Mechanisms for Strengthening Evidence-Based Policy and Practice: A Review

Evidence-based policymaking helps people make well informed decisions about policies, programmes and projects by putting the best available evidence from research at the heart of policy development and implementation. Research has the potential to influence policy at any stage of the policy cycle. However, many factors limit evidence-based decision-making both at individual and organisational levels. Nevertheless, it is imperative not only for policymakers, but also for researchers, to improve the availability and dissemination of sound research. Fundamentally, there needs to be increased communication and interaction between the research and policy worlds to strengthen the integration of policy and evidence. This will be achieved by setting up mechanisms which will facilitate greater use of evidence by policymakers. This paper reviews the strengths and weaknesses of some research-policy bridging models and draws lessons for advancing the quest to bridge research-policy gap particularly in the science, technology and innovation, and agricultural sectors.