Policy Briefs:a development research communication tool

Policy Briefs:a development research communication tool

Arnaldo Pellini, PhD‘Micro-level Perspectives of Growth’ projectAugust 2008, Dar es Salaam

Content

1) Why policy briefs?

2) Planning your policy brief

3) Designing your policy brief

4) Conclusion

The research/policy divide• Divergent needs & pressures

regarding information usage• Specialised research expertise vs.

democratised knowledge• Policy engagement vs. objectivity of

researchers• Researchers’ hypothesis driven

processes vs. policy-makers time constraints

• Multiple and competing influences upon policy decisions

Evidence

Experience & Expertise

Judgement

Resources

Policy Context

Habits, Values & Tradition

Lobbyists & Pressure Groups

Pragmatics & Contingencies

Factors influencing policy making

Source: Phil Davies Impact to Insight Meeting, ODI, 2005

Part 1: Why a policy brief?

Why? Planning Design Conclusions


• A short document that presents the findings and recommendations of a research project to a non-specialist readership

• A medium for exploring an issue and distilling lessons learned from research

• A vehicle for providing policy advice


• Recent ODI/ Sci-DevNet survey with developed and developing country policy makers working in field of Science, Technology and Innovation found: – 50% of policy-makers and 65% of researchers thought

dissemination of research findings for policy uptake insufficient

– 79% respondents ranked policy briefs as valuable communications tool

– Confirmed by expert and stakeholder interviews as means of informing decision-making processes



Part 2: Planning your policy brief



A policy brief should be:• A stand alone document

• Focused on a single topic

• Approximately 1,500 words (2-4 pages)

• A mix of text and graphics/ illustrations

• Provides suggestions for follow up reading



• Evidence Quality evidence Credible messenger

• ContextUnderstanding of political context

• Engagement (links)Fostering linkages between researchers & policy-

makersOngoing dialogue



Evidence• “What value does this have for the reader?”

• Develop a persuasive argument line: Clear purpose Cohesive argument Quality of evidence Transparency of evidence underpinning policy

recommendations

• Describe the urgency of the situation

• Speak in terms of benefits, advantages



Ask yourself…

• Who are your readers?

• Who am I writing this brief for?

• How knowledgeable are they about the subject?

• How open are they to the message?

• What are their interests & concerns?



Context

• Policy makers are not a homogenous group• Needs differ by sector (economic vs social) • Level of position (national vs sub-national) • Role in policy-making process (policymaker, researcher,

intermediary) • Point in the policy/project cycle (agenda setting vs

implementation vs M&E)



Context

Policy-makers using scientific information at various stages of the policy cycle



Engagement• Recommendations relevant &

realistic in context

• Results clear• Time pressures of policy-

makers to deliver policies with rapid & visible impacts

“I often read policy briefs for both my official and non

official needs. I cannot think of going forward without consulting policy briefs. It

expands my knowledge as I get an opportunity to understand what is

happening around me.” (Policy-maker, India)


Part 3: Designing your policy brief



Present evidence-informed opinions• Not shying away from opinion

and value judgements (vs. objectivity)

• 80% policy-makers valued researchers’ opinions about the policy implications of research

• Demand for opinion highest in South



Use clear language

• Define your purpose

• Identify salient supporting points

• Distill the points down to essential info

• Clear language & jargon free

64% respondents thought low levels of scientific understanding by policy makers is a significant obstacle

to uptake



Structure:

• Executive statement

• Introduction

• Methodology

• Results: what did we learn?

• Conclusions: what does it mean?

• Implications and Recommendations



Executive statement:• Distill the essence of the brief• Provide an overview to busy

readers• Interest the reader to read further• Appear on the cover, or top of the

first page• Be written last so that author is

clear about the over-arching message conveyed

Many in Congress and theadministration have called for newinvestments in education in orderto make the United States morecompetitive, with President Bushstressing the importance ofeducation in preparing youngAmericans to “fill the jobs of the21st century.” Yet advocates ofearly childhood education haveonly recently stressed theeconomic benefits of preschool programs, and it has been difficult to win support forthese short-term investments given the long-term nature of the benefits to theEconomy.The Brookings Institution, Policy Brief N. 153: http://www.brookings.edu/comm/policybriefs/pb153.pdf



Introduction:• Answers the question why is

this important or urgent?• Describes the research

objective• Acts as an overview of the

findings and conclusions• Creates curiosity about the rest of the brief

The increased fear of a pandemic atthe current time is due to the fact that theH5N1 strain causing the outbreak is capable of mutating rapidly and acquiring genes from viruses infecting other animal species, including humans. If the new virus contained sufficient human influenza virus genes, direct transmission from one person to another (human-to-human) could occur, heralding a possible influenza pandemic. The current H5N1 strain causes high mortality among humans, with mortality rates exceeding 50 per cent in most countries.AN EFFECTIVE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE THREAT OF A PANDEMIC UN ESCAP Issue N.1 2005



Methodology:• Describes relevant background• Describes issue and context of the investigation• Describes research and analysis activities

o What methods were used to conduct the study? o Who undertook the data collection and analysis?o Important to provide transparency of research process

but should not be overly technical• Opportunity to highlight strengths/ value-added of study



Results: What did we learn?• Provide a summary of the facts• Make content easy to follow,

understand• Start by painting a general picture• Move from general to specific • Base conclusions on results• Express ideas using strong

assertions• Make sure ideas are balanced,

defensible

Do The Electric Fences Work?

Overall, it was found that although the electric fencing does help…it is not capable of completely eliminating conflict. In each …area…technical as well as socioeconomic factors affect…success. Technical failures mainly affected the early fences…Other problems resulted from failure to take into account elephant behavior and distribution patterns.Elephants and Electric Fences: A Study From Sri Lanka. EEPSEA 2005-PB11



• Implications - what policy changes or actions do the results point to?

• Supported by evidence• Must be actionable• Less direct than

recommendations • Useful when advice not

requested or not welcome

Implications and recommendations

• Recommendations – what does the researcher think should happen?

• Supported by evidence• Must be actionable• Describe clearly what

should happen next• State as precise steps



Engage with audiences visually• Visually as well as conceptually

engaging • Would you be interested by the

document?• Often just 30-60 minutes spent by

policy makers reading information on an issue

• Over 80% respondents found graphs & explanatory diagrams helpful


Why? Planning Design


• Sidebar or textbox – a short insert that examines a specific aspect of the research

• Additional to the main discussion• Aim to ‘hook’ a reader’s attention,

often through additional qualitative information or case studies

• Aim to make sidebars or textboxes:– Short, Descriptive– Stimulating (ask questions, provide

answers

Conclusions

Key ingredients of effective policy briefs

Evidence Persuasive Argument Clear purpose; cohesive argument; quality of evidence; transparency of evidence underpinning policy recommendations (e.g. a single study, a review of available evidence, etc.)

Authority Messenger (individual or organisation) has credibility in eyes of policy-maker

Policy context

Audience context specificity

Written to address specific context and needs of target audience;

Actionable Recommendations

Information linked to specific policy processes, clear and feasible recommendations on policy steps to be taken

Engagement Presentation of evidence-informed opinions

Presentation of author’s own views about policy implications of research findings; but clear identification of argument components that are opinion based

Clear Language/ Writing Style

Understandable by educated, non-specialist

Appearance/Design Visually engaging, presentation of information through charts, graphs, photos

Part 4: Conclusions


Thank you

[email protected]

Group work: Session 1

Read the 2 pg policy brief entitled: “Challenges for Sustainable Development in the Mekong Delta”

Use the checklist and score the brief out of 5 (0 is for very poor, 5 for excellent) on each category. Be sure to note your reasons for your scores

Form 4 groups:• i) Trade liberalisation and employment, • 2) Private sector competitiveness, • 3) Value chain analysis, • 4) Migration and off-farm employment

Based on the presentations from the Sapa workshop identify: – Your audience? – Your value-added findings in 3 key points, 15 words each – 4 key policy implications stemming from your findings– 2 key policy recommendations to

• National government bureaucrats; • Provincial government bureaucrats; • Committee on Economic Affairs in the National Assembly; • Donors; • NGOs

– A topic and text for a textbox or sidebar

Group work: Session 2

RAPID FrameworkExternal Influences political context

evidencelinks

Politics and Policymaking

Media, Advocacy, Networking

Research, learning & thinking

Scientific information exchange & validation

Policy analysis, & research

Campaigning, Lobbying


Results: What does it mean?• Use this section to interpret your

data• Aim for concrete conclusions• Express ideas using strong

assertions• Make sure ideas are balanced,

defensible

One problem is the destruction of fences by illegal timber fellers and illicit liquor producers. Such activities can be policed by well-organized community-based groups.

Elephants and Electric Fences: A Study From Sri Lanka EEPSEA 2005-PB11


Group PlanningWeek 125 Aug

Week 2 1 Sept

Week 3 8 Sept

Week 4 15 Sept

Week 5 22 Sept

Week 6 29 Sept

Week 7 6 Oct

Other commitmentsResearch paper

Research papers sent (26 Sept)

Policy paper

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Policy Briefs:a development research communication tool

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