Evidence only creates value when institutions can use it.
An evidence-informed decision-making curriculum and mentorship across four countries.
A learning journey — from finding evidence to institutionalising its use.
Founder experience · AFIDEP · 2023–24
- 01Understand the role of evidence
- 02Find it
- 03Appraise it
- 04Frame the policy question
- 05Develop a brief
- 06Identify the policy window
- 07Engage decision-makers
- 08Institutionalise use
The journey from finding evidence to institutionalising its use.
The problem
Ministries are flooded with research but often cannot find, appraise and use it at the moment a policy window opens — so evidence rarely reaches the decision.
Why it was hard
Four countries with different systems, and a goal of institutionalised capability rather than a one-off workshop — which is why it ran as a curriculum plus a six-month mentorship.
The approach
- 1
Designed and delivered an EIDM curriculum and six-month mentorship for 14 Ministry of Health officials across Malawi, Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.
- 2
Built the journey the training teaches: understand the role of evidence, find it, appraise it, frame the policy question, develop a brief, identify the policy window, engage decision-makers, institutionalise use.
- 3
Mapped policy windows and developed a stakeholder-engagement strategy and matrix.
- 4
Coached officials to draft high-impact policy briefs and champion EIDM inside their ministries.
What was created
The EIDM curriculum and mentorship model
Policy briefs authored by the officials
A stakeholder-engagement strategy and matrix
Policy-window maps
What changed
Strengthened officials' capacity to draft high-impact briefs and champion the institutionalisation of evidence use within their ministries.
Frameworks & methods
What this demonstrates