How can funders encourage more effective research uptake? An exploratory Dutch/UK Workshop UKCDS London, 16 December 2014

A difficult task:  The Broker has eight years experience in connecting the academic knowledge agenda (long term) with the special demands from policy-makers and practitioners (short term).  Policy-makers cannot wait three years or more till the conclusions of a research project are ready.  However, there is no holy grail for connecting the worlds of knowledge and policy- making.  Our method is to synthesize knowledge from different disciplines and perspectives by combining, comparing and debating with the aim to create genuine added value for policy-makers and practitioners.  An example: the Ebola epidemic is multi-dimensional (it is more than a health problem, but also to understand other social-economic and cultural dimensions that can influence the impact of any decision-making). Policy-makers need easy access to information and up-to-date analysis to understand the whole picture.

The Broker’s experience:  Organising online debates in which all stakeholders participate means intensive preparations;  Publishing synthesis articles for policy-makers and practitioners does not mean you reach them;  There is not much interest among stakeholders to comment on the synthesis articles;  Difficult to translate a multidimensional analysis into practical recommendations and simple frameworks;  There is always the distraction of looking for more facts and evidence;  Difficult to monitor the impact of the analysis on decision-making. Success factors:  Building and maintaining your network with policy-makers is essential – know what they need;  As policy-makers and researchers are more involved within the process of creating a synthesis article (e.g. ask for information, ask for their opinion) – not only at the end of the process;  Organise face-to-face meetings (e.g. expert meetings) with policy-makers, practitioners and researchers;  Be visible in the media or public debate – policy-makers are taking experts more serious if they publish for a broader public.

The Broker’s new approach:  A synthesis article is not the end product per se, it is a living analysis;  Such analysis has different layers. A short read that can be expanded to a long read to generate more specific information for the readers.  It is about co-creation: experts, practitioners and policy-makers have to be encouraged to take part in the process.  To feed the analysis and to secure engagement face-to-face meetings are necessary;  The Broker makes use of the living analysis to create specific tools (online, papers, opinion articles etc.). For example, to inform journalists (visibility), to respond swift on actuality or events (e.g. elections, crises, international conferences) with up-to-date analysis. The Broker continues to improve its intermediary role between the academic knowledge agenda and the specific demand of policy-makers and practitioners. And our role in three knowledge platforms in the Netherlands is an opportunity and provides tools and new networks to connect knowledge with policy-making.

Thank you for your attention!