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Governments in low and middle-income countries need evidence to inform how they allocate scarce resources and deliver critical public services to their citizens. Many initiatives focus on producing, synthesizing, and communicating evidence to influence policy (the supply side). Fewer work explicitly to facilitate the use of that evidence by government decision makers (the demand side).

Results for All’s activities focused on understanding what governments around the world are doing to accelerate the use of evidence in policymaking. We explored different approaches, including peer learning, development of practical tools and guidance, and strategic partnerships with prominent global initiatives already working with governments to support these efforts. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation generously provided support for this work.

We reflect on our work over four years in this three-part series.

Results for All produced the following resources:

  • A global landscape review that identifies 100+ government mechanisms for accelerating evidence use in policymaking
  • A set of case studies on mechanisms to advance evidence-informed policymaking in Ghana, Kenya, and Canada
  • A mapping report that classifies 50+ networks for peer learning and evidence use in government; describes 8 modes of engaging members and 13 lessons on network organization and development; and assesses the demand for a new network for government policymakers focusing on evidence use
  • A funder review, informed by interviews with 40 individuals from 23 bilateral, multilateral, and philanthropic funding organizations, to understand how global development funders prioritize and support evidence-informed decision making in government
  • A set of case studies on the strategies, processes, and programs that government agencies around the world have used to create incentives for using evidence in policymaking
  • An agency roadmap for building strategic, evidence-informed communications plans
  • A monthly Evidence-Informed Policymaking Reading List, sent to government and civil society leaders in 70+ countries. Archived editions available on the Evidence to Action blog

We also worked with partners to host the following workshops and conferences:

Using Evidence to Improve Policy Implementation, July 2018 in Nairobi: a peer learning workshop for teams of government policymakers and evidence champions from nine countries in Africa and Latin America

Evidence Works, September 2016 in London: a global forum that convened leaders from 40+ countries around the world

 

Results for America, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., is helping decision-makers at all levels of government harness the power of evidence to address our world’s greatest challenges. Our mission is to make investing in what works the “new normal,” so that when policymakers make decisions, they start by seeking the best evidence available, then use what they find to get better results. Results for America works with governments at the local, state, and federal levels in the United States, and launched Results for All to collaborate with governments policymakers from around the world.