Evidence-based policy lifecycle management: The H2020 DECIDO experience

Abstract

Public administrations are an integral part of every state, and are currently changing to gradually improve weak policies in emergency management. Policies addressing emergencies such as floods, poverty and Ukrainian refugees are current issues in most European countries. Citizen engagement methodologies, data and digital technologies support this endeavour, yet the opportunities they offer are not still fully exploited in Europe. Furthermore, citizen perception of those policies could be more synchronised. In parallel, digital transformation, intensified by the exceptional circumstances of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, is both imperative and inevitable for almost every aspect of the modern world and economy but a big issue remains to be addressed to boost the citizens’ participation in policy lifecycle development and in their evidencing real achievements. This creates both new needs and solutions for public administrations. This paper aims to identify the open needs encountered by public administrations, involving reflections on available methodologies, data, and tools towards evidence-based policy-making tailored to these needs. To accomplish that, knowledge, as represented by extensive desk research, was integrated with experience undertaken in the city of Turin, including the outcome of qualitative interviews with public administration experts. Key findings are discussed in detail concluding with a public administration needs ecosystem, mapping the needs, and uncovering similarities to support the replication of practices and procedures in different policymaking settings.