By Lena Bosibori
Despite the critical role of evidence-informed decision-making in improving policy, programme, and practice decisions, challenges persist at individual, system, and institutional levels.
Dr Violet Murunga, a Research and Policy Analyst at the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) told Africa Science News in Machakos County, Eastern Kenya that key barriers exist and hinder effective policy formulation and implementation.
“Insufficient relationships between policymakers and evidence producers, untimely and irrelevant evidence, lack of gender and social inclusion data, and limited capacity for evidence synthesis and application are issues that confront the health sector in the country,” said Dr Murunga.
To address these challenges, the AFIDEP-led Alliance for Evidence and Equity in Policymaking in Africa (AEEPA) project in partnership with the Division of Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), the Directorate of Policy, Digital Health (DPDH) and Innovations, and the Division of Policy, Health Research and Research (PHRR) plan to conduct several Evidence-Informed Policy-Making (EIPM) training programmes, followed by a 6-month mentorship programme.
Dr Murunga noted that the EIPM training aims to equip policymakers with skills to systematically identify, appraise, synthesize, and adapt relevant evidence, including gender and social inclusion data, into the policy-making process.
She said the training will also enhance the capacity for rapid evidence reviews, enabling timely and relevant policy decisions and fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange at national, sub-national, and regional levels.
The training is designed to bridge the gap between evidence production and policy implementation, ensuring that decisions are based on robust, relevant, and timely data.
Dr Murunga said AFIDEP aims to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through improved health outcomes and equitable development and thus views the critical role the Ministry of Health plays in this. Other countries that have had this type of training include Nigeria, Malawi and Uganda.
The AFIDEP-led Alliance for Evidence and Equity in Policymaking in Africa project brings together the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), Makerere University School of Women and Gender Studies in Uganda, Africa Research and Impact Network (ARIN) based in Kenya, and the Nigeria-based African Institute for Health Policy & Health Systems of Ebonyi State University. It is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Hewlett Foundation.