The document discusses knowledge brokers and their role in facilitating evidence-informed policymaking. It describes how the Public Policy Institute for Wales works directly with ministers to identify their evidence needs and links them to independent experts and research. The institute aims to build capacity for researchers to engage with policymakers and ensure policy decisions are informed by the best available evidence. It outlines various strategies and outputs for increasing evidence use, such as dissemination, interaction between researchers and policymakers, and addressing both supply and demand of evidence.

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Engaging with decision makers:
a demand led approach
Governing better through evidence-informed policy making
OECD, Paris 26-27 April
Professor Steve Martin
Public Policy Institute for Wales

2. @PPIfWwww.ppiw.org.uk
Programme for Government:
• Make the Welsh Government
a more intelligent and
demanding customer for
research and advice
• Ensure our decisions are
informed by the best
available evidence
• Improve the effectiveness of
policy and delivery in Wales

3. @PPIfWwww.ppiw.org.uk
Knowledge brokers
“There is rich potential for improved use of
academic research in policy making ….
through the work of specialized bridgers.
These “knowledge brokers” or “boundary
spanners” may have the capacity to
demonstrate the utility of academic
research within the policy process to policy
makers, but only if they understand the
needs of policy makers and can translate
the outputs of academia into forms that are
recognizable as being useful to policy
decision makers.”
(Newman et al. 2015)

4. @PPIfWwww.ppiw.org.uk
How we work
 Work directly with Ministers to identify their evidence
needs
 Identify and work with authoritative independent
experts to provide and present evidence to Ministers
 Link policy makers in Wales to the What Works Network
 Raise researchers’ awareness of the Government’s
priorities and improve their capacity to engage

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(adapted from Nutley et al., 2007 and Langer et al. 2016)
Strategies to increase evidence use
Mechanisms
A. Capacity building (evidence producers) Supply
B. Dissemination Supply
C. Social influence/campaigning Supply and demand
D. Interaction Demand and supply
E. Facilitation (evidence users) Demand
F. Incentives/rewards (evidence users) Demand

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Outputs
 Work programme agreed with the First Minister
 Rapid reviews
 Scoping papers
 Modelling
 Expert workshops
 Ministerial briefings and meeting
 Twitter, blogs, conferences

7. @PPIfWwww.ppiw.org.uk
 Provision of affordable housing
 The Future of Work
 Exploitation of low paid workers
 Incentivising behaviour change in health care
 Inclusive growth
 Public development bank
 Shared services in local government
 Impact of Brexit on rural economies
 Post-Brexit fisheries policy
Some current assignments

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Our experience
Ministers value support to identify evidence needs and experts
Knowledge broking is needed and feasible
Many researchers need help to apply and convey expertise
Relationships (trusted) - ‘it matters who gives the evidence’
Rigour (independence) - ‘political without being partisan’
Relevance (useful) - start with what matters to decision makers