Policy Advice and Policy Advisory Systems are critical in ensuring that policymakers receive timely and high-quality evidence to make impactful decisions on complex challenges. In this context, the Policy Innovation Lab leads and coordinates the first International Policy Advice and Coordination: Community of Practice.
In preparation for this work, in 2025, the Policy Innovation Lab conducted a comparative study of policy advice systems of selected Global South Countries that is: Brazil, India, Kenya and South Africa. The research revealed that central government units within the Presidency play a fundamental coordination role in policy advice, and that governments are dependent on internal and external actors for policy advice. There was limited evidence of the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools to strengthen policy advice within central governments.
Given the findings of the comparative study, it motivated the Policy Innovation Lab to create an International Community of Practice (COP) on Policy Advice and Coordination among Global South Countries. Global South countries experience similar challenges, and it is expected that the COP is a platform for sharing knowledge, peer-to-peer learning, building networks, and collective problem-solving.
The Community of Practice is a two-year initiative within a closed group. Membership open to government agencies, academia, think tanks, policy research institutes, and policy labs from Global South countries. The Policy Innovation Lab is the secretariat for the COP led by Dr Itai Makone. Three webinars, each focusing on a specific theme, will be held in 2026, with corresponding briefing notes detailing actionable insights. For 2027, the COP will hold two webinars, one in-person meeting in South Africa and one online capacity-building session.
The Community of Practice has eight participating institutions across 6 countries – Brazil, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria and South Africa.
In July, the Policy Advice and Coordination: Community of Practice convened its first webinar focused on strengthening evidence-informed policy advisory systems to improve decision-making. Dr Konosoang Sobane, from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in South Africa, presented on integrating research into executive decision-making. She emphasised the importance of evidence being synthesised into actionable policy advice, making very clear policy options and recommendations. Dr Sobane highlighted the need for co-production of evidence with policymakers to ensure that the evidence is relevant for government needs. High-quality research is important but not the only component; strong institutional capacity to support evidence-informed policymaking is central to benefiting from research output.
Prof Andrew Onwuemele, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) in Nigeria, presented on institutionalising evidence-informed policy advice in government in Nigeria. He highlighted that Nigeria’s challenge is not producing evidence but ensuring that evidence is translated into government decisions. Prof. Onwuemele concluded that institutionalising evidence-informed policymaking is a long-term investment rather than a one-off reform. Nigeria already has many of the necessary institutions; the priority is to strengthen coordination among them and improve the translation of evidence that consistently informs government decision-making.
Mr Siyabonga Maseko, Policy and Research Services (PRS) in the Presidency (South Africa) offered perspectives from South Africa on institutionalising evidence-informed policy advice. He emphasised that evidence should be institutionalised within the processes and culture of government and solicited not on an ad hoc basis.  Mr. Maseko concluded that evidence alone does not determine policy decisions. To improve executive decision-making, governments need strong institutions, robust policy processes, capable public servants, and sustained collaboration between policymakers and researchers. Institutionalising evidence is therefore a long-term process of embedding evidence into the everyday practice of government, supported by continuous learning, leadership, and partnerships.
Prof Simone Lucatello, Instituto Mora, presented on the role of public research institutions in supporting decision-making: Insights from Mexico. He noted that Academic research typically follows longer timelines with peer review and rigorous analysis, while government requires rapid responses to emerging challenging issues; thus, there is a need for academia to develop new ways of providing timely evidence while maintaining research quality. Prof. Lucatello concluded that public research institutions must become trusted strategic partners in government decision-making. Success depends on stronger collaboration, mutual trust, effective communication, and institutional mechanisms that connect research directly to government priorities.
Reflecting on the webinar, Dr Makone said, “The webinar shared success stories of what countries are implementing to strengthen policy advice, and it also reminded us that evidence only makes a difference when it is translated into decisions that improve people’s lives.”