Article type
Abstract
Background: The integration of evidence-informed policymaking (EIPM) within the sociopolitical fabric of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) offers a promising avenue to enhance policy effectiveness and accountability. Understanding the dynamics of EIPM’s institutionalization, as delineated in the 6 domains identified by Kuchenmueller et al (2022)—governance, standards and processes, partnership and support, leadership, resources, and culture—is essential for fostering environments conducive to evidence-based policymaking.
Objectives: This study aims to characterize the sociopolitical landscapes of Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, and Bolivia, examining how actors within these domains facilitate or hinder the institutionalization of EIPM at the national level.
Methods: Employing qualitative analysis, this research synthesizes insights from interviews with more than 25 participants, including researchers, knowledge brokers, and decision-makers. A thematic examination of the aforementioned domains provides a comparative analysis across the 4 South American countries.
Results: Preliminary findings suggest that the level of evidence ecosystem development in each country uniquely influences the operationalization of EIPM domains. Although factors like behavioral norms and systemic capacities play significant roles, environmental conditions, there are four factors influencing the external environment: (1) open government through the access, quality of data and research, and freedom of speech; (2) accountability, considering corruption and transparent processes and justification of decisions; (3) political stability, in relation to changes of government and social mobilizations, and (4) institutional memory, related to the capacity for evidence elaboration and norms and register of processes. The diversity in these dynamics underscores the complexities of institutionalizing EIPM in varying sociopolitical contexts.
Conclusions: This is ongoing study is part of PhD research, expected to conclude for completion by mid-2024. It seeks to contribute to the broader understanding of EIPM in the region of Latin American and the Caribbean and other LMICs. By shedding light on the dynamic interaction between sociopolitical elements and EIPM domains, the research intends to guide strategies for strengthening evidence-based policymaking. This investigation not only identifies the characteristics of the external environment but also clarifies the dynamics within the domains proposed by Kuchenmueller et al (2022), enriching the discourse on evidence ecosystems and the institutionalization of EIPM.
Objectives: This study aims to characterize the sociopolitical landscapes of Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, and Bolivia, examining how actors within these domains facilitate or hinder the institutionalization of EIPM at the national level.
Methods: Employing qualitative analysis, this research synthesizes insights from interviews with more than 25 participants, including researchers, knowledge brokers, and decision-makers. A thematic examination of the aforementioned domains provides a comparative analysis across the 4 South American countries.
Results: Preliminary findings suggest that the level of evidence ecosystem development in each country uniquely influences the operationalization of EIPM domains. Although factors like behavioral norms and systemic capacities play significant roles, environmental conditions, there are four factors influencing the external environment: (1) open government through the access, quality of data and research, and freedom of speech; (2) accountability, considering corruption and transparent processes and justification of decisions; (3) political stability, in relation to changes of government and social mobilizations, and (4) institutional memory, related to the capacity for evidence elaboration and norms and register of processes. The diversity in these dynamics underscores the complexities of institutionalizing EIPM in varying sociopolitical contexts.
Conclusions: This is ongoing study is part of PhD research, expected to conclude for completion by mid-2024. It seeks to contribute to the broader understanding of EIPM in the region of Latin American and the Caribbean and other LMICs. By shedding light on the dynamic interaction between sociopolitical elements and EIPM domains, the research intends to guide strategies for strengthening evidence-based policymaking. This investigation not only identifies the characteristics of the external environment but also clarifies the dynamics within the domains proposed by Kuchenmueller et al (2022), enriching the discourse on evidence ecosystems and the institutionalization of EIPM.