Article type
Abstract
Background:
While significant efforts have been undertaken by researchers and donors to strengthen the role of evidence in health policymaking, there is still limited work aimed at strengthening the role of evidence in electoral platforms. These platforms are provided to citizens to inform their voting decisions in democratic systems. This study aims to examine and promote the use of evidence in electoral platforms through developing and pilot-testing a guide and accompanying tool to inform and evaluate these platforms. We use Lebanon, a middle-income country, as a case example.
Methods:
To develop the guide, we searched electronic databases and websites for documents on the development and evaluation of electoral platforms. We also mapped a sample of existing electoral platforms from democratic countries and consulted experts and stakeholders in the field of health policy and politics. Building on the guide, we generated a standard evaluation tool, referred to as K2Platform tool, for scoring electoral platforms. The tool was first pilot-tested and subsequently used to evaluate electoral platforms of candidates running for the 2022 Lebanese Parliamentary elections.
Results:
We included 22 relevant articles that informed the development of the guide and evaluation tool. The guide presents the main phases involved in designing and communicating electoral platforms. The evaluation tool incorporates 12 criteria and was used to evaluate 20 electoral platforms. The evaluation identified shortcomings in electoral platforms of candidates running for the 2022 Lebanese Parliamentary elections, mainly the limited use of evidence and the absence of timelines and indicators. During the session, we will present the tools and findings as well as discuss implications for policy, politics, and research.
Conclusion:
The guide and evaluation tool will make a breakthrough in how electoral platforms are designed to ensure they are transparent, action-oriented, and responsive to people’s needs. They provide essential criteria for political parties and other candidates to develop evidence-informed electoral platforms that can be translated to effective laws and policies and for citizens and the public to hold them accountable. Our work will support evidence-informed decision-making and will contribute to the science of knowledge translation by examining and promoting the use of evidence in electoral platforms.
While significant efforts have been undertaken by researchers and donors to strengthen the role of evidence in health policymaking, there is still limited work aimed at strengthening the role of evidence in electoral platforms. These platforms are provided to citizens to inform their voting decisions in democratic systems. This study aims to examine and promote the use of evidence in electoral platforms through developing and pilot-testing a guide and accompanying tool to inform and evaluate these platforms. We use Lebanon, a middle-income country, as a case example.
Methods:
To develop the guide, we searched electronic databases and websites for documents on the development and evaluation of electoral platforms. We also mapped a sample of existing electoral platforms from democratic countries and consulted experts and stakeholders in the field of health policy and politics. Building on the guide, we generated a standard evaluation tool, referred to as K2Platform tool, for scoring electoral platforms. The tool was first pilot-tested and subsequently used to evaluate electoral platforms of candidates running for the 2022 Lebanese Parliamentary elections.
Results:
We included 22 relevant articles that informed the development of the guide and evaluation tool. The guide presents the main phases involved in designing and communicating electoral platforms. The evaluation tool incorporates 12 criteria and was used to evaluate 20 electoral platforms. The evaluation identified shortcomings in electoral platforms of candidates running for the 2022 Lebanese Parliamentary elections, mainly the limited use of evidence and the absence of timelines and indicators. During the session, we will present the tools and findings as well as discuss implications for policy, politics, and research.
Conclusion:
The guide and evaluation tool will make a breakthrough in how electoral platforms are designed to ensure they are transparent, action-oriented, and responsive to people’s needs. They provide essential criteria for political parties and other candidates to develop evidence-informed electoral platforms that can be translated to effective laws and policies and for citizens and the public to hold them accountable. Our work will support evidence-informed decision-making and will contribute to the science of knowledge translation by examining and promoting the use of evidence in electoral platforms.