We have identified some important considerations. It is clear from the literature that:

• Evidence use does matter: better use of evidence in policy and practice can help reduce poverty and improve economic performance in developing countries.
  
• Policy should be informed by a wide breadth of evidence, not just empirical data. Key issues include the quality, credibility, relevance and cost of the policy.
  
• Evidence is needed in all the different components of policy processes - and in different ways in each component.
  
• Various constraints (time, capacity, cost) will affect the mechanisms available for mobilising evidence for policy in developing countries.
  
• Policy processes are inherently political: although some developing countries have troubled contexts, an increasing number should explore EBP approaches.

The next challenge is to analyse the conditions facilitating evidence-informed policymaking (Nutley, 2003) and translate these into practical tools for the governments of developing countries.

Sources

• Court, J. (2005) 'What Political and Institutional Context Issues Matter for Bridging Research and Policy? A Literature Review and Discussion of Data Collection Approaches', Unpublished Background Paper.
  
• Court, J., I. Hovland and J. Young (eds) (2005) Bridging Research and Policy in Development: Evidence and the Change Process, Rugby: ITDG.
  
• Davies P. (2004) 'Is Evidence-based Government Possible?' Jerry Lee Lecture, presented at the 4th Annual Campbell Collaboration Colloquium, Washington DC.
  
• Hornby, P. and H.S.R. Perera (2002) 'A Development Framework for Promoting Evidence-based Policy Action: Drawing on Experiences in Sri Lanka', International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp165-83.
  
• Hyden, G., J. Court and K. Mease (2004) Making Sense of Governance: Empirical Evidence from Sixteen Developing Countries, Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
  
• Nutley, S. (2003) 'Bridging the Policy/Research Divide: Reflections and Lessons from the UK', Keynote Paper at National Institute of Governance Conference 'Facing the Future: Engaging stakeholders and citizens in developing public policy', Canberra, Australia 23-4 April.
  
• OECD (1981) The Measurement of Scientific and Technical Activities: Proposed Standard Practice for Surveys of Research and Experimental Development (Frascati Manual), Paris: OECD.
  
• Pollard, A. and J. Court (2005) How Civil Society Organisations Use Evidence to Influence Policy Processes: A literature review, ODI Working Paper No. 249, London: ODI.
  
• Salvatella, R, F. Muzio and D. Sánchez (2000) 'Chagar Disease and Foot and Mouth Disease Eradication in Uruguay' in Lessons in Research to Action and Policy: Case Studies from Seven Countries, Geneva: Council on Health Research for Development Working Group on Research to Action and Policy, pp67-76.
  
• Shaxson, L. (2005) 'Is your Evidence Robust Enough? Questions for Policymakers and Practitioners', Evidence and Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp101-11.
  
• Young, E. and L. Quinn (2002) Writing Effective Public Policy Papers: A Guide To Policy Advisers in Central and Eastern Europe, Budapest: LGI.
  
  

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