Regional Evidence-Based Policymaking Guidance for ECOW AS Countries: Pro cess of evidence use in policymaking

Abstract

The present Guidance is in line with the four strategies and followed a transparent and systematic approach in its design. The Guidance is adapted to West African contexts and validated using standard scientific methods, considering all available evidence. Local factors that may influence the effects of all options recommended to address their feasibility were taken into account in its development.The production of the Guidance is largely based on knowledge translation approaches that bridge the gap between research evidence and its application to policy-making. Consequently, the Guidance will be very relevant and useful to decision-makers, as it incorporates the complex interrelations of the health system components, and the numerous contextual factors that may influence the effectiveness of policies. The main objective is to develop adapted guidance for the use of evidence in development and implementation of health policies, plans and protocols adapted to the context of ECOW AS countries.

Occupy the semantic space! Opening up the language of better regulation

“…Recognizing these interdependencies and interactions– “the integrated nature of the SDGs”, as the 2030 Agenda preamble puts it–is a key first step to ensure that public policies are coherent with one another and will achieve their intended results. (Nilsson, 2021 , p. 2) The document carries on with the claim that ‘The absence of coherence may result in many types of governance problems, such as compartmentalization, fragmentation, competing and incoherent objectives, and inconsistent policy mixes’ (Nilsson, 2021 , p. 2).…”

“…Recognizing these interdependencies and interactions– “the integrated nature of the SDGs”, as the 2030 Agenda preamble puts it–is a key first step to ensure that public policies are coherent with one another and will achieve their intended results. (Nilsson, 2021 , p. 2)…”

“… 14 The note was authored by Måns Nilsson, Executive Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute. Here we reference this UN document as Nilsson ( 2021 ). …”