitable Development: An Initiative to Institutionalize a Gender...Dr Lendy Spires
The Catalyzing Equitable Development (CED) Program responded to two questions that are key to gender equality and effective development. First, can organizations effectively integrate gender in their programs and operations? And second, to the extent they can, does gender integration enhance development outcomes?
The CED program demonstrated that the answer to both of these questions is a strong “yes.” InterAction’s Commission on the Advancement of Women (CAW) implemented this program from January 2003-September 2006. The aim of the program was to institutionalize a gender perspective in the work of development and humanitarian assistance PVOs and NGOs as a necessary means to improve living conditions for poor communities in Africa and Asia. The program focused on building the capacity of PVOs and NGOs through training and technical assistance in Inter-Action’s Gender Audit Organizational Self Assessment and Action Planning methodology.
These organizations are major contributors to global development, collectively implementing about 40% of US government funded development assistance as well as administering over $7 billion annually in assistance from private sources and in-kind contributions. The program targeted the very way PVOs and NGOs do their work and enhanced the effectiveness of their field programs by reducing gender inequalities and promoting women’s and girls’ full participation throughout their operations.
However, the program did not stop at capacity building, but assessed the impact of capacity building at the field level. A unique feature of the program was a study on the impact of gender mainstreaming in four African countries, one of the few such impact studies that has been carried out globally by donors, governments, or the United Nations. In addition, the program documented innovative practices in gender integration from the Asia-Pacific region and drew out lessons learned to guide other planners and practitioners. Major accomplishments of the program are: 287 individuals and approximately 173 organizations (or country offices) participated in eight Gender Audit Courses and seven Gender Audit Workshops in the US and overseas. The Courses were offered in the U.S., Ghana, Kenya, and the Philippines. The workshops were offered in New York, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Professor Elizabeth Waters, Coordinating Editor of the Cochrane Public Health Review Group & Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne
On May 27 2021, the Child Protection and Gender sections at NYHQ and UNICEF Innocenti organised an internal webinar on UNICEF’s Strategy Paper on the Gender Dimensions of Violence against Children and Adolescents in which over 200 UNICEF colleagues from regional and country levels participated. The webinar aimed to help participants learn more about the strategy paper and provided an opportunity to share ideas and recommendations for the implementation of priority actions in this area.
This document summarizes a study on household decision-making and contraceptive use in Zambia. The study found that unmet need for family planning remains high in Zambia, despite available services. It investigated how a husband's role in decisions influences a wife's contraceptive use. Women were given vouchers for free contraception either with their husbands (couples treatment) or privately (individual treatment). The couples treatment led to 25% fewer women using concealable contraception compared to the individual treatment. The study suggests spousal disagreement can impact contraceptive use and fertility outcomes.
This document provides an overview of over 100 population, poverty, and reproductive health research projects funded by various organizations. It lists each project's title, lead investigator, funding organization, and whether the project examines topics at the macro level, micro/household level, involves policy/program evaluation, focuses on HIV/AIDS, uses experimental design, concerns female empowerment, measures impacts on GDP, poverty reduction, or labor force participation/savings, or evaluates the effects of reproductive health investments and programs. The projects cover a wide range of countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and methods.
Identifying Gender Dimensions In Your Projects Sept17 2008IFPRI Gender
This document discusses the importance of identifying gender dimensions in projects. It notes that doing so can help reduce poverty, comply with donor requests, and meet reporting requirements. Failing to consider gender can cause projects to miss their objectives or have unintended negative effects. The document provides examples of integrating gender considerations throughout the project cycle, from the initial needs assessment and design to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
The impact of Science Literacy delivery methods - what works?NIDA-Net
This report summarizes research on the impact of different methods for delivering science literacy. Over 2,000 impact assessment studies from the 1990s onward were reviewed across 7 categories of delivery mechanisms. The research aimed to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each mechanism and identify gaps. While most studies were small-scale, digital technologies like online learning and social media have increased science communication and raised questions about their long-term impacts, which require more systematic large-scale research. The report recommends standardizing evaluation tools to help consolidate efforts and further improve science literacy delivery.
This document summarizes a project conducted in El Alto, Bolivia that aimed to prevent gender violence towards young women and teenagers in violent or at-risk relationships. The project provided psychological services, workshops in schools, and training for youth leaders. It found that sexual violence is often normalized in romantic relationships for adolescents. While the project faced some obstacles, it contributed to raising awareness of the issue and generating discussion through community activities and media outreach.
The mid-project workshops in Ghana and Malawi sought to update stakeholders on progress developing a decision-makers' guide for inclusive sustainable agricultural intensification. 84 participants discussed draft guides and 5 tools for analyzing gender and youth inclusion. Participants provided feedback on ensuring the tools meet needs and address knowledge gaps. They expressed interest in the tools and subsequent training. Findings from indicator development research in the countries will further inform the guide to provide information on tools for collecting gender-inclusive data and using it to foster equitable sustainable agriculture.
RECOUP Ghana:Work in Progress and Policy implicationsRECOUP
The document summarizes the work of RECOUP Ghana, a research project studying the impact of education on poverty. It discusses RECOUP's goals of understanding how education affects social, economic, and health outcomes, and informing policies to benefit disadvantaged groups. It then overviews RECOUP's research strands on youth, gender, disability, skills training, and partnerships. It concludes by discussing RECOUP's capacity building activities and dissemination of findings to influence education policymaking.
Social media have become essential infrastructure for public debates and the forming of political opinion. In established democracies, traditional media still play a significant role, even if their content is distributed through social media, while in many new democracies or transition countries, social media have become the dominant platform of political exchange. Facebook’s ‘Free Basics’ initiative for 42 developing countries is creating a social media monopoly in these countries. In some countries, people have come to understand Facebook as ‘the internet’, since most online interaction is mediated through Facebook.
The document discusses implications of implementing prior-prior year income data for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Key points:
- Using prior-prior year tax data would provide more accurate financial aid award information earlier, allowing students to make better-informed decisions about college selection.
- Concerns about increased costs are addressed, finding Pell Grant spending would likely not significantly increase and most states would have minimal challenges aligning with the change.
- While there may be initial increased administrative burden, increased FAFSA completion rates and earlier availability would offset this.
- Benefits include an earlier FAFSA release date of September 1st, giving students and families more time to make
Movers, Shakers, and Gatekeepers: The role of intermediaries in evidence-info...HopkinsCFAR
This document summarizes a presentation about evidence-informed decision making and the role of intermediaries. It discusses how decisions are influenced by various factors and defines evidence-informed decision making. It also presents models depicting how research is translated into action. The presentation then focuses on a study conducted in Kenya on the role of academic knowledge brokers in linking research to policy. The study used social network analysis to map networks between universities and government. It identified common attributes of knowledge brokers, including experience and strong interactive skills. Finally, it discusses various strategies knowledge brokers use to engage with policymakers and provides recommendations to strengthen these relationships.
A strategic approach to policy engagement for research organisationsJames Georgalakis
This is the presentation delivered as part of a two day workshop held in Nepal in 2014 aimed at communications professionals or the point person for communication within fifteen South Asian think tanks. Participants explored how they could adopt a systematic approach to planning research or knowledge outputs for policy engagement and influence. They explored the types of influencing outcomes they are focused on and their individual and institutional capacities to deliver strategic communication and policy engagement work. By the end of the workshop it was hoped that each participating institution would have identified a clear set of steps towards the development of a strategic approach to policy engagement and research communication at an institutional or programmatic level.
This workshop formed part of the IDRC funded Think Tanks Initiative South Asia programme. http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Programs/Social_and_Economic_Policy/Think_Tank_Initiative/Pages/About.aspx
Martin J Gunnell has extensive experience in teaching, management, and financial analysis. He received his PhD from Capella University focusing on cultural values and telecommunications change. Gunnell currently teaches dissertation courses for University of Phoenix and has received exemplary reviews from former students. He has over 30 years of experience in management and financial analysis for The Boeing Company, including developing cost models, financial reporting, and project estimating. Gunnell also has a background in production management and has taught business programs for Gonzaga University.
The document provides guidance on designing effective programmes that target adolescent girls. It discusses gathering data to understand which girls to target and why, selecting appropriate venues and delivery methods, and developing relevant programme content. Regarding content, the document stresses listening to girls, focusing on their needs rather than problems, and including best practices while also building girls' assets in areas like social networks, skills, health, and financial literacy. Effective programmes are girl-centred and evidence-based.
1) Social protection programs can play a critical role in facilitating safe transitions to adulthood for adolescents by addressing vulnerabilities during rapid development.
2) However, adolescents are often not directly targeted and their needs are inconsistently reflected in program design, with a focus on younger ages and practical needs over empowerment.
3) Education is a main focus of social transfers for adolescents, which can challenge gender norms by promoting schooling, but impacts vary by context and more can be done to address gendered risks faced by both boys and girls.
India has a long history of discrimination against girls that has led to an unbalanced child sex ratio, with fewer girls than boys. The 2011 Census found only 914 girls for every 1000 boys aged 0-6, the lowest ratio ever recorded. States like Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan had some of the worst ratios. The easy availability of ultrasound technology and its misuse for sex-selective abortions has contributed greatly to the declining number of girls. Other factors include the marriage and dowry system, patriarchal social norms, and a preference for sons. Despite government laws and schemes, the efforts to improve the child sex ratio have not been
The document discusses communication strategies for public figures who are obsessed with media coverage. It suggests that issues management, rather than reactive media responses, is a better approach. Regular issues monitoring and stakeholder analysis can help anticipate problems and prevent crises. Framing issues strategically and maintaining open communication with stakeholders is important for managing media attention in a controlled manner.
Leah Prencipe, Tia Palermo, and Yekaterina Chzhen and presented “Impacts of a Cash Plus Intervention on Gender Attitudes among Tanzanian Adolescents” as part of European Commission Joint Research Center's Seminar Series. (June 2020)
The document outlines a presentation made to the Utah Governor's Office of Management and Budget on creating a culture of evidence-based innovation in government. It discusses applying the principles of evidence-based practice to incentivize public sector innovation and overcome barriers, as well as the strategic opportunities for Utah to become a national leader through a state-level evidence-based innovation plan with independent review of proposals and funding for approved pilots and program evaluations.
Catalyzing Equitable Development: An Initiative to Institutionalize a Gender...Dr Lendy Spires
The Catalyzing Equitable Development (CED) Program responded to two questions that are key to gender equality and effective development. First, can organizations effectively integrate gender in their programs and operations? And second, to the extent they can, does gender integration enhance development outcomes?
The CED program demonstrated that the answer to both of these questions is a strong “yes.” InterAction’s Commission on the Advancement of Women (CAW) implemented this program from January 2003-September 2006. The aim of the program was to institutionalize a gender perspective in the work of development and humanitarian assistance PVOs and NGOs as a necessary means to improve living conditions for poor communities in Africa and Asia. The program focused on building the capacity of PVOs and NGOs through training and technical assistance in Inter-Action’s Gender Audit Organizational Self Assessment and Action Planning methodology.
These organizations are major contributors to global development, collectively implementing about 40% of US government funded development assistance as well as administering over $7 billion annually in assistance from private sources and in-kind contributions. The program targeted the very way PVOs and NGOs do their work and enhanced the effectiveness of their field programs by reducing gender inequalities and promoting women’s and girls’ full participation throughout their operations.
However, the program did not stop at capacity building, but assessed the impact of capacity building at the field level. A unique feature of the program was a study on the impact of gender mainstreaming in four African countries, one of the few such impact studies that has been carried out globally by donors, governments, or the United Nations. In addition, the program documented innovative practices in gender integration from the Asia-Pacific region and drew out lessons learned to guide other planners and practitioners. Major accomplishments of the program are: 287 individuals and approximately 173 organizations (or country offices) participated in eight Gender Audit Courses and seven Gender Audit Workshops in the US and overseas. The Courses were offered in the U.S., Ghana, Kenya, and the Philippines. The workshops were offered in New York, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Professor Elizabeth Waters, Coordinating Editor of the Cochrane Public Health Review Group & Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne
On May 27 2021, the Child Protection and Gender sections at NYHQ and UNICEF Innocenti organised an internal webinar on UNICEF’s Strategy Paper on the Gender Dimensions of Violence against Children and Adolescents in which over 200 UNICEF colleagues from regional and country levels participated. The webinar aimed to help participants learn more about the strategy paper and provided an opportunity to share ideas and recommendations for the implementation of priority actions in this area.
This document summarizes a study on household decision-making and contraceptive use in Zambia. The study found that unmet need for family planning remains high in Zambia, despite available services. It investigated how a husband's role in decisions influences a wife's contraceptive use. Women were given vouchers for free contraception either with their husbands (couples treatment) or privately (individual treatment). The couples treatment led to 25% fewer women using concealable contraception compared to the individual treatment. The study suggests spousal disagreement can impact contraceptive use and fertility outcomes.
This document provides an overview of over 100 population, poverty, and reproductive health research projects funded by various organizations. It lists each project's title, lead investigator, funding organization, and whether the project examines topics at the macro level, micro/household level, involves policy/program evaluation, focuses on HIV/AIDS, uses experimental design, concerns female empowerment, measures impacts on GDP, poverty reduction, or labor force participation/savings, or evaluates the effects of reproductive health investments and programs. The projects cover a wide range of countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and methods.
Women in Burkina Faso who experienced life-threatening complications during childbirth faced significant financial and social hardships even if they survived. The costs of emergency care often plunged families deeper into poverty, as women had to pay at least part of the bills and missed work during their recovery. While Burkina Faso adopted a policy in 2006 to subsidize delivery and emergency obstetric care costs, many poor women did not benefit due to lack of awareness about the policy and which women qualified for full exemption from fees. Surviving such complications compromised women's social status and roles within their families and communities.
This document summarizes research conducted as part of the Population and Poverty (PopPov) initiative, which aimed to strengthen evidence on how population and reproductive health affect economic outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. It outlines key findings from macro-level studies that examined relationships between demographic changes, economic growth, and policy impacts. It also describes results from micro-level studies that evaluated how specific health programs and interventions affected outcomes for women and children. Overall, the research generated evidence that family planning programs can facilitate economic development and that improved access to reproductive healthcare provides benefits. Going forward, PopPov studies have made progress addressing the initial research agenda, but more work is still needed.
Large changes in contraceptive prices and household resources during an economic crisis in Indonesia had little impact on contraceptive use. When prices of contraceptives like pills increased by over 50% and household expenditures decreased by 15%, overall contraceptive use only declined slightly. While some switched methods or providers in response to price changes, demand for family planning services proved resilient. The study suggests that reducing public subsidies for contraceptives may not reduce use, allowing resources to be reallocated to other health programs.
The document discusses two studies on family planning in Uganda. The first study finds that the societal costs of induced abortions in Uganda in 2009 was over $64 million, more than 4% of annual health care expenditures. The second study finds that increasing access to modern contraceptives to meet all unmet need could reduce costs, fertility rates, abortions and complications while improving health outcomes. The analysis suggests universal access to contraception would be highly cost-effective.
This document discusses the relationships between reproductive health, population change, and economic development. It examines evidence that improvements in reproductive health, such as lower fertility and better maternal and child health, can contribute to human capital development and economic returns in three key ways: 1) Healthier women with fewer children invest more in education; 2) Women participate more in labor markets; 3) Better reproductive health increases women's ability to earn and save, helping families escape poverty. The document reviews studies showing pathways and evidence for these connections.
This document summarizes research on the links between women's reproductive health, family size, and economic development in East Africa. The research shows that empowering women with access to family planning and reproductive healthcare contributes to economic well-being. When women can control the timing and spacing of pregnancies, it allows them to pursue education and jobs while also having smaller, healthier families. However, many women in East Africa still have unmet needs for contraception and face barriers in accessing quality maternal healthcare. Investing in women's health, lowering costs, and improving access to services could help initiate a cycle of greater health, education, and economic opportunities for women and their families.
- Teenage childbearing in South Africa remains high, with over 1 in 4 women experiencing a birth before age 20. Research from Cape Town and rural KwaZulu-Natal finds that teen mothers and their children experience adverse social and economic outcomes.
- Studies show teen mothers have lower educational attainment, with fewer years of schooling completed and higher dropout rates compared to women who delayed childbearing. Children of teen mothers also have poorer health and educational outcomes.
- While factors like low socioeconomic status contribute to these outcomes, the research finds teenage childbearing itself leads to lower human capital accumulation for mothers and risks to child health, suggesting policy interventions could help mitigate these effects.
Rwanda faces development challenges stemming from factors like low income, past political upheaval, and high population density. While contraceptive use and fertility rates have increased and decreased respectively in recent years due to government programs and policies, unmet need for family planning remains high. Smaller desired family size is associated with education level, region of residence, partner's occupation, exposure to family planning information, and couple communication. Increasing access to and awareness of contraceptives as well as addressing cultural attitudes could further reduce unmet need and support Rwanda's efforts to slow population growth.
Training Slides - BUILDING A GENDER INCLUSIVE EDUCATION POLICY.pptxIbrahimBello33
This document discusses gender inclusive education policy formulation. It outlines the objectives of training policymakers to recognize and address gender issues in education policy. It discusses key concepts like public policy, the policy cycle, and actors involved in policymaking. It also covers Nigeria's national education policy, including trends, challenges, and analyzing state budgets. Finally, it introduces gender mainstreaming as a strategy for achieving gender equality and outlines the gender mainstreaming cycle and important actors in developing gender inclusive education policies.
Strategies For Impact And Policy Relevance V2RECOUP
The document discusses six key lessons learned by the Overseas Development Institute about enhancing the impact of research on policymaking:
1. Policy processes are complex with many actors and stages that do not always follow a linear process.
2. Research-based evidence often plays a minor role in policymaking compared to other factors like values, experience, and pragmatism.
3. It is possible for research to contribute to impactful policies through understanding contexts and building relationships between researchers and policymakers.
This document summarizes a study on the status of research-policy linkages in Ethiopia. The study found that the linkages are currently weak and facing several challenges. Researchers face issues like low demand for research, lack of incentives, and poor information management. Policymakers struggle with lack of time, poor communication with researchers, and research that lacks quality and relevance. The government of Ethiopia has acknowledged the importance of research and established policies to strengthen research and its use in decision-making. However, more work is still needed to improve the utilization of research findings in policies and address the challenges on both sides.
The document discusses the nature of public policy and the policy process in the Philippines. It defines public policy as the government's attempt to address public issues through laws, regulations, and actions. The public policy process in the Philippines involves several stages: agenda setting, formulation, adoption, formalization, implementation, and evaluation. Key institutions involved include Congress, the executive branch, and local governments. The Philippine Development Plan for 2017-2022 aims for inclusive growth through three pillars: regaining public trust, increasing opportunities, and sustainable economic growth. Recommendations include making the policy process more innovative and inclusive.
This document summarizes agricultural extension policy in Sub-Saharan Africa. It finds that most countries lack formalized extension policies. Where policies do exist, they take the form of provisional policies or decrees rather than legislated policies passed by parliament. The document reviews extension models and policies in various countries, finding inconsistencies in coverage and goals due to a lack of comprehensive policy. It outlines the typical process for formulating extension policy and recommends countries adopt legislated policies to make extension services more effective for food security and rural development.
This document discusses how organizations can act as "boundary organizations" to promote evidence-based policymaking. It uses the Regional Network on AIDS, Livelihoods and Food Security (RENEWAL) as a case study. RENEWAL aims to enhance understanding of the links between HIV/AIDS and food security in Africa. It builds networks between researchers and policymakers to identify policy-relevant research topics and facilitate communication. The document analyzes RENEWAL's experiences networking with South African government officials to encourage use of research evidence in policy. It draws lessons on effective strategies for engaging policymakers and getting research into policy and practice.
The document discusses strategies for students to get involved in analyzing government health budgets and financing at various stages of the budget process. It outlines how students can collaborate with policymakers during planning, scrutinize implementation, and advocate for priorities like preventative health and access for underserved groups. The document also notes challenges like lack of capacity and secretive processes that students must address.
The document discusses attempts over the last 14 years to improve policy making in the UK government. It identifies four main areas of focus: process, qualities, structures, and politics. While the goals of these reform efforts are widely agreed upon, the document argues there remains a gap between the theory presented and the realities of policy making practice. The two key qualities that have proven most elusive are evaluation, review and learning, and innovation, due to systemic barriers like misaligned timescales, departmental incentives, and lack of clarity over their practical meaning. Overall, while the desire to improve is clear, current approaches have not adequately addressed the challenges of translating theory into reality.
This document provides a summary of a two-day policy research seminar that brought together representatives from African policy networks, international agencies, researchers, and business and government leaders. The seminar focused on achieving inclusive development and economic transformation in Africa. On day one, presentations addressed the meaning of economic transformation and inclusive development, highlighting the need to move from growth to structural economic change that benefits large populations. Presentations also focused on the politics of transformation and the idea of a developmental state, using Ethiopia and Rwanda as examples. Day two focused on recommendations to make policymaking more evidence-based, including the need for better understanding of knowledge flows and more research on inclusive development and political economy analysis.
Using the policy diffusion framework to investigate domestic actors’ ownershi...valéry ridde
Presentation by Lara Gautier (Université de Montréal).
Global Health Workshop: Methods For Implementation Science in Global Health.
http://www.equitesante.org/implementation-science-methods-in-global-health/
The document outlines the agenda and activities of a policy engagement tutorial held in Dakar, Senegal. It includes:
- Storytelling exercises where participants shared experiences engaging with policy processes
- Identification of 6 key lessons for effective policy engagement based on collective experiences
- Presentation of frameworks for analyzing the political context, evidence, and links between policy and research communities when influencing policy
- Discussion of tools for strategic policy engagement including the Alignment, Interest and Influence Matrix to map stakeholders and prioritize targets.
Reporte BID: Public-Private Collaboration on Productive Development Policies ...CESSI ArgenTIna
The document discusses the Empleartec program in Argentina, which aimed to address skilled labor shortages in the software and information services (SIS) sector. A public-private collaboration was established between the government and SIS companies to design training programs. The collaboration helped match training to the needs of companies and led to the creation of a fund to finance training, addressing the key constraint of limited human capital facing growth of the SIS sector.
Technology and policies for health in SSA - Hounsell, Prentice 2014Michelle Prentice
This document discusses the use of mobile technology and appropriate policies to improve health services in Sub-Saharan Africa. It examines three case studies of mHealth projects in Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya. The case studies show both successes and failures, from which key lessons are learned. An overarching policy recommendation and checklist are proposed to help tailor effective technology solutions to different country environments in the region. Factors like appropriate technology, partnerships, equity, sustainability, and evidence of benefits are considered important for policy.
What makes indicators successful? Lessons from practitionersnefwellbeing
BRAINPOoL (Bringing alternative indicators into policy) is an EU-funded project aimed at identifying and overcoming the barriers to ‘Beyond GDP’ indicators being used in policy
Brainpool what makes-indicators-successfulWPEurope
This document summarizes the key success factors for "Beyond GDP" indicators being used effectively in policymaking. It identifies four main categories of success factors: indicator factors, relationship factors, user factors, and policy/context factors. For each category, it outlines several specific factors based on research from the BRAINPOoL project, including the importance of indicator salience, legitimacy, credibility; engaging stakeholders; building user capacity; and supportive policy environments. The full report provides additional details on 16 indicator initiatives and is available online.
This document summarizes the findings of a study that analyzed national policies promoting internationalization in higher education. It identified five main types of policies: 1) student mobility, 2) scholar mobility and research collaboration, 3) cross-border education, 4) internationalization at home, and 5) comprehensive internationalization. While policies have proliferated, determining their effectiveness is challenging. Key factors that influence effectiveness include funding levels, implementation methods, alignment with other policies, and alignment with institutional priorities. For policies to achieve their goals, greater coordination and synergies between countries are needed.
The document provides a cautionary report on New Zealand's National Standards policy implementation for primary schools. It summarizes that the policy has been divisive and lacks an evidence base. It was developed without sufficient input from education professionals and communities. There are also design flaws like not aligning with the curriculum. For a system-wide change to succeed, it is important to have strong relationships, buy-in from those impacted, and infrastructure to support the change, which this policy currently lacks.
Day 1 session 3 strengthening policy engagement in imcha ppdea-imcha
The document summarizes a workshop on strengthening policy engagement efforts to improve maternal and child health in Africa. It discusses definitions of policy engagement, attributes of effective engagement, and challenges and opportunities for engagement. Partners in Population and Development, the organization hosting the workshop, promotes reproductive health and population issues through evidence-based advocacy and engagement with policymakers in 14 African countries. The workshop aimed to share lessons on building support among leaders, increasing funding commitments, and transferring knowledge through regional cooperation.
Session 3 strengthening policy engagement in imcha ppdJoshua Waema
This document summarizes a workshop organized by Partners in Population and Development (PPD) on strengthening policy engagement efforts in their Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa (IMCHA) program. The workshop discussed definitions of policy engagement, attributes of effective policy engagement including being evidence-based and using champions. It also addressed challenges like different policymaker backgrounds and data quality issues. The document provides examples of PPD's policy engagement achievements and opportunities to strengthen engagement, such as repackaging data, understanding policymaker priorities, and establishing partnerships.
This document provides guidelines for effectively communicating research findings to policymakers. It summarizes a literature review and interviews with stakeholders on best practices. Key factors that influence if evidence is used in policy include: context of the political environment and audience; establishing links and credibility with policymakers; timing recommendations for the policy process; and presenting clear, concise evidence and recommendations. The guidelines cover framing the problem, understanding the audience, credibility, engaging policymakers throughout, choosing messengers, and design of briefs and presentations. The goal is to produce outputs that policymakers will see, understand and hopefully act upon.
Similar to Communicating Research: Policymakers' Perspective (20)
This document discusses how economic shifts and natural disasters affect vulnerable populations in low and middle-income countries. While the proportion of people living in extreme poverty has declined globally, nearly 1 billion people still live in poverty. Extreme poverty is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia and is worsened by slow employment growth, volatile commodity prices, and natural disasters. Research studies in India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh found that economic downturns and natural disasters increase food insecurity, malnutrition, and lower educational attainment, especially for vulnerable groups. However, certain health, nutrition, and cash transfer programs were shown to help mitigate the effects of poverty and protect vulnerable populations.
Social and economic factors influence contraceptive use in Tanzania. Only 27% of married women in Tanzania used modern contraceptive methods in 2010, and the rate was even lower in Mwanza region at 12%. Both men and women have concerns and misconceptions about side effects of contraceptives. Research shows contraceptive use is associated with greater knowledge about contraceptives and higher education levels. A woman's social network and partner approval also impact her contraceptive use. Economic shocks can disrupt access to contraceptives or encourage greater use to avoid child expenses. National investments in family planning programs aim to expand access and increase contraceptive rates.
The document discusses maternal health and outcomes in Burkina Faso. It finds that the maternal mortality ratio in Burkina Faso is 400 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is higher than the global average but has declined 49% since 1990. Pregnancy-related crises can have long-term health, social, and economic impacts on women and their families due to costs of care, lost productivity, and risk of impoverishment. Investing in access to emergency obstetric care and family planning can help reduce maternal mortality and its adverse effects in Burkina Faso.
Living further from health care facilities can negatively impact health in South Africa by serving as a barrier to access. Research in South Africa found that teenage childbearing was influenced by the distance to care facilities, and teenage childbearing can have lasting health and economic consequences. A program called NAFCI that provided youth-friendly sexual health services and information at clinics was associated with delayed childbearing, increased contraceptive use, and reduced sexually transmitted infections among adolescents living near the clinics. Improving access to reproductive healthcare and information can help address disparities in teenage pregnancy and its adverse outcomes.
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has partnered with institutions around the world to fund over 50 research projects exploring the relationship between population, reproductive health, and economic development in low and middle-income countries. This research initiative called PopPov has supported studies at both the macro and micro levels. Macro-level research has examined how demographic changes and policies impact economic growth, while micro-level research has assessed the effects of family planning and reproductive health on outcomes for women and children. PopPov researchers have generated new data and identified creative methods using natural experiments to help establish causal relationships. Their findings are being used to inform health, family planning, and education programs in several countries.
This document describes several projects funded by AFD/IRD that aim to study population issues in Africa. One project examines the impact of fertility behaviors on children's schooling and work in urban Burkina Faso. Another analyzes determinants and outcomes of transitions related to family formation, education, and work for young women in Senegal and Madagascar. A third project evaluates the impact of prevention campaigns on risky sexual behaviors of teenage girls in Cameroon using a randomized controlled trial.
This document provides a list of references (outputs) from projects funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation's population, reproductive health, and economic development initiative. The appendix includes 56 references, listing the title, authors, project number, type of output (e.g. journal article, report), and corresponding pages for each reference related to research on how population and reproductive health affect economic outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
A study in Accra, Ghana found that larger family sizes negatively impacted women's health and economic opportunities. While additional births did not initially affect women's employment due to support from family and flexibility to bring children to work, over time more children reduced labor force participation and increased health risks from pregnancies. The challenges of unstable employment, low wages, and lack of partner cohabitation in Accra exacerbated the economic and health burdens of childrearing for women and their families.
More from The Population and Poverty Research Network (8)
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Combined Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Vessel List.Christina Parmionova
The best available, up-to-date information on all fishing and related vessels that appear on the illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing vessel lists published by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and related organisations. The aim of the site is to improve the effectiveness of the original IUU lists as a tool for a wide variety of stakeholders to better understand and combat illegal fishing and broader fisheries crime.
To date, the following regional organisations maintain or share lists of vessels that have been found to carry out or support IUU fishing within their own or adjacent convention areas and/or species of competence:
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT)
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC)
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO)
North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)
North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC)
South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO)
South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO)
Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
The Combined IUU Fishing Vessel List merges all these sources into one list that provides a single reference point to identify whether a vessel is currently IUU listed. Vessels that have been IUU listed in the past and subsequently delisted (for example because of a change in ownership, or because the vessel is no longer in service) are also retained on the site, so that the site contains a full historic record of IUU listed fishing vessels.
Unlike the IUU lists published on individual RFMO websites, which may update vessel details infrequently or not at all, the Combined IUU Fishing Vessel List is kept up to date with the best available information regarding changes to vessel identity, flag state, ownership, location, and operations.
RFP for Reno's Community Assistance CenterThis Is Reno
Property appraisals completed in May for downtown Reno’s Community Assistance and Triage Centers (CAC) reveal that repairing the buildings to bring them back into service would cost an estimated $10.1 million—nearly four times the amount previously reported by city staff.
The Antyodaya Saral Haryana Portal is a pioneering initiative by the Government of Haryana aimed at providing citizens with seamless access to a wide range of government services
About Potato, The scientific name of the plant is Solanum tuberosum (L).Christina Parmionova
The potato is a starchy root vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are tubers of the plant Solanum tuberosum, a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern United States to southern Chile
Synopsis (short abstract) In December 2023, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 30 May as the International Day of Potato.
Donate to charity during this holiday seasonSERUDS INDIA
For people who have money and are philanthropic, there are infinite opportunities to gift a needy person or child a Merry Christmas. Even if you are living on a shoestring budget, you will be surprised at how much you can do.
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-to-donate-to-charity-during-this-holiday-season/
#charityforchildren, #donateforchildren, #donateclothesforchildren, #donatebooksforchildren, #donatetoysforchildren, #sponsorforchildren, #sponsorclothesforchildren, #sponsorbooksforchildren, #sponsortoysforchildren, #seruds, #kurnool
Monitoring Health for the SDGs - Global Health Statistics 2024 - WHOChristina Parmionova
The 2024 World Health Statistics edition reviews more than 50 health-related indicators from the Sustainable Development Goals and WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work. It also highlights the findings from the Global health estimates 2021, notably the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on life expectancy and healthy life expectancy.
AHMR is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed online journal created to encourage and facilitate the study of all aspects (socio-economic, political, legislative and developmental) of Human Mobility in Africa. Through the publication of original research, policy discussions and evidence research papers AHMR provides a comprehensive forum devoted exclusively to the analysis of contemporaneous trends, migration patterns and some of the most important migration-related issues.
Food safety, prepare for the unexpected - So what can be done in order to be ready to address food safety, food Consumers, food producers and manufacturers, food transporters, food businesses, food retailers can ...
Abiy Berehe - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Updates
Communicating Research: Policymakers' Perspective
1. MARCH 2016
The adoption of the United Nations Millennium
Development Goals in 2000 intensified global
efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in low-income
countries. Supported by the William and Flora
Hewlett Foundation’s Population and Poverty
(PopPov) Research Initiative, researchers have
sought to contribute policy-relevant information
about the links between population dynamics and
poverty at the national and household level.
The PopPov research agenda supported over
100 research and dissertation grants between
2005 and 2015. These findings are highly
relevant to policy decisionmaking and priority
setting, especially in light of the recently launched
Sustainable Development Goals, which target
(among other things) universal access to health
care and economic inclusion. But the findings are
useful only if the right regional and country-level
policymakers have access to and understand
relevant results.
This policy brief summarizes policymakers’
perspectives on what constitutes barriers to
evidence-informed policymaking. It also presents
strategies for making research results more
accessible to high-level policymakers at the country-
level, based on what they say they want as well
as evidence about what information policymakers
can and do use in policymaking. Finally, the brief
includes examples of how PopPov-supported
researchers addressed policy-relevant questions
and applied some of the outreach strategies that
policymakers suggest.
Who Makes Policy?
Governance is, at its heart, making decisions
about priorities, allocation of resources, and
determining which policies will support political
goals—those related to leveraging or maintaining
power, as opposed to policy goals that are
focused on interventions to improve social
welfare. This brief focuses on individuals involved
in making decisions at the highest level of
government (advisors to the head of state or head
of government, depending on which system is
in place) who design the regulations that ensure
decision (policy) implementation.
In the African and South Asian context, where most
of the PopPov research is focused, government
structure varies across countries. For the majority
of these countries, cabinet ministers or a group
of presidential advisors develop policies and
programs, with a secretariat overseeing the process
and ministries initiating and implementing policies.
Cabinet ministers are the highest level officials
responsible for determining and formulating policy
in the public interest, although in some countries,
certain policies require approval by representative
bodies. Cabinet ministers may, in making decisions,
weigh political considerations, availability of
resources, and needs of the people. The cabinet
secretariat or administrative staff supporting
presidential advisors, headed by a high-level civilian
administrator such as a permanent secretary,
manages the policy development process,
engaging in policy analysis or seeking out evidence.
Although the ministries execute official policies and
programs, usually headed by a cabinet minister
and assisted by other ministers, a range of officials
within a ministry may provide information that
influences policy development and implementation.
In addition, the media and public affect the
politics and context that ministers consider in
both development and implementation of policies
and programs. At the international level, regional
and global multilateral organizations may raise
the profile of issues and provide a framework for
addressing specific areas of common concern,
exerting influence on country officials to prioritize
these issues.
What is Evidence?
For high-level policymakers, we define evidence
broadly—including anecdotal evidence or
testimony and opinion research, and qualitative
and quantitative evaluations, including project
and policy evaluations. Within this framework,
scientific research results such as double-blind
randomized controlled trials and other rigorous
methods are invaluable for certain types of
decisions—for example, the assessment of the
efficacy of medical interventions. Modeling of
financial costs and associated outcomes can
also provide critical information at this level.
COMMUNICATING RESEARCH:
POLICYMAKERS’ PERSPECTIVE
Policy
Brief
BY MARLENE LEE
2. www.poppov.org COMMUNICATING RESEARCH: POLICYMAKERS’ PERSPECTIVE2
Stories are also powerful tools in the political arena, even
though they may not be the deciding factor in setting policies.
Stories capture the human imagination, and as such are
crucial in communicating government achievements. Simple
stories, such as before-and-after stories, preferably with
pictures, are an effective communication tool with which
politicians have familiarity.
Policymakers Use Evidence
Cabinet ministers often face complex multidimensional
problems. In making decisions, officials must frequently
consider moral dimensions, interests of various groups, and
political feasibility. Conscientious policymakers ask what works,
for whom, where, and under what circumstances. In order
to design programs to achieve policy goals, implementers
need to know how or why an intervention works.
Table 1 presents a list of questions asked by policymakers
and examples of PopPov research that answers such
questions. The responsibilities of ministers will determine
the type of evidence on which each focuses. For example,
the ministry of finance mostly focuses on efficiency, seeking
cost-effective options. Spending ministries, such as ministries
of health or ministries of education, are responsible for
implementing programs to achieve policy objectives in their
particular domain. They may emphasize the outcomes for
which they are responsible or attributes such as social justice
that might be important to the public.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES TO USING EVIDENCE
From the perspective of policymakers in low-income
countries, many challenges to evidence-informed
policymaking remain, including:
• Biased presentation of evidence from stakeholders, both
inside and outside government, to support their agenda.
• Lack of research.
• Lack of clarity in research findings.
• Lack of policymakers’ staff skills to interpret research, and
lack of researchers’ skills to communicate in nontechnical
language.
• Limited relationships between policymakers or their staff
and researchers.
• Shortage of home-grown evidence.
Policymakers have suggested remedies for some of these
challenges, though a few, such as the shortage of home-
grown evidence, require longer-term strategic investments.
To facilitate the consideration of evidence at the cabinet
level, ministers need well-prepared memoranda that include
information on whether proposed interventions will work and
assessment of the interventions’ likely impact, including the
impact on sectors other than the one with which the ministry
is charged and the impact on different population groups.
Evidence must be provided in a timely manner, ensuring that
ministers and their ministries have sufficient opportunity to
consider proposals. To ensure the contribution of researchers
or technical experts to memoranda, ministries may:
• Use standing committees to review evidence.
• Bring outside experts to brief the cabinet.
• Identify a variety of ways to present evidence during
cabinet meetings.
CASE—SOUTH AFRICA
Researchers from the Southern Africa Labour and
Development Research Unit (SALDRU), University of Cape
Town, and their partners from the University of Michigan,
began a PopPov-supported research program in 2008 to
analyze links between teen fertility, educational attainment,
and health outcomes in South Africa. They completed the
initial set of studies in 2011 and started another set in 2012.
Their experiences with policymakers as well as the influence
of their research differed between the first and second
phases, largely because of differences in developing the
research agenda.
Both the first and second phases had the potential to inform
policy and program development in teen pregnancy prevention
and protective services for teen mothers and their children,
with the second focusing on long-term economic effects
and access to health care. The second phase benefited from
researchers’ efforts to communicate the results of their first
set of studies (since analysts in the relevant implementing
ministries had lamented researchers’ failure to engage the
ministry before deciding on the research questions). After
engaging stakeholders in the design of the second phase
of research, including final research questions, the SALDRU
researchers noticed heightened interest in the progress of the
research and in results. SALDRU was invited to join a national
partnership on teen pregnancy, providing an established
avenue for communication between national stakeholders
(including ministries) and the researchers on this issue.
CASE—ZAMBIA
Building on an on-going relationship with the Ministry of
Health, Nava Ashraf and colleagues at Harvard University
conducted, in 2007, an experiment to investigate the impact
of husbands’ participation in decisions about contraceptive
use. Their research provides policymakers and interest
groups information to make decisions about how to address
unmet demand for family planning in Zambia.
Ashraf and colleagues began working collaboratively with
the Zambian government in 2006 and developed formal
partnerships with both the Ministry of Health and the
Ministry of Education. The strong partnership between the
research team and the Ministry of Health allowed for trust
and movement toward a shared goal. The Ministry of Health
requested follow-on research to assess both the effectiveness
of maternal mortality education on the use of family planning
and fertility outcomes, and how education influences male
acceptance of family planning.
3. 3COMMUNICATING RESEARCH: POLICYMAKERS’ PERSPECTIVE www.prb.org
Ashraf and colleagues at the London School of Economics
developed a research project with the Ministry of Health
to investigate recruitment, training, and retention of health
workers. This experience offers insight into scientists’
co-generation of local knowledge with policymakers:
• Questions must be of both scientific and programmatic
interest.
• Building trust between researchers and policymakers
takes a long time.
• Implementation requires flexibility to accommodate
policymakers’ timeline which may be more accelerated
than the usual research timeline, once the decision to
proceed has been made.
For the policymakers, the issue of how best to assure
health care workers’ performance and retention was a matter
of great importance. As a former department head in the
Zambian ministry of health viewed it: “In the meantime,
people are dying.”
Conclusion
Without translation of research findings, information/data
that can help policymakers and program staff is lost.
Research must be designed and interpreted with
policymakers’ needs in mind.
The capacity of researchers to produce evidence that
informs policy and practice will increase uptake of research
results. Also, increasing the capacity of policymakers and
other stakeholders to identify and use relevant research has
the potential to increase cost effectiveness of development
assistance, which is estimated by the World Bank at US$28
per capita for low- and middle-income countries and about
US$50 per capita in sub-Saharan Africa in 2013.
Evidence-informed decisionmaking has the potential to
increase the impact of government programs. Even more
important, better decisionmaking will help governments
avoid wasting limited resources on ineffectual interventions,
both achieving better value for money and improving
accountability.
Table 1
PopPov Studies Address Policy-Relevant Questions
Policy Questions Examples From PopPov-Supported Research
Is there a problem?
Nature of problem Burkina Faso: Household economic consequences of severe pregnancy complications.
Size of problem East Africa: Proportion of women with unmet demand for modern contraceptives.
What are possible solutions?
Benefits Tanzania: Effect of conditional cash transfer on safe sexual practices.
Harms Sub-Saharan Africa: Long-term effects of HIV on rate of national economic growth.
Costs Bangladesh: Cost effectiveness of MATLAB family planning program compared to government program.
Uganda: Cost effectiveness of universal access to family planning.
South Africa*: Cost effectiveness of secondary education in prevention of HIV infection.
How well are current solutions working?
Implementation Zambia: Assessment of factors that influence use of antenatal services, including user-based fees.
Key Elements Indonesia: Effect of community’s losing a midwife.
Effects Zambia: Effect of social cash transfer on use of maternal health care services.
India: Effect of Integrated Child Development Scheme on stunting.
What are stakeholder views?
Experience Burkina Faso: Women’s experience using medical transportation and care services for
life-threatening obstetric complications and follow-up care.
Views Kenya: Women’s perception of men’s views on family size.
Note: *PopPov support provided only for presentation at annual research meeting.
4. Sources
Oriana Bandiera, “Zambia’s Ministry of Health Works With Economists to
Determine How Best to Recruit and Retain Community Health Workers,”
accessed at http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2014/06/11/
zambia-ministry-of-health-career-incentives/, on Feb. 4, 2016.
Kate Belohlav and Marlene Lee, Communicating Research to Policymakers:
Researchers’ Experience (Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau,
2014).
Baird’s Communications Management Consultants (CMC) Ltd., “Engagement
With Policymakers: Human Capital Consequences of Teenage Pregnancy,”
Executive Progress Report (Newport, U.K.: Baird’s CMC, 2008).
Mattieu-Joel Gervais, France Gagnon, Pierre Bergeron, Les conditions de
mise à profit des connaissances par les acteurs de santé publique lors de la
formulation des politiques publiques : L’apport de la littérature sur le transfert
des connaissances, Rapport Final (Montréal: Chaire d’étude CJM-IU-UQÀM
sur l’application des connaissances dans le domaine des jeunes et familles en
difficulté, 2013), accessed at https://chairecjmiu.uqam.ca/rapports.html, on
Feb. 11, 2016.
Institute for Social Science Research, University of Queensland, “Utilisation of
Social Science Research in Policy Development and Program Review,” (2014)
accessed at www.issr.uq.edu.au/filething/get/28501/W3%20-%20PSS%20
overall%20results_frequencies%20and%20charts.pdf, on Feb. 11, 2016.
International Growth Centre, London School of Economics and Political
Science, “Health Workers in Zambia–Co-Producing Knowledge,” accessed
at www.theigc.org/multimedia/health-workers-in-zambia-co-producing-
knowledge/, on Feb. 4, 2016.
Kirsty Newman et al., What Is the Evidence on Evidence-Informed Policy
Making? Lessons From the International Conference on Evidence Informed
Policy Making (Oxford: International Network for the Availability of Scientific
Publications, 2013).
Issiaka Sombié et al., “The State of the Research for Health Environment
in the Ministries of Health of the Economic Community of the West African
States (ECOWAS),” Health Research Policy and Systems 11, no. 35 (2013)
doi:10.1186/1478-4505-11-35.
Ruth Stewart, “A Theory of Change for Capacity Building for the Use of
Research Evidence by Decision Makers in Southern Africa,” Evidence & Policy:
A Journal of Research, Debate, and Practice 11, no. 4 (2014): 547-57.
Julian Walker, Roundtable Workshop for Africa Cabinet Secretaries: Summary
of Proceedings, Feb. 3-7, 2014 (Addis Abba, Ethiopia: Africa Cabinet
Government Network, 2014).
World Bank, “World Development Indicators: Aid Dependency, Table 6.11,”
accessed at http://wdi.worldbank.org/table/6.11, on Feb. 4, 2016.
Table 2
PopPov Projects Used Various Strategies to Encourage
Consideration of Evidence
Strategy PopPov Example Countries
Home-Grown Evidence Stakeholder workshops in design phase of research Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, South Africa,
Rwanda, Tanzania
Support local researchers in research design and
implementation as well as in policy engagement
Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa,
Tanzania, Uganda
Partnership with an implementing ministry Zambia
Standing National
Committees
Researcher sits on committee South Africa
Researcher presentation to committee Malawi
Expert Briefings Relevant implementing minister participates in project
dissemination meeting or in-country conference
Ghana
Note: Resources for policymakers interested in identifying what kinds of research can answer what types of questions and for researchers interested in outreach to policymakers
may be found at: http://poppov.org/Researcher-Resources.aspx.
202 483 1100 PHONE
202 328 3937 FAX
popref@prb.org E-MAIL
1875 Connecticut Ave., NW
Suite 520
Washington, DC 20009 USA
POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU
www.prb.org
POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU
The Population Reference Bureau INFORMS people around the world about
population, health, and the environment, and EMPOWERS them to use that
information to ADVANCE the well-being of current and future generations.
The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) is the Secretariat for the PopPov Research Network: www.poppov.org.