Case study

To equip participants with the skills and knowledge to shape policy with evidence more effectively.

There is increasing pressure on government officials, research programmes and NGOs to make better use of evidence for the production of viable policy options. Influencing decision makers with evidence and contributing to policy formulation requires an explicit focus on power and politics in highly complex policy environments. The course equips participants with the concepts, skills and competencies required to operate effectively at the interface between policy and research. It enables them to design achievable plans to produce, review and communicate research and to enhance their capacity to deliver rigorous compelling evidence-based policy offers.

Participants join an international cohort of policy and evidence innovators from governments, development agencies, charities, social enterprises and research organisations, to share learning and gain new insights into improving policy processes through better use of evidence.

The Knowledge, Impact and Policy Cluster at IDS leads the course and brings a wealth of experience in the theory and practice of engaging knowledge with change processes.

The course combines lectures, peer learning webinars, group work, and presentations.

Participants are assigned a course facilitator and small study group to help keep the conversation going via a dedicated online channel throughout the course.

Pre-recorded lectures, presentations and reading materials, along with a comprehensive workbook, are provided in advance.

The facilitation team and speakers include:

• James Georgalakis, IDS Director of Communications and Impact
• Dr Louise Clark, IDS Learning Manager
• Jo Carpenter, IDS Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist
• Alan Stanley, IDS Digital Knowledge Manager
• Jessica Meeker, IDS Knowledge Officer
• Guest lecturers from the Global South

Since we began running this course in 2019, we have helped to build the capacity of more than 145 individuals to make better use of make better use of evidence for the production of viable policy options.
Each course has enabled participants to:

• Re-evaluate their organisation’s or programme’s use of evidence and theories of change.
• Adapt to fast-changing policy demands and deploy new tools for understanding how change happens in a particular context.
• Systematically identify and appraise policy relevant evidence.
• Frame research for policy and practice and develop compelling evidence informed policy offers.

The course has resulted in a number of follow-up requests for technical support or partnerships including tailored courses or learning events for the Ministry of Education in Jordan, and the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (the NGO Coalition for durable solutions for displacement-affected communities in East Africa and the Horn of Africa.)