Tips

Policy briefs are created to provide brief, evidence-based overviews and convincing information that urge the reader to make a decision on a particular issue. Here are some essential tips:

• Provide Background: Offer enough context for the reader to understand the problem.
• Highlight Urgency: Convince the reader that the problem must be addressed urgently.
• Discuss Alternatives: Provide information about alternatives in an objective brief.
• Advocate for One Alternative: In an advocacy brief, support one alternative with evidence.
• Stimulate Decision-Making: Encourage the reader to make a decision.
• Check Relevance: Ensure the question is relevant.
• Identify Your Audience: Clearly define who your target audience is.
• Specify the Message: Consider the key messages of the research from the perspective of policymakers.
• Write Clearly and Precisely: Clarity is key in conveying your message.
• Think Beyond Facts: Contextualize statistics and facts; interpret their significance for policymakers.
• Avoid Exaggeration: Ensure recommendations are closely linked to research results.
• Maintain Focus: Keep the brief as a clear and concise stand-alone document on a single topic.
• Serve as a Vehicle for Advice: Your policy brief should provide evidence-based policy advice to aid decision-makers.
• Keep it Concise: Aim for a well-argued, easy-to-read publication of 1,200 to 2,500 words.

Summary (100 to 200 words)

The summary should clearly highlight the following points:

1. Introduction to the Issue: Briefly describe the social or policy problem being addressed to set context.
2. Importance of the Issue: Explain the significance of the issue and why it needs attention to engage the reader.
3. Research Overview: Summarize the research conducted, including methods to provide credibility and context.
4. Key Findings: Highlight the main findings that support your policy recommendations.
5. Policy Recommendations: Provide a brief overview of clear and actionable recommendations.
6. Implications: Explain the potential impact of your recommendations on policy and practice.

Structure of the Introduction (200 to 400 words)

1. Context and Importance: Explain the significance of the issue and its urgency to engage the reader.
2. Objective: Clearly state the brief’s purpose and the specific issue being addressed.
3. Overview of Findings: Summarize key findings or insights to create curiosity.
4. Relevance to Policy: Explain the relevance of the issue and findings to current or future policy decisions.
5. Structure of the Brief: Provide a roadmap outlining the main sections of the brief.

Structure of the Paper (700 to 1500 words)

1. Title: A concise and informative title indicating the topic.
2. Executive Summary: A brief overview of key points, including the issue, findings, and recommendations.
3. Introduction: Introduce the issue, providing context and explaining its significance.
4. Problem Statement: Clearly define the issue and its importance, including consequences of inaction.
5. Overview of Research/Analysis: Summarize the research, including methods and key findings to support recommendations.
6. Policy Options and Recommendations: Present available policy options and a recommended course of action with supporting evidence.
7. Conclusion: Summarize main points and restate the importance of action.
8. References/Further Reading: Include references and materials for further exploration.

Structure of the Conclusion (200 to 400 words)

1. Restate the Problem: Summarize the issue addressed in the policy brief to remind the reader of its importance.
2. Summarize Key Findings: Highlight main findings from your research.
3. Reiterate Recommendations: Clearly restate your policy recommendations.
4. Implications: Discuss the potential impact of your recommendations on the target population or society.
5. Call to Action: End with a strong call to action, urging policymakers to implement your recommendations.

Remarks

• References: All references should be hyperlinked.
• Gender Mainstreaming: Consider the extent of adopting a transformative approach. Most research falls between ‘minimal integration’ and ‘transformative integration.’ Avoid conducting or publishing research that ignores gender issues.