In today’s volatile political landscape, the need for timely, evidence-backed insights has never been more urgent. Think tanks are stepping up to the challenge with innovative approaches designed to bridge the gap between research and policy action while also tackling the challenge of making this evidence increasingly accessible to individuals and movements seeking to influence policy.
In 2024, Instituto Veredas, a Brazilian think tank dedicated to evidence-based policymaking, won the Impact Plus Prize awarded by Sociopúblico at the OTT Conference. This prize recognises think tanks that demonstrate exceptional strategic insight and a commitment to tackling communication challenges that resonate across the sector. Veredas won for its bold proposal to develop an evidence-based rapid response service to deliver timely, actionable answers to policymakers and social movements. The Impact Plus Prize included a consultancy with Sociopúblico, helping Instituto Veredas think strategically about how to shape its evidence-based rapid response service and practical guidance on ensuring the service is scalable and meets the needs of policymakers and social movements.
Strategy first
Sociopúblico first recommended conducting a strategic analysis of the potential demand that Instituto Veredas might generate by launching a new service. Although the think tank had previously developed evidence-based rapid responses during the pandemic, the service had not yet been formally established or introduced to its target audiences.
Through a thorough benchmarking exercise, Sociopúblico helped Instituto Veredas map the landscape and identify and analyse similar services offered by governments, NGOs, and research institutions worldwide. This process uncovered diverse methodologies, timelines, products and funding models. As the Veredas team reflected, “We knew very little about similar services before this consultancy, and now we are much better informed to make strategic decisions.”
“We broadened our understanding of what is being offered in a similar format by other organisations, and also heard from potential funders and clients about what they believe a service like this, offered by Veredas, would look like”.
Instituto Veredas
By conducting interviews with donors, government officials, and social movements, Sociopúblico helped Veredas gather invaluable insights and engage stakeholders, who emphasised the critical need for measurable impact and suggested starting with a pilot service to demonstrate value and scalability.
“Sociopublico helped us dedicate time to elaborate more on this project, decide on key stakeholders to listen to and ask the right questions”.
Instituto Veredas
Ethical considerations in AI-driven rapid responses
While Veredas already leverages AI for content creation, integrating it into research and rapid responses opens up new possibilities, such as streamlining evidence synthesis by quickly processing large datasets to generate insights for policy questions, significantly reducing response times, and enhancing accessibility through tools like natural language processing, which can convert complex findings into formats that resonate with policymakers, social leaders, and the public.
However, AI is far from an infallible tool, and its use in a rapid response service requires careful consideration. Its application should be cautiously approached, particularly due to inherent biases in gathering, synthesising, and generating recommendations based on existing data. AI systems are often influenced by the data they are trained on, which can perpetuate stereotypes or exclude valuable perspectives. Furthermore, AI lacks the human ability to interpret nuances, context, and ethical considerations, making it crucial to combine AI insights with expert judgment to ensure accurate and balanced outcomes.
“We boost A.I. We did debates about this and believe that can help find answers faster for social problems, but we need consistency and transparent methods for using this technology”.
Instituto Veredas
Nevertheless, generative AI can enhance the knowledge already produced by Veredas through its various projects and publications, leveraging this high-quality data to generate new rapid responses and significantly improve their dissemination to other audiences that may benefit from them. By tapping into existing quality research, AI can identify patterns, synthesise insights, and quickly create tailored responses, thereby amplifying Veredas’ work’s impact. Furthermore, AI can help reach a broader audience by ensuring that relevant information is more accessible and delivered promptly, ultimately increasing the effectiveness of communication and supporting informed decision-making across diverse sectors. Sociopúblico’s guidance was highly specific, including actionable advice on improving website accessibility, creating new communication channels to reach broader audiences, and ensuring the service could meet the needs of diverse stakeholders.
Test, learn and scale
One of the key recommendations that emerged from the benchmarking exercise and stakeholder interviews is to start small. This approach allows Veredas to test the project on a manageable scale, gathering insights on its effectiveness and usability before fully committing to broader implementation. By focusing on a specific policy area or target audience, Veredas will be able to evaluate how well the service meets the needs of its stakeholders and identify areas for improvement. This “Test, Learn, and Scale” approach is a smart strategy, as it helps ensure that resources are allocated efficiently while providing valuable data on what works and needs to be adjusted.
“One of the main insights from our funders was to begin with a short service of rapid responses, after which we can open and improve the size of the project”.
Instituto Veredas
In addition, the exercise revealed the need for effective communication strategies to reach a wider audience and engage with broader communities. By improving the visibility and accessibility of its services, Veredas can connect with those who would benefit from rapid responses, thereby increasing its overall impact.
Next steps: A collaborative and iterative approach
In 2025, Instituto Veredas will present the insights and recommendations from Sociopúblico to its entire team, ensuring everyone is aligned with the project’s direction. This presentation will be a crucial opportunity to gather feedback and new ideas, which will be vital for refining the project and finalising the service model. Following this, Instituto Veredas plans to begin actively seeking potential funders to support the next phase of the initiative, ensuring it has the necessary resources to scale. This collaborative and iterative approach will build a more effective and impactful service, paving the way for evidence-based decision-making in governments and social movements.
To learn more about the Impact Plus Prize and participate in the next edition, email [email protected].