Research Communication for Policy Influence: Key Toolkits

"Research communication is at the heart of evidence based policy making, as it includes understanding the obstacles preventing the uptake of research by decision makers and reflects on the most appropriate strategies, tools and channels to reach key audiences that can promote policy changes."

These research communication guides for policy influence, published by CIPPEC (Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento) and Global Development Network (GDNet) of the Department for International Development (DFID), seek to address the obstacles blocking research from reaching key audiences. The series of toolkits look at how to identify target audiences, ways of messaging for various stakeholders with multiple perspectives, engaging directly with policy and decision makers, and expanding the audience that is interested in public policy.

The series consists of the following toolkits:

• First Approach to Research Communication – What is research communication? What are some of the challenges in communicating research results to policy makers? What are the goals of research communication?
• Policy Briefs – What is a policy brief and what are its components? Who is the target audience for a policy brief and how can a policy brief be used to influence decision making?
• Engage with Media – What is the role of multi media platforms in communicating research to target audiences? What are the challenges and opportunities of working with the media to communicate ideas and messages?
• Online Tools - How has digital media changed the way research institutions distribute their information? What are the challenges of working with digital media?
• Dynamic Formats for Research Communication – What are some non-traditional means of communication? What is the importance of data visualization and how can it be used?