Sujata Gamage PhD MPA

CPRsouth10August 25, 2015Taiwan

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Writing a Policy Brief

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What is a policy brief?

A summary of policy relevant research, intended for those whose decisions/actions can affect the community/public interest (i.e. Politicians, Heads of agencies, Heads of departments or Staff of agencies in Government, Industry, or Non-Goverment institutions, in order to affect policy regimes, broaden policy horizons, develop capacity

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Types of Policy Influence (Lindquist)

Affecting Policy Regimes

Broadening Policy Horizons

Expanding Policy Capacities

• Modifying existing programs or policies• Leading to the fundamental re-design of programs and policies• Helping create a new policy regime in an emerging field.

• Providing policy makers with opportunities for networking or learning within their jurisdiction or with colleagues elsewhere• Introducing new concepts to frame debates, putting ideas on the agenda, or stimulating public debate• Educating researchers and others who take up new positions with a broader understanding of issues• Stimulating quiet dialogue among decision-makers (and among, or with, those involved in knowledge production).

• Improving the knowledge or data of certain actors• Supporting recipients to develop innovative ideas• Improving capabilities to communicate ideas• Developing new talent for research and analysis

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Policy influence process

Push modelResearch proposal Research Paper Policy brief

Pull modelSynthesize existing research in response to a Policy window 

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Components of a policy brief

Problem Solution Evidence

 

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Components of a policy brief

Problem (Purpose, Research question) Solution (Summary of findings) Evidence (Method, Data and Analysis)

 

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CPRsouth policy brief guide

PROBLEM: Introduction to the problem (include research question; objective/purpose; ethos, pathos, logos; 250 words)

SOLUTION: 1-5 Key recommendations or findings (one sentence for each recommendation/research finding);

EVIDENCE: Justification for each of the recommendations (no more than 750 words in total)

SOURCES CONTACT INFORMATION

All content should fit into 2 pages or 4 at most  

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Problems have to be current and relevant

MELODY/LIU (2009) Intellectual property rights Standard battles (base station, last mile, unbundling,

prices, fair competition, universal servcies, digital divide)

Digital contract law Efficient micro-payment system Public resource infrastructure (right of way, spectrum,

numbers) Interconnection and access New technology (Broadband, Mobile TV, WiMax, FMC,

DAB, IPTV)/Market structure Indices, benchmarks

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Solutions

Technology Market Public Policy

Keep the implementer in mind; Have Cost/Benefit information ready

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Evidence

Supply-side, Demand side, Legal, Sociological/ Anthropological

Synthesis of Existing information; New Information Data, indices, benchmarks Figures, graphs, visuals Stories

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Mode of Communication

Text Policy BriefOp-ed pieceLetter to editors/blog

Visual Power Point: 10 substantive slides at most/5 bullets per slide/one line per bullet/parallel constructionVideos 2-3 minutes

Face-to-face Elevator pitch

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Problem Intellectual property rights Standard battles (base

station, last mile, unbundling, prices, fair competition, universal services, digital divide)

Digital contract law Efficient micro-payment

system Public resource

infrastructure (right of way, spectrum, numbers,,)

Interconnection and access New technology

(Broadband, Mobile TV, WiMax, FMC, DAB, IPTV)/Market structure

Indices, benchmarks

Solutions Technology Market Public PolicyWith cost/benefit analysis

Implementers Telco Consumer groups Regulator

Mode of Communication Text Policy Brief

Op-ed pieceLetter to editors/blog

Visual Power Point: 10 substantive slides at most/5 bullets per slide/one line per bullet/parallel constructionVideos 2-3 minutes

Face-to-face Elevator pitch

Components of a policy brief

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CPR south criteria are designed so that proposals, papers and briefs mirror each other

 

Proposal

TITLE 5%

RESEARCH QUESTION 15%

RELEVANCE 15%

WORKING HYPOTHESES

15%

THE RESEARCH Prior work (15)*Data sources and method of analysis method (30)

45%

REFERENCES/SOURCES 5%

PRESENTATION -

14* May be included in the relevance section

 

Paper

TITLE 5%

RESEARCH QUESTION 10%

RELEVANCE 15%

FINDINGS/RECOMMENDATIONS

15%

THE RESEARCH

Prior work (15)*Data sources and method of analysis method (30)

45%

REFERENCES/SOURCES 5%

PRESENTATION -

 

Brief

TITLE 5%

PROBLEM OR ISSUEAND ITS RELEVANCE

15%

SOLUTION/RECOMMENDATIONS

15%

THE RESEARCH Giving the basis for the solution/recommendations citing as much of the data and analysis as necessary

45%

REFERENCES/SOURCES 5%

PRESENTATION 10%

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In groups of 4-5 analyze the research papers provided to:

(a) Summarize the following:• Problem and it relevance (one sentence)• Implementer• Solution (3-5 bullets)• Evidence (3-5 paragraphs for each solution)

(c) Do an elevator pitch (10-30 seconds).problem, solution, evidence

Group exercise

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Papers for group Exercise

Big data to improve urban planning The Gap between Mobile Application Developers and

Poor Consumers: Lessons from Kenya Estimating Internet Users: An evidence-based

alternative in the absence of survey data (ITU) http://lirneasia.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Estimation-of-Internet-Users.pdf

Bridging the financial gap and unlocking the potential of informal businesses through mobile money in four East African countries

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Thank you

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