[EQ] Enhancing capacity to apply research evidence in policymaking - Call for Expressions of Interest

Call for Expressions of Interest from teams based in low income countries

 

Enhancing capacity to apply research evidence in policymaking

 

Website: http://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/callsforproposals/Alliance%20HPSR_Joint_Call_WellcomeTrust.pdf

 

Closing date: 16 January 2009

 

The Wellcome Trust and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) have launched a new initiative to promote the use of research evidence in developing health policy.

 

Policymaking is a complex process, influenced by a multitude of factors and stakeholders, including civil society organisations, such as advocacy and interest groups and the media. Research evidence is just one of the many factors that influences policy, but for policymakers who may not be schooled in research, it can be challenging to assess the quality of the research. In addition, research results are often complex and nuanced, without clear evidence that a particular policy or strategy is effective under all conditions.

 

Now, the Wellcome Trust and the Alliance HPSR have joined together for a US$1 million initiative aimed at ensuring that policymakers in low-income countries, such as politicians, civil servants, political advisors, and health system managers, have the necessary skills to apply research evidence in the policy process.

 

"This new partnership aims to help bridge the gap that often exists between researchers and policy makers," says Dr Jimmy Whitworth, Head of International Activities at the Wellcome Trust. "We hope that this will establish effective mechanisms so that policy makers can better appreciate the implications of research studies and to ensure that this evidence is taken into account when formulating policy."

 

"Investments in health research aim to improve the health status of populations, but such impacts will only occur if policy makers and civil society pick up research findings and act upon them," says Sara Bennett, Manager at the Alliance HPSR. With this programme we hope to improve the prospects that evidence informs policy and also learn more about what types of strategies are effective in building policy maker skills and enhancing capacity for evidence use.

 

Examples of ways in which to enhance capacity to use evidence in policymaking include:

 

·         Providing training and/or mentoring in how to acquire, assess, adapt and apply of research evidence;

·         Internships that enable policymakers to spend time in research environments or vice versa;

·         Improving access to research resources for policymakers through the launch of websites dedicated to evidence for policymaking;

·         Establishing databases of local researchers and their interests which policymakers could draw upon when seeking evidence;

·         Supporting legislation that requires publication of evidence base for new policies.

 

 

E-MAIL  alliancehpsr@who.int

 

 

 

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