Communicating Research Findings to Policymakers Increasing the Chances of Success Satellite Session: Strengthening Research on Policy Implementation and Why it Matters to Health Outcomes Suneeta Sharma, PhD; MHA October 2012
Effective Communication Maximizing the Impact of Research on Policies Conduct problem-oriented and policy relevant research Engage policymakers in priority setting and research Know Your Audience: who has the power to take action Focus the Message: concise and actionable Choose the Appropriate Level of Communication: delivering the message and triggering the action
Communicating with Policymakers Policy Research Provides solid and timely empirical data Identifies trends Anticipates potential challenges Improves measurement capabilities Evaluates policy effectiveness Policy Communication Simplify, translate, and communicate effectively Keep it short and to the point Use colors and visuals in materials Create trust and credibility Be honest about underlying assumptions Use sensitivity analyses to show a range of potential strategies and outcomes Make sure that data source is credible Transfer knowledge: two-way communication
Appropriate Communication Methods Concise evidence-based briefs that respond to policymakers data needs Engaging visuals that are easy to understand and allow data to have impact Videos and personal stories and testimonials that inspire action
Moving Policy to Action Data Analysis and Use Policy & Strategy Development Leadership & Governance Resource Mobilization M&E and Accountability Policy Dialogue & Advocacy Addressing Barriers Action Planning Implementation of Strategies Scale Up & Sustainability
Problem Identification Require policy attention Understand issues and goals Gravity: size, trend, consequences Distribution: geographic, rural/urban, Socio-Economic Status Importance and urgency of taking action Benefits of taking action Consequence of inaction
Problem Identification 54 Million Live in Poverty in UP 160 140 120 100 Neonatal, Infant, and Under-5 Mortality among the Poorest and Wealthiest Quintiles in UP 94.2 135.4 80 60 65.3 51.3 61.8 Below Poverty Line Above Poverty Line 40 20 0 35.2 Neonatal Mortality Poorest Quintile Infant Mortality Wealthiest Quintile Under-5 Mortality Source: Planning Commission. 2011. Press Note on Poverty Estimates for 2004-05, GOI; NFHS-3, Uttar Pradesh, 2005-06
Family Planning Saves Lives As Contraceptive Use Rises Maternal and Infant Deaths Decline MMR and IMR 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 64.4 65.1 61.1 97 104 81 13 24 28 63.3 63.2 148 178 44 38 57.8 58.1 390 318 269 48.6 62 55 58 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 CPR - % IMR, 2010 MMR, 2009 CPR, 2008-09 Sources: CPR from DLHS 3, IMR and MMR from SRS
Achieving the MDGs will be easier if investments are made in FP in Madagascar US$76 million US$26 million
Primary education: Savings with slower population growth in Kenya Expenditures ($US Millions) High Fertility Low Fertility Cumulative Savings US$772 Million
Policy Formulation Identify several feasible policy and program options that could address the problem Describe positive and negative effects of the options Describe the key elements, costeffectiveness, and experiences with different options Identify implementation considerations Describe the effects of appropriately targeted implementation studies Photo by Steven w Belcher.
Goal Setting: Uttarakhand s Health and Population Policy Characteristics Fast Medium (Proposed) Slow Year 2005-06 CPR* 55.5 55.5 55.5 Prop of 3+ births 39.0 39.0 39.0 TFR 2.55 2.55 2.55 Year 2012 CPR* 67.7 57.9 57.7 Prop of 3+ births 33.3 36.3 37.5 TFR 2.10 2.35 2.42 Year 2017 CPR* 70.6 67.7 60.5 Prop of 3+ births 25.3 32.8 34.6 TFR 1.97 2.10 2.26 Year 2020 CPR* 73.0 72.6 67.7 Prop of 3+ births 22.8 23.5 32.6 TFR 1.90 1.94 2.10
Policy Implementation Assess the extent and nature of policy implementation Identify facilitators for and barriers to policy implementation Increase access and delivery of new and improved tools, strategies and interventions Inspire dialogue and renewed commitment on the way forward Service Delivery Health Workforce Information Medical Products, Vaccines, Technologies Financing Leadership & Governance
Cost implications of WHO ART guideline changes Number of people eligible for treatment in Cameroon
Ghana faces a resource gap for HIV and AIDS
Prioritization for Partnership Framework and NSP in Lesotho $250-51% -51% +30% -51% New Infections 90% 61% 90% 65% ART coverage Millions of US$ $200 $150 $100 $50 Support Mitigation Treatment Prevention $0 Needs Prevention Priority Treatment Priority Cost Effective Priority
Policy Monitoring Outline systems to track service delivery and health outcomes Regularly evaluate performance to assess how implementation is going Inform mid-course corrections Ensure that stakeholders are accountable for achieving policy goals Measure impact and inform scale up Photo by Dietmar Temps
Service Uptake among Currently Married Women under Voucher System 60 53.3 54 Percentage 50 40 30 20 30.8 26.7 43 38.5 34.8 36 10 0 Use of modern contraceptive use Institutional delivery Agra (rural) Baseline, 2006 Agra (rural) Endline, 2009 Kanpur Nagar (slum) Baseline, 2006 Kanpur Nagar (slum) Endline, 2011 Source: IFPS Technical Assistance Project (ITAP). 2012. Sambhav: Vouchers Make High-Quality Reproductive Health Services Possible for India s Poor. Gurgaon, Haryana: Futures Group, ITAP.
The right information in the right format in the right hands at the right time and place
Thank You www.healthpolicyproject.com The Health Policy Project is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-10-00067, beginning September 30, 2010. It is implemented by Futures Group, the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), Futures Institute, Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO), Population Reference Bureau (PRB), Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, and the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRA).