How can policy briefs be used?

SURE policy briefs are intended to inform deliberations and decisions about health policies and programmes. They may also help to add issues to health policy agendas, or contribute to policy change. The ways in which they can be used to do this are described in detail in the last two guides in this SURE series: 7. Organising and running policy dialogues and 8. Informing and engaging stakeholders. Policy dialogues and other ways of informing, consulting or involving policymakers and stakeholders can also be used during the preparation of a policy brief, as well as after a policy brief is completed.

Policy dialogues

A policy dialogue - a structured discussion of a policy brief with policymakers and stakeholders - can contribute to the development of evidence-informed health policies. This can be achieved by helping to clarify the problem and viable solutions, and by developing a shared understanding of these; by contributing to developing and implementing effective policies; and by contributing to good governance and democracy. A policy brief can be used as the starting point for discussions within a policy dialogue. An example of a policy dialogue is provided in Box 1.2 below.

Box 1.2: Examples of a policy dialogue
Task Shifting in Maternal and Child Healthcare: A Policy Brief for Uganda This policy brief was discussed as a background document at two national policy dialogue meetings in Kampala. Participants at these meetings included: members of parliament, policy makers, health managers, researchers, and representatives from civil society, professional organisations, the media and development partners. The purpose of these dialogues was to conduct a structured discussion of the policy brief on task shifting. Many participants who came to the deliberations held strong opinions, both for and against the options described in the policy brief. The policy brief and dialogues had little, if any, observable impacts on these opinions. Moderation of the proceedings was also a challenge. One lesson learned was that a strong, neutral moderator with a clear understanding of the process is crucial to achieving the objectives of a policy dialogue. Despite these challenges, participants in the meetings evaluated the policy brief and dialogues positively. Following this, the next step in the dialogue process included presenting the policy brief to senior management during a regular meeting held by the Ministry of Health. Additional steps included the further dissemination of the policy brief, and the engagement of interested participants in future activities in Uganda aimed at improving the use of research evidence in health systems decisions.

Box 1.2: Examples of a policy dialogue

Task Shifting in Maternal and Child Healthcare: A Policy Brief for Uganda

This policy brief was discussed as a background document at two national policy dialogue meetings in Kampala. Participants at these meetings included: members of parliament, policy makers, health managers, researchers, and representatives from civil society, professional organisations, the media and development partners. The purpose of these dialogues was to conduct a structured discussion of the policy brief on task shifting.

Many participants who came to the deliberations held strong opinions, both for and against the options described in the policy brief. The policy brief and dialogues had little, if any, observable impacts on these opinions. Moderation of the proceedings was also a challenge. One lesson learned was that a strong, neutral moderator with a clear understanding of the process is crucial to achieving the objectives of a policy dialogue.

Despite these challenges, participants in the meetings evaluated the policy brief and dialogues positively. Following this, the next step in the dialogue process included presenting the policy brief to senior management during a regular meeting held by the Ministry of Health. Additional steps included the further dissemination of the policy brief, and the engagement of interested participants in future activities in Uganda aimed at improving the use of research evidence in health systems decisions.

Informing and engaging stakeholders

Other ways of informing, consulting or involving policymakers and stakeholders can be used both during and after the preparation of a policy brief. For example, it may sometimes be desirable to consult or involve stakeholders in clarifying the problem that is being addressed by a policy brief. Similarly, it may be desirable to consult or involve stakeholders in identifying and selecting viable policy options for inclusion in a policy brief, or in identifying barriers to implementing policy options and implementation strategies. Therefore, when preparing and using a policy brief, it is worthwhile early in the process to consider plans for policy dialogues and other ways of informing and engaging stakeholders.

Box 1.3: Ways of informing, consulting and involving stakeholders
Stakeholders can be: Informed – by disseminating a policy brief to them; by using tailored information derived from a policy brief targeted at key audiences; through the mass media, and through face-to-face presentations Consulted – (both in preparing and using policy briefs) by soliciting written comments; by holding question and answer sessions; by providing open telephone lines that stakeholders can call; and through interviews, focus groups, surveys and public hearings Involved – (both in preparing and using policy briefs) by including them in discussions, workshops, working groups; deliberative processes (such as policy dialogues or targeted briefings designed to reach specific audiences); advisory groups or task forces (that may discuss aspects of a policy brief over a series of meetings rather than at a single dialogue); or consensus processes (where the aim is to reach agreement on a policy or on issues that will feed into the development or implementation of a policy)

Box 1.3: Ways of informing, consulting and involving stakeholders

Stakeholders can be:

Informed – by disseminating a policy brief to them; by using tailored information derived from a policy brief targeted at key audiences; through the mass media, and through face-to-face presentations
Consulted – (both in preparing and using policy briefs) by soliciting written comments; by holding question and answer sessions; by providing open telephone lines that stakeholders can call; and through interviews, focus groups, surveys and public hearings
Involved – (both in preparing and using policy briefs) by including them in discussions, workshops, working groups; deliberative processes (such as policy dialogues or targeted briefings designed to reach specific audiences); advisory groups or task forces (that may discuss aspects of a policy brief over a series of meetings rather than at a single dialogue); or consensus processes (where the aim is to reach agreement on a policy or on issues that will feed into the development or implementation of a policy)

How can policy briefs be used?

Policy dialogues

Box 1.2: Examples of a policy dialogue

Informing and engaging stakeholders

Box 1.3: Ways of informing, consulting and involving stakeholders

This page was last updated November 2011.