Evidence and data to policy | Web-based training package | Training package for policy briefs

Training package for policy briefs

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The term policy brief refers to a type of document that synthesises and summarizes evidence on a specific topic to support policy-making. This training package covers content on how write and use policy briefs. The supplementary materials at the end are for optional further reading. 

Key learning objectives include:

identifying key components of a policy brief;

describing the role of policy briefs in evidence-informed policy-making and the benefits of its use;

preparing your own policy brief. 

Development and use of policy briefs

The online courses below provide comprehensive guidance on different aspects of writing policy briefs and the situations where a policy brief is appropriate.

Topic

Source

Title

Format

Duration

Cost and access

Writing and using policy briefs

EVIPNet

SURE guides for preparing and using evidence-based policy briefs

Please review all content in  Modules 1-6.

 

Online course

3–4 hours

Free, no login required

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice at The University of Washington (PH Learn Link)

Policy briefs: from plan to action

Online course

1 hour

Free with registration and login

Development of policy briefs: general principles for researchers 

WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean

Session 1: Introduction to policy making processes

Policy brief as a tool for policy-making

A recommended template for developing policy briefs

Session 2: Sources of evidence for policy brief development

Sources of evidence for policy brief development

Key considerations in developing a policy brief

Priority setting for policy problems to be addressed by policy briefs

Using IMEMR for identify health knowledge produced in countries of the Region 

Workshop recordings and presentations

2 hours

Advanced workshop for development of policy briefs for researchers WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean

Session 1

Use of systematic reviews of effects in policy brief development  

Qualitative evidence and qualitative synthesis in policy briefs

Use of cost and economic evaluation evidence in policy brief development

Session 2

National data and surveys for policy brief development

Organizing and facilitating policy dialogues

Identifying and addressing barriers to implementation

Developing the monitoring and evaluation section for a policy brief

Sample of qualitative findings from Glenton et al. 2013 (LHW Review)

Summary of previous workshop general principles of policy brief development 

Workshop recordings and presentations

Advanced workshop for policy makers: Using policy briefs in health policy-making WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean

Video

Advanced workshop for policy makers: Using policy briefs in health policy-making

Presentations

Requesting, assessing and using policy briefs as a policymaker

Understanding policy briefs

Capacity-building programmes for evidence-informed policy-making

Using a policy brief in a policy dialogue that engages key stakeholders

Using policy briefs for making changes on the ground and monitoring progress

Workshop recordings and presentations

Supplementary materials

All supplementary materials are optional. The text materials provide useful examples, scenarios and summary tables to support further learning, writing and application of policy briefs in practice. 

Topic

Source

Title

Format

Duration

 

Cost and access

Writing policy briefs

The Writing Center  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Policy briefs

Text

30 minutes

Free, no login required

Linking research and public policy in Latin America (VIPPAL) - an initiative of CIPPEC

Toolkit: How to communicate research for policy influence

Please review: Toolkit 2 – Policy Briefs

Text

30 minutes

Free, no login required

Writing and using policy briefs

 

SUPPORT project

SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health policy-making

Please read: Paper STP 13

Text

1 hour

Free, no login required

EVIPNet Europe

Evidence briefs for policy. Using the integrated knowledge translation approach. Guiding manual.

Text

3–4 hours

Free, no login required

Writing policy briefs

London School of Tropical Hygiene

A guide to writing policy briefs for research uptake

Short document

1 hour