Supporting evidence-based decision-making: Capacity Building through Research

Abstract

Lack of data inhibits informed decision-making and is a critical challenge in developing countries, many of which are under-resourced in financial, technical and institutional capacity to collect and analyse the required data. This limits the countries’ ability to achieve development goals and keeps them dependent on the provision of external resources. Development initiatives often treat capacity building and research as two separate tracks of development. While efforts have been made in the health sector to combine these through project-based learning, this approach is relatively unexplored in the water sector which by its inter-sectoral nature stands to benefit significantly from a more collaborative and solution-oriented development strategy. Capacity Building through Research (CBtR) facilitates data collection and analysis by local researchers, mentored by international experts, strengthening local capacity to produce credible evidence able to inform sustainability-related decision-making. Five case studies piloting CBtR are discussed here and evaluated through criteria of the Dutch Strategy Evaluation Protocol framework. CBtR shows to be a long-term strategy that requires the strengthening of cross-disciplinary networks to enhance the capacity of water management institutions, which likely contributes to more efficient evidence collection and analysis suitable for decision-makers, leading to greater national resilience and reduced need for external support.

Sustainability from Policy to Practice: Assessing the Impact of European Research and Innovation Frameworks on Circular Bioeconomy

“…This, in turn, facilitates the realization of eco-industrial parks [64]. Conallin et al (2022), on the other hand, established a significant link between CB and IDM. Their research demonstrates how addressing CB through research enhances the local capacity to produce credible evidence, thereby informing sustainability decision-making processes [65].…”

“…Conallin et al (2022), on the other hand, established a significant link between CB and IDM. Their research demonstrates how addressing CB through research enhances the local capacity to produce credible evidence, thereby informing sustainability decision-making processes [65]. Another connection was established by Fassio and Minotti (2019), this time between PoD and the circular economy, which are two emerging yet significant research themes, especially concerning the cities of the future.…”

Bridging research-policy gaps: An integrated approach

“… 6 Also, the third-party organizations and platforms aim to enhance evidence-based decision-making by facilitating knowledge creation, sharing, and use, as well as fostering relationships and capacity building. 22 Numerous organizations have drawn remarkable success stories in effectively addressing global challenges while fostering collaboration between researchers and policymakers. For instance, an illustration can be found in the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN, https://unfccc.int/playground-20/level-2/level-3/climate-and-development-knowledge-network-cdkn?gclid=Cj0KCQjwqs6lBhCxARIsAG8YcDi0C7n9HLu2P6CI1zzKIRiXLz4Zm0DugJ8MsjkiZnWB23gOTpDMrCoaAtnwEALw_wcB ), which uses science to aid in the creation and implementation of climate-friendly development policies, thus empowering developing nations with the tools to combat climate change.…”