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Bridging Evidence and Action: Key Insights from the EPA Forum 2024

28 November 2024

In a world increasingly defined by complex challenges, the role of evidence in shaping impactful decisions has never been more critical. The Evidence-Policy-Action (EPA) Forum 2024, held in Abidjan from November 6-7, provided a unique platform for stakeholders across Francophone Africa to engage in dialogue, share experiences, and envision a future where data and evidence drive transformative change. This year’s forum shed light on persistent gaps in the evidence ecosystem while offering actionable pathways to bridge them.

Opportunities and challenges in mapping the evidence ecosystem

One of the highlights of the forum was the mapping session, where participants explored the state of evidence ecosystems across the region. Representing producers, intermediaries, users, and facilitators, participants painted a vivid picture of both progress and persistent challenges.

A common thread was the lack of coordination between actors in different countries. While there is notable political will to integrate evidence into policymaking, systemic issues like inadequate capacity for data analysis and security-related hesitations around data sharing remain obstacles. Additionally, countries vary in their readiness, with some having legal frameworks for public policy evaluation and others grappling with security and operational constraints.

These disparities underscore a key point: while data production has grown significantly, its utilization remains inconsistent. The forum participants echoed a call for harmonization—standardizing processes, fostering regional collaboration, and ensuring data is translated into actionable insights.

Governance as a lever for data-driven decisions

The governance of data emerged as a pivotal topic, with countries sharing varied experiences and solutions. Benin’s approach, centered on the introduction of statistical visas and a national methodological guide, offered an example of structuring evidence governance for credibility and accessibility. Côte d’Ivoire highlighted its efforts to build partnerships with civil society and academia to bridge the gap between evidence producers and decision-makers.

However, challenges persist. The fragmentation of data systems and weak coordination mechanisms undermine efforts to create a unified evidence ecosystem. The forum underscored the need for strong legal frameworks, dedicated institutional support, and robust infrastructure to govern data effectively while safeguarding privacy and ensuring accessibility.

Addressing the financing gap for evidence-based policies

A recurring theme was the underfunding of research in Africa, where less than 1% of resources are allocated to evidence production and mobilization. This financial gap limits the ability of governments and institutions to generate, disseminate, and utilize high-quality evidence.

Participants proposed innovative strategies to address this issue, including building global partnerships, engaging philanthropists, and advocating for national governments to allocate a

dedicated percentage of GDP to research. These approaches are vital to reducing reliance on external donors and ensuring sustainable funding for evidence ecosystems.

Bridging knowledge production and policy translation

While data production has gained momentum, translating this knowledge into formats that policymakers can use remains a challenge. The forum emphasized the importance of operationalizing recommendations and adapting them to the realities of decision-makers.

Practical solutions included the use of simplified formats, targeted capacity-building initiatives, and fostering dialogues between data producers and users. Several participants called for regional platforms to standardize and share best practices in knowledge translation, ensuring that evidence is not just produced but drives measurable action.

Strengthening regional collaboration for evidence use

Perhaps the most compelling outcome of the forum was the consensus on the need for a regional approach. By pooling resources and expertise, countries in Francophone Africa can overcome shared challenges and amplify the impact of evidence-based policymaking.

The creation of a regional community of practice is a step in this direction. This platform promises to sustain the momentum generated at the forum, enabling stakeholders to continue their collaboration, share lessons learned, and address emerging challenges collectively.

A Call to Action

The EPA Forum 2024 highlighted both the promise and the urgency of strengthening evidence ecosystems in Francophone Africa. As the conversations move beyond Abidjan, the challenge is clear: translating the forum’s insights into tangible actions that drive development outcomes.

For ACED and its partners, this means synthesizing the forum’s discussions into actionable strategies and working collaboratively to implement them. With a commitment to fostering regional collaboration and bridging the gap between evidence and policy, the forum has laid the groundwork for a future where data is not just produced but drives real-world change.

The journey from evidence to action is a long one, but forums like EPA 2024 remind us that, together, we can build the bridges needed to make it a reality.