Fostering engagement and impact of research

PEP’s mission is about contextualizing the production and translation of scientific evidence, so that it embodies the perspectives and knowledge of those it is meant to inform or benefit. To this end, all PEP research projects involve collaborative working between in-country experts and the intended evidence users, especially amongst government institutions. 

To facilitate these collaborations, PEP support comprises capacity development for both researchers and policymakers to better understand each other’s work, needs and constraints, and improve their respective practices related to evidence-informed policymaking. 

PEP has developed a unique and sophisticated approach to help researchers deepen the policy relevance, engagement, and influence of their research and findings, while strengthening institutional practices for evidence-informed policymaking in their local contexts. 

Developed gradually between 2013 and 2019, building on the experience of multiple projects led across the Global South, the approach has proven highly effective in fostering both the engagement and impact of PEP research. 

Co-production and collaborative working

All PEP research projects are conducted in collaboration with (government and non-government) stakeholder representatives, who also benefit from PEP capacity building activities. 

Policy context analysis and knowledge translation

PEP requires the development of a policy paper as mandatory deliverable of all research projects. PEP policy papers comprise an analytical framework designed to position research objectives and findings into the country’s broader policy contexts, strategies and decision-making frameworks. 

The primary purpose of policy papers is to serve as knowledge translation (or policy communication) tools, i.e. to provide more useful and relevant inputs for policymakers. The process is however also used as a coaching mechanism, to guide and train researchers in the analysis of issue-specific policy contexts, debates and evidence needs. 

Training, mentorship and monitoring

PEP provides intensive training workshops (approximately 6-9 hours each) in stakeholder engagement, policy context analysis, and communication with policy audiences.

Each project team is assigned a "Policy Outreach mentor" to guide the design and implementation of an effective stakeholder engagement strategy, as well as the policy context analysis. PEP Policy Outreach mentors are experienced policy advisors, familiar with the country’s political and institutional contexts (usually based in the said country, or in the region). 

Through this mentoring, and a tailored M&E system*, PEP monitors each project team’s activities related to stakeholder outreach/consultations and dissemination of findings, while collecting anecdotal evidence on the context-specific outcomes, either in terms of evidence uptake or related institutional practices. 

*PEP’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system is also designed to provide guidance with regards to best practices for stakeholder engagement/consultation and dissemination of findings.