Strengthen domestic evidence-support systems
We believe we can go farther, faster together by formalizing and strengthening domestic evidence-support systems through rapid learning and improvement.
Here is a core recommendation from our report related to government policymakers (recommendation 5).
Every national (and sub-national) government should review their existing evidence-support system (and broader evidence infrastructure), fill the gaps both internally and through partnerships, and report publicly on their progress. For
example, many governments do not have an evidence-support coordination office, a behavioural-insights unit, an evidence-use handbook and related metrics, and other features of an ideal evidence-support system (as described in section 4.14). Each government
can also review their ‘mainstream’ structures and processes (e.g., budgeting, planning, monitoring and auditing) to formalize the ‘ways in’ for evidence. Without the right evidence-support system, staff will not have the capacity,
opportunity and motivation to use evidence in government policymaking. Some governments may choose to formalize their effects in legislation, like the U.S. Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act. Many governments can also support the use
of evidence in the everyday work of organizational leaders and professionals, and in the everyday lives of citizens, and can explicitly respect Indigenous rights and ways of knowing in their efforts.
Other core recommendations relevant to government policymakers are recommendations 6-11. Because of the role government policymakers serve, many other recommendations are relevant – for example recommendation 24 (funding). To find out about all
24 of our recommendations, see section 7.2 from our report.
Stay connected with the Evidence Commission to keep up-to-date with our work.
Evidence Commission report
Key sections relevant to government policymakers:
- 3.3 - Government policymakers and the context for their use of evidence
- 4.12 - Weaknesses in a health-research system
- 4.13 - Weaknesses in many COVID-19 evidence-support systems
- 4.14 - Features of an ideal national evidence infrastructure
Other key sections that offer context: