Why we need evidence synthesis with IPPO by CAPEcast

Sarah Chaytor talks to Joanna Chataway and Geoff Mulgan from the ESRC-funded International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO). Created during the pandemic, IPPO have mobilised swiftly to assess evidence from around the world to inform UK policy makers, enabling social science evidence to bear on policy making in a more effective way.

We explore the ways IPPO does this, through systematic reviews, rapid evidence reviews and international scans, supported by close relationships with central government but critically also with the devolved administrations. In particular, we talk about the need in academic policy engagement to bring evidence together, to synthesise what is available but also reflect how difficult this can be because of the lack of capabilities and structures in government to receive and action evidence in this format.

Our advice from our colleagues from IPPO drawn out in this episode is that it’s never enough to send in interesting reports to policy makers – not only is conversation the best way to share knowledge but we also need constant iteration and discussion between the demand and supply of evidence for policy.