Pristina, February 2011

 unidisciplinary  issue exploring  comprehensive  neutral  time uncritical  substantiated  as long as possible  multidisciplinary  problem-solving  focused  normative  time critical  speculative  as compact as possible

areas of difference types of policy paper policy studypolicy briefpolicy (planning) paper for decision-maker target audienceother policy analysts decision-makers opinion-leaders decision-maker or advisor focusgeneral Information and recommendations specific policiesrecommended course of action or vital information methodologycan include much primary research rarely includes primary research if any primary research, in annex ideas/language used can be quite specific/ technical must be very clear and simple must be very clear and simple and operational length20,000 words or more usually not longer than 5000 words usually not longer than 2-3pp

policy cycle set agenda map policy alternatives advocate preferred solution design policy programme Implement & monitor programme evaluate programme reconsider issue, policy solution, policy design, implementation….

 title  table of contents  abstract/executive summary  introduction  problem description/background  analysis  policy options  recommendations & conclusions  appendices, annexes  bibliography  endnotes

 Eyes on the Spies: reforming intelligence oversight in Canada  Security Sector Reform in the Balkans: a key to ending conflict  Addressing the Challenges of Law Enforcement in Africa  Gender Sensitive Police Reform in Post-conflict Society

Abstract  concise overview  shorter  get potential reader to read (Executive) Summary  detailed synopsis  longer  help reader who won’t read CONTENT Purpose of paper Description of policy issue Evaluation of policy alternatives Recommendations & conclusions: explicit or nominal? Does publisher require? CONTENT Purpose of paper Description of policy issue Evaluation of policy alternatives Recommendations & conclusions: explicit or nominal? Does publisher require?

 Context of policy issue  Definition of issue  Statement of intent  Methodology & limitations of study  Road map of paper

Background  When & how has problem arisen?  What has driven this?  What has put this problem in the public realm?  Who has been affected by the problem?  What past policies have been deployed to deal with this problem?  What have been their outcomes ?

Problem in current policy environment  What are the current legal, social, ethical, economic and political contexts & impacts of the problem?  What is the current extent of the problem?  What is currently being done to address it?  What is the attitude of stakeholders to the current approach?  Is current policy succeeding/failing – and how?

 Build a coherent argument that is convincing and easy to follow  Make clear links between and within all elements of the argument  Develop each element of the argument:

 Essential building blocks for developing argument  One main idea per paragraph  Topic sentence  Coherence through paragraph  Shorter is better

 outline, compare & evaluate possible options  identify preferred option  provide arguments for choice  explain criteria used in this decision  establish foundation for recommendations

 Synthesis of major findings  Policy recommendations: steps that need to be taken to implement preferred policy option  separate section for each?  numbered ?  indented?  bulleted ?  italicised ?  Concluding remarks: close the argument, return focus to broader context of problem

Draft working statement of intent/purpose: central issue key message main approach

 Working statement of intent/purpose:  Problem description: key background & policy environment issues  Policy options: mainstream & out of the box  Recommendations what points are to be raised under each heading & what evidence is to be used?

Some of the material for this presentation has been drawn from “Eoin Young and Lisa Quinn, Writing Effective Public Policy Papers, Open Society Institute, Budapest 2002”