Building capacity for evidence-informed decision making: an example from South Africa. (1st June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stewart, Ruth; Langer, Laurenz; Wildeman, Russell; Erasmus, Yvonne; Maluwa, Louis Gerald; Jordaan, Sunet; Lötter, Desyreé; Mitchell, Janine; Motha, Precious
• Is Part Of: Evidence & policy. Volume 14:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 241
• Page End: 258
• Publication Date: 2018-06-01
• Subjects: evidence-informed decision making -- capacity building -- South Africa -- evidence use; Policy sciences -- Periodicals; Social policy -- Research -- Periodicals; Public welfare -- Research -- Periodicals; Social service -- Decision making -- Periodicals; 320.6
• DOI: 10.1332/174426417X14890741484716
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-2648

Abstract

Abstract : To maximise the potential impact and acceptability of EIDM capacity building, there is a need for programmes to coordinate their remits within existing systems, playing both 'insider' and 'outsider' roles. Through a review of the South African evidence-policy landscape and analysis of a stakeholder event that brought together EIDM role players, this paper illustrates how one capacity-building programme navigated its position within the national evidence-policy interface. It identifies strategies for improving the acceptability and potential effectiveness of donor-funded EIDM capacity-building activities: understanding the evidence-policy interface, incorporating programmes into the decision-making infrastructure (being an 'insider'), whilst retaining an element of neutrality (being an 'outsider').