Access our evidence map here and the related report here.
The WHO and the Pan-African Collective for Evidence (PACE) have developed an evidence map [insert link] on what works in supporting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM). The map organizes the existing research on interventions that aid decision-makers in using evidence, examining the scope and nature of the available evidence.
Using data and evidence to inform decision-making processes is critical to ensure that policies, programs, and practices are as effective as possible. Various strategies have been employed to enhance EIDM, such as building the capacity of decision-makers, creating platforms that facilitate access to evidence, and fostering communities of practice. However, despite the growing emphasis on EIDM, there remains a significant gap in understanding the effectiveness of these various interventions, leaving us with an incomplete picture of how best to support evidence-informed policy-making.
To address this knowledge gap, we employed a systematic and transparent methodology, conducting a thorough search of academic and grey literature. We identified 617 studies that met our inclusion criteria from an initial pool of 67,390 references. This rich evidence base is now made available to you using interactive software, enabling users to explore and tailor the data to their needs.
Despite the extensive evidence collected, we discovered significant gaps and imbalances. Notably, the evidence is heavily skewed toward the health sector and high-income countries, with a small number of countries contributing a disproportionate share of the studies. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence on the ultimate impact of EIDM interventions on development outcomes, and few studies employ rigorous impact evaluations. The evidence also tends to focus on three main intervention mechanisms—access to evidence, researcher-decision-maker interactions, and capacity building—at the expense of other important mechanisms.
These identified gaps underscore critical areas that require attention within the EIDM research landscape. Building on the foundation provided by the evidence map, the WHO is spearheading the development of a Global Research Agenda on Knowledge Translation and Evidence-informed Policy-making. This agenda aims to guide countries and research institutions in focusing their resources on the most pressing priorities in the field.
Our evidence map, accessible through this link [insert link], is a valuable tool for policy-makers, researchers, and practitioners to identify research gaps and guide future EIDM efforts. It highlights the need for a shared framework, taxonomy, and standardized measures to advance the field of EIDM.
