Transcript Presentation_policy brief

Writing a Policy
Briefing
Slide 1
Overview of session
• What is a policy briefing
• Some tips for writing policy briefings
• Exercise
Slide 2
Policy briefings
• In small groups, take 2-3 minutes and discuss
what makes a good policy briefing.
–What are the most important things
to remember when writing such a
document?
–What irritates you when reading a
bad briefing? What are the traits of
bad policy writing?
Slide 3
What makes a good policy briefing?
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Slide 4
Policy relevant
Concise
Comprehensive
Clear
Accurate
Objective
Impartial
Accuracy
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Use information from reputable
sources. If not available in print,
consider making direct contact.
Where did your source get its
information?
Make sure your language is specific,
make use of comparisons
– “a large amount of radioactivity was
released”
– The amount of radioactivity released
was comparable to that released by
the Hiroshima atomic bomb”
Slide 5
Accuracy
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Make sure you give enough
information for the reader to judge
the significance of what you are
saying - e.g. survey sizes
– “80% of the survey respondents said
that they were happy with POST’s
work”
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When quoting figures or statistics,
explain what assumptions have
been made
– “6 million people would die if a plane
crashed at the Sellafield nuclear
plant”
Slide 6
Presenting scientific information
• MPs expect simple answers but
this is not always possible.
• It is important to get across
whether or not there is
consensus, and if not, where does
the balance lie?
– the earth is round
– global warming results from human
activity
– polio vaccination causes infertility
Slide 7
Handling uncertainty
• Attribute any statements that could be questioned
– “Greenpeace claim that the Sellafield nuclear plant could not
withstand an aircraft impact”
• Include ranges and if relevant, the reason for the uncertainty
– According to the International Panel for Climate Change sea level
could rise from 20 cm to over 1 metre by the end of the century …
modelling cloud cover is a major source of uncertainty
• Do not be afraid to omit direct conclusions if you feel that none
can be drawn. What are the limitations of science?
– E.g. there is insufficient scientific evidence to show conclusively
whether mobile phones adversely affect human health
Slide 8
Making recommendations?
• Many organisations do not
make recommendations in
their policy briefings e.g. UK
Parliamentary Office of
Science and Technology
(POST)
• In such cases it is important
to explain what others
recommend, and why – but
present both sides of any
argument.
Slide 9
Making recommendations?
• Other policy briefings do set out to
make recommendations. These
should be clearly explained,
indicating uncertainties:
– “We recommend that a
precautionary approach to the use
of mobile phone technologies be
adopted until much more detailed
and scientifically robust information
on any health effects becomes
available” Stewart report on mobile
phones, 2004
• Distinguish between political
decisions and scientific ones!
Slide 10
References
• Make your work is
self contained.
• It’s not an
academic paper
so no need for
100 references!
• But keep a record
for yourself of ALL
sources
Slide 11
Technical language
• Avoid using jargon and acronyms
• Make sure essential acronyms and jargon are
explained
• Explanations should be easy to find – e.g. in an
explanatory box
• Define units of measurement and where
necessary place them in context
• Be consistent with units and terminology
Slide 12
A “house” style?
• Common style for the organisation gives a
more professional appearance
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Branding/logo
Number of pages
Formatting
Endnotes/footnotes
Slide 13
Policy brief exercise
• In groups of approximately 5, look at the
example policy briefings
• What is good about each one?
• What is not so good?
Slide 14
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Steps for writing a policy briefing
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6.
Slide 15
Research
Structuring and planning
Further reading/research
Writing
Reviewing
Re-writing
6
Policy briefing exercise
• In this exercise, you will be
writing a policy briefing on
Climate Change Adaptation in
Africa
• Adaptation- how we will change
to deal with effects of climate
change
• This is different from mitigation
which means how we will change
to reduce the causes of climate
change
Slide 16
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Research: background reading
• What are suitable
sources of
information for a
policy briefing?
• What sources should
be avoided?
Slide 17
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Exercise: Getting an overview
• International Panel
on Climate Change
(IPPC) report versus
wikipedia
• What are the
advantages and
disadvantages of
each?
Slide 18
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Exercise: Background reading
• Work in groups of 5 or more
• Each group will be given 5 information
sources on different aspects of climate
change adaptation
• Each person take one source and read it
carefully, taking notes
• After 20 minutes, present a summary back to
the group of what you found in your source
Slide 19
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Research (cont.): Consulting experts and
stakeholders
Use interviews to get:
• Specialist and local
information
• Different
perceptions and
opinions
Slide 20
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Consulting exercise
• In your groups,
brainstorm a list of
stakeholders who you
could contact to
interview about Climate
Change Adaptation
• For each one, note
down 2-3 questions you
would ask
Slide 21
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Malaria Bednets Plan
Structuring and
planning
• Start by making a
note of the main
sections you want to
include
•Then add notes
detailing what will be
included in each
section
Introduction
Include something to grab attention (e.g.
current mortality from malaria? Or cost
of malaria treatment?)
Malaria
Brief information on what Malaria is, what
causes it, mortality and morbidity
statistics etc.
Bednets
Info on types of bednets, efficacy, cost etc
Distribution
Discussions of different methods of bednet
distribution (e.g. commercial, subsidised,
free etc.)
Policy
Outline current policies on Malaria
prevention and discuss policy options
Conclusion
Slide 22
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Structuring and planning exercise
• In your groups come up
with an outline plan for the
policy briefing on Climate
Change Adaptation in Africa
• Once you have completed
it, write it out on a piece of
flipchart paper and hang it
on the wall
Slide 23
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Further reading/research
• At this stage you may realise that you need
more information
• In your groups take 5 minutes to discuss what
further information you would like before
writing the briefing
• This could include people to interview or
additional reading
Slide 24
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Writing- some tips
• The briefing is a narrative- each point should
flow from the previous point.
• Use headings and subheadings
• Keep telling the reader what’s coming
• One point per sentence
• Use lists and bullet points
• Use figures and diagrams where relevant clearly labelled and not too complex
Slide 25
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Writing (cont.): capturing reader’s
attention
• Include something attention
grabbing on first page:
money/legislation/constitue
ncy
• Don’t just focus on science
- consider wider
implications
• Separate scientific
background from policy
analysis?
• Use plenty of examples and
case studies
Slide 26
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Writing (cont.): summary
• End with a summary. Consider putting this in
bullet form to make it easier to read.
• Consider writing the summary before the
main text! This will help you ensure that the
briefing gets the key points across.
Slide 27
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Writing exercise
In your groups, choose
one section each and
spend 10 minutes
writing a first draft of it
(Don’t worry if not all
sections are covered).
Slide 28
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Reviewing your work
– Get colleagues to look
at your work
– If time permits, send a
draft, or section of the
draft, to all the people
you have consulted
Slide 29
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Reviewing exercise
• Swap the section you have written with a
colleague
• Read your colleague’s work and then give
them feedback
Slide 30
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Rewriting
• Be grateful for feedback- try not to get
defensive!
• Simplify language and structure if people
have found it confusing
• Correct any factual errors
• Its ok to ignore some feedback comments in
order to preserve impartiality
Slide 31
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Dissemination
• So you have gone
through all the steps and
produced a policy
briefing…
• …now how do you get
people to read it?
• In your groups discuss
different ways that you
could disseminate your
work
Slide 32
Reflection
• What have you
learnt?
• What will you do
differently?
Slide 33
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This presentation is based on a presentation by Dr Chandrika Nath, Parliamentary Office of Science and
Technology
The presentation is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0
Unported License.
You are free to modify and use this presentation for non-commercial purposes providing you retain the
attribution of all images and credit INASP.
For further information please contact [email protected]
Slide 34