Policy Research Standards Conference on Exchanging Skills and Best Practices between Arab Policy Organizations, Ismailia, May 15, 2013 by Goran Buldioski, Director of the Think Tank Fund

Workshop Goals and Outline Insert Arabic Here WS Goal: Introduce the foundations for quality policy- relevant research, present and discuss different approaches to choosing methods and quality control. Insert Arabic Here WS Outline: Exploring / Defining MethodsInsert Arabic Here Defining methodological strategy and quality control standardsInsert Arabic Here

Exploring / Defining Methods Insert Arabic Here What methods do you use in your policy research*? Insert Arabic Here * Only those who use research should respond.

Exploring / Defining Methods Insert Arabic Here Do you have a mechanism for quality control? If yes, what does it consists of? * Insert Arabic Here * Only those who use research should respond.

Defining methodological strategy and quality control standards Insert Arabic Here PRACTICAL EXERCISE - Split in six groups - Each member reads 2 pages of the Sample methodological and quality control strategy - Analyze the strategy in groups and write on a flip chart: 0 Strengths of this strategy (what did you like in it) 0 Weaknesses of this strategy (what you did not like) 0 What will you take home from this strategy (useful to share with your colleagues)?

Policy Research Standards – Concluding remarks Insert Arabic Here 0 For policy research organizations: the word you produce is key to your reputation 0 The quality standards shift with your audience: if you write in English – the quality of your writing should be at native speaker level and up to the quality standards of the English speaking readers 0 Never produce anything without per review 0 For most important papers, make sure you do an external peer review Insert Arabic translation here