How to make think tanks more participatory?
Think tanks are often perceived by the public as part of the political establishment, a remote elite that is inaccessible to normal citizens. In that role, think tanks may contribute to a...
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On Think Tanks Conference 2019: a report
On Think Tanks (OTT) is the leading global platform dedicated to the study and support of policy research institutes and the broader policymaking environment. OTT provides independent...
Lessons from the OTT Conference
As head of the Policy Engagement and Communication, Resource Mobilisation and Training team at the Public Affairs Centre (PAC), the 2019 OTT Conference gave me lessons which are both useful...
On public engagement
There are many histories of think tanks – but I like this origin story of the modern think tank. Sometime in the late 1800s, business leaders, policymakers, experts and the interested...
How to promote evidence informed policy? Join the discussion
Broadly speaking, there was very positive reaction to the four ideas produced post-Bellagio. This article outlines the main contributions made to each of the main...
The flaws in the ranking
I was going to let it go this year. But after a quick read I found so many mistakes that it became a challenge not to write this at all. OTT and many others have been critical of the ranking...
Think tanks need to invest in their legitimacy: here’s how
By cleverly investing in their legitimacy, think tanks can firmly position themselves in their unique narrow sphere bordering all other opinion makers, and engage in...
Twelve ways to decide what actions to take
In this post we provide twelve suggestions on what you might do to support policymakers to improve their use of evidence. Do you work within or beyond formal constraints identified by the...
Twelve tips to set up a team and establish relationships
You’ve got a better idea of the context which shapes policymakers use’ of evidence and selected an issue to work on. So, what next? Here’s some advice on how you...
Thirteen tips to conduct a successful evidence context study
In my last article, I wrote about what an analytical framework for an ‘evidence context' study might look. Here, I highlight thirteen lessons to hold in mind when...
Three ways to select policy issues to work on
Consultants may have to conduct evidence studies on a range of policy issues but then have to provide capacity development services in only a few. If you find yourself in this predicament,...
Five questions to understand the evidence context
To identify entry points for your work with policymakers, you’ll first need to understand the political context for the acquisition and use of evidence. Doing this requires an understanding...
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