Activities: Working Group on Evidence-Based Public Policy Making
Call for papers 2022
WG Background and Rationale:
In recent years there has been a significant effort to improve decision making within the public sector by developing capacity in evidence-based policy making in general and policy analysis in particular in CEE, Central Asia and Caucasus countries. The Working Group began in 2008 as a Panel Session on Policy Analysis Issues and became an annual Working Group based on the increased demand. The wide variety of papers and a large number of participants confirm the strong interest in evidence-based policy making and policy analysis in the region. Thus, the WG continues to support the scientific development of new ideas in public policies and encourages experience and knowledge exchange on how academics can meet the urgent needs of public servants and civil society. In addition, policy evaluation becomes essential to better understand why some policies work and others do not.
The goal of the WG – is to focus on discussions and debates around capacity challenges, professional, evidence-based public policy making in the countries embraced by NISPAcee, and not limited to the institutionalisation of public policy analysis procedures and concrete remedies for those challenges. Nowadays, solid and effective public health systems and evidence-based policies are vital for improving health outcomes. Moreover, the refugees’ crisis at the EU and Belarus borders increase the necessity to better use the evidence in decision-making.
For the 30th Annual NISPAcee Conference, the WG on EVIDENCE-BASED PUBLIC POLICY MAKING welcomes theoretical, empirical or comparative research papers of academics and practitioners on the need for more adaptive, anticipatory, inclusive and sustainable policies. We encourage potential authors to focus on the impact of COVID-19 or refugees’ crisis on evidence-based public policy making. The WG is interested in papers which focus on those aspects and particularities of policy making, policy analysis or monitoring and evaluation of public policies experiences in a single country and/or region, either generally or in specific sectors. The papers can address not only recommendations for further research, but also real-world points for practitioners. In this respect, collaborative papers between researchers/academics and practitioners are highly welcomed.
All papers shall include, at least, but not limited to, the following sections: introduction; background of the chosen issue; literature review; the objective of the study; research methodology; analysis; main findings and policy implications; ideas and recommendations for further research.
Activities in 2021
Meeting of the Working Group on Local Government
WG Programme Coordinators:
Lesya Ilchenko-Syuyva, Kyiv-Mohyla School of Governance, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kyiv, Ukraine
Jaroslav Dvorak, Klaipeda University, Klaipeda, Lithuania
Mihaela Victorita Carausan, National School of Political Sciences and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania
Place: 29th NISPAcee Annual Conference, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Date: October 21-23, 2021
Main theme of the conference: "Citizens' Engagement and Empowerment - The Era of Collaborative Innovation in Governance"
5 papers were presented in the frame of 2 working group sessions:
The Working Group on Evidence-Based Public Policy Makings continues its work under the umbrella of the NISPAcee Annual Conferences.
This year, the WG on PP registered nine applications in the main fields of interest (impact assessment, limitations of national policies, participation issues, stakeholders' analysis and evidence-based).
The papers were organized for presentation within the conference in 2 sessions:
•Session 1: Capacity challenges for professional evidenced-based public policy (physically and online);
•Session 2: Institutionalisation of policy analysis methods.
The WG, despite the pandemic challenges, managed to remain a constructive forum of discussion for academic and other policy stakeholders. Through experience exchange on how we can meet the daily necessities, we shared good practices on public health policies and determined urgent local needs for policy guidance within different countries. All the announced participants were present at the conference, with only one exception due to a medical condition. As a result, the quality of the presentations was good and according to the scientific criteria. Unfortunately, not all accepted authors in the selection process succeeded to participate in the conference due to the pandemic restrictions. According to the discussion's results, the WG decided to continue the work in a multi-disciplinary format concentrating on public policy/evidence-based, strategic management issues and public health policy interventions.
Call for papers 2020
WG Programme Coordinators:
Lesya Ilchenko-Syuyva, Kyiv-Mohyla School of Governance, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kyiv, Ukraine, lesya.ilchenko@gmail.com
Jaroslav Dvorak, Klaipeda University, Klaipeda, Lithuania, Jaroslav.dvorak@ku.lt
Mihaela Victorita Carausan, National School of Political Sciences and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania, mihaelacarausan@gmail.com
WG Background and Rationale:
In recent years there has been a significant effort to improve decision-making within the public sector by developing capacity in evidence-based policy making in general and policy analysis in particular in CEE, Central Asia and Caucasus countries. However, these efforts are still in their early stages in many countries, and heavily reliant on donor assistance. There continue to be issues both on the demand side (how much governments genuinely want evidence-based policy advice) and on the supply side (e.g., skilled policy analysts, teaching institutions, think tanks).
The Working Group began in 2008 as a Panel Session on Policy Analysis Issues and due to a huge demand grew into an annual Working Group. It has been existing as a WG on Public Policy Analysis Development Issues for almost 10 years as a forum for discussion and a unique opportunity to analyse and compare which factors restrict further development and advancement of evidence-based policy making, institutionalisation of policy analysis procedures as the key factors in ensuring good governance not only in CEE countries. The wide variety of papers and the large number of participants were evidence of the strong interest in evidence-based policy making and policy analysis in the regions. Thus, the WG will continue its activities in supporting a vivid interest of potential stakeholders of evidence-based policy making and institutionalisation of policy analysis procedures to impact on economic, social and political environment in CEE, Central Asia and Caucasus countries and encouraging experience and knowledge exchange on how academics can meet the urgent needs of public servants and civil society.
Goal:
The goal of the WG is to focus and become a vehicle for discussion and debates around capacity challenges to professional evidence-based public policy making in the countries embraced by NISPAcee but not limited to, institutionalisation of public policy analysis procedures and concrete remedies for those challenges.
For the 28th Annual NISPAcee Conference Governance and citizens' rights
in the era of Europeanisation, globalisation and digitalisation, the WG on EVIDENCE-BASED PUBLIC POLICY MAKING welcomes theoretical, empirical, comparative research papers of academics and practitioners on both diagnosis and possible remedies for shortcomings or bottlenecks of evidence-based policy making in certain countries and/or regions. More specifically, papers may focus on: specific weaknesses/strengths of evidence-based policy making in a single country and/or region, either generally or in specific sectors; institutionalisation and application of policy analysis techniques and methods; comparative analysis of similar challenges faced by a variety of countries (including analysis of instances where capacity-building is being attempted); monitoring and evaluation of public policies experiences in a single country and/or region, and public policy impact analysis in a single country and/or region.
Selection criteria:
We invite potential authors to focus on the aspects and particularities of evidence-based policy making; policy analysis tools and techniques, monitoring and evaluation experience in a country and/or region in order to increase the practical relevance of the working group and to develop a common base knowledge. The papers must include not only recommendations for further research, but also practical points for practitioners. In this respect, papers written in cooperation between researchers/academics and practitioners are highly welcome.
Recommended structure for all papers:
- Introduction.
- Background of the chosen issue.
- Literature review in a given subject or chosen issue/phenomena.
- Objective of the analysis.
- Methodology of the Research.
- Analysis.
- Main findings and policy implications.
- Recommendations for further research.
Activities in 2019
Meeting of the Working Group on Public Policy Analysis Development Issues (ERASMUS+ Jean Monnet Project PRACTIC)
WG Programme Coordinators:
Lesya Ilchenko-Syuyva, National Academy of Public Administration under the President of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Jaroslav Dvorak, Klaipeda University, Klaipeda, Lithuania
Mihaela Victorita Carausan, National School of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania
Place: 27th NISPAcee Annual Conference, Prague, Czech Republic
Date: May 24-26, 2019
The Working Group on Evidence-Based Public Policy Making continues its work under the umbrella of the NISPAcee Annual Conferences. This year the WG on PP received 30 applications in the area of the main fields of interest of the WG (impact assessment, sustainable development goals implementation, participation of stakeholders, public policy issues). The following themes were discussed:
- Process of Evidence-based Public Policy Making;
- Public Policy Tools and Mechanisms;
- Evidence-based Public Policy: Country Case Studies;
- Evidence-based Sectoral Policy Making.
The WG remained a constructive, solid, learning forum for academics, policymakers and other stakeholders in exchanging experiences on how academics can meet the urgent needs of public servants, civil society in practice-oriented, evidence-based studies, in preparing and promoting relevant policy advice as well as in upgrading academic and training programmes in public policy analysis.
In all, 22 papers were presented during the conference meetings in Prague which comprised the following separate sessions:
Session 1: Process of Evidence-based Public Policy Making
Session 2: Public Policy Tools and Mechanisms
Session 3: Evidence-based Public Policy: Country Case Studies
Session 4: Evidence-based Public Policy: Country Case Studies
Session 5: Evidence-based Sectoral Policy Making
The quality of the presentations was good and according to modern scientific criteria.
Following the discussions, the WG decided to continue its work in a multi-disciplinary format, concentrating on public policy/evidence-based and strategic management issues.
Activities in 2018
Meeting of the Working Group on Public Policy Analysis Development Issues
WG Programme Coordinators:
Jaroslav Dvorak, Klaipeda University, Klaipeda, Lithuania
Mihaela Victoria Carausan, National School of Political Sciences and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania
Place: 26th NISPAcee Annual Conference, Iasi, Romania
Date: May 24-26, 2018
The Working Group on Public Policy Analysis Issues continues its work under the umbrella of the NISPAcee Annual Conferences. The WG received over 16 applications in the area of the main fields of interest of the WG (better regulation, monitoring and evaluation, performance indicators, policy capacity, local policy issues, strategic planning and programming). The following themes were more or less distinguished:
- Evidence based policy development and policy making: what really works in practice.
- Policy design and Implementation: from principal-agent to multi-level governance.
- Evaluation: methods, techniques, tools, results and impact assessment.
- Good implementation of national and local policies.
The WG remained a constructive, solid, learning forum for academics, policymakers and other stakeholders in exchanging experience on how academics can meet the urgent needs of public servants, civil society in practice, oriented evidence-based studies in preparing and promoting relevant policy advice as well as in upgrading academic and training programmes in public policy analysis.
In summary, 13 papers were selected and actually completed for presentation during the conference meetings in Iasi and these were the basis of separate sessions. This is the highest number of papers in the last five years’ existence of the working group (2014-2018). The number of sessions was limited to three sessions focused on:
- Implementing Public Policy Analysis Procedures into Practice;
- Regional and Sectoral Public Policy Making;
- Involving Civil Society in Public Policy Making.
According to the results of the discussions, the WG decided to continue the work in a multi-disciplinary format, concentrating on public policy/evidence-based and strategic management issues. As coordinators of the WG, we think that the outcomes of the WG can be improved if we focus on
1. Strategic public policy making concepts and recipes for policy practice
2. Opportunities and limitations of methodology for public sector performance management, impact assessment on the public sector as a whole.
3. Sectoral policy initiatives in the field of governance and policy with a network role in the CEE region.
In 2018 evidence has shown that we can confidently state that more evidence-based papers will be coming to Prague, as we have seen that the papers delivered were less and less single country case studies and more often comparative and theoretically informed. We suggest that an updated format of the WG would help to find new directions and challenges in public policy and strategic management practice in the central and eastern European region. Co-authored papers written by academics and practitioners are highly encouraged for the next annual conference.
Activities in 2017
Meeting of the Working Group
WG Programme Coordinator:
Istvan Stumpf, Szechenyi Istvan University, Gyor, Hungary
Place: 25th NISPAcee Annual Conference, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation
Date: May 18-20, 2017
Topic: Public
Policy Procedures in the Context of Good Governance
The focus
of the discussion in the Working Group was to establish a constructive learning
and exchange forum for academics and policymakers. According to this session,
theorists and professionals could exchange their experiences of current questions
of state administration and public law. Thanks to these discussions and the
prepared studies, this group promoted relevant policy advice, as well as
upgrading academic programmes in public policy analysis and encouraging the
transfer of knowledge on public policy in Central and Eastern Europe.
According
to the papers presented in the Working Group, the analysis was expanded to the
European Union and its member states and also to Russia and China.
Summaries of working group papers:
1.Investigation - how far the
instrumental framework conditions of the EU Twinning Instrument promote or
hinder the achievement of reform outcomes.
2. Analysis
of the Russian Federal Education Programmes which were adopted during the
period 2000-2020. It also concerned academic mobility, the Bologna process, and
summarised the Russian Government’s policy on the development of academic
mobility.
3. Focus on constitutional identity as it is understood and construed in the
constitutional theory and practice of EU Member States. The most
important question is which institution (national or EU) has the scope of
authority to decide on what the constitutional identity of a Member State is,
and when does an EU act or measure confront that constitutional identity?
Outcomes and future plans:
In comparing the working groups over the last years,
the conclusion is that the aforementioned working group entitled ‘Public Policy Analysis Development Issues Public Policy Procedures in the Context of
Good Governance’ was general, and determined
a wide range of subjects. This working group could include several fields of
public policy (e.g. health management; financial background; quality of
administration; transparency; central government, and good government). This
conformation could create an
excellent platform — in spite of its generality — for in-depth scientific
discussions and for the exchange of experiences.
The formation of this
working group was active and at the same time, colourful. For the future, my
proposal is to establish a new working group concerning the theory of ‘deep
state’ not only in the United States, but also according to the academic and
professional political background of Europe, and its effects on the
institutions of the European Union.
Activities in 2016
Meeting of the Working Group
WG Programme Coordinators:
Lesya Ilchenko-Syuyva, Economic Policy Department, National Academy of Public Administration, Office of the President of Ukraine
E-mail: lesya@rocketmail.com
Jaroslav Dvorak, Klaipėda University, Klaipėda, Lithuania E-mail: jvd@takas.lt
Place: 24th NISPAcee Annual Conference, Zagreb. Croatia
Date: May 19-21, 2016
Activities in 2015
Meeting of the Working Group
WG Programme Coordinators:
Frans Jorna, Centre for Urban and Environmental Development, Enschede, Netherlands
Jaroslav Dvorak, Klaipėda University, Klaipėda, Lithuania E-mail: jvd@takas.lt
Place: 23rd NISPAcee Annual Conference, Tbilisi, Georgia
Date: May 21-23, 2015
Activities in 2014
Meeting of the Working Group on Public Policy Analysis Development Issues
WG Programme Coordinators:
Lesya Ilchenko-Syuyva, National Academy of Public Administration, Office of the President of Ukraine
Frans Jorna, Centre for Urban and Environmental Development, Enschede, Netherlands
Place: The 22nd NISPAcee Annual Conference, Budapest, Hungary
Date: May 22-24, 2014
The Working Group on Public Policy Analysis Issues
continues its work under the umbrella of NISPAcee Annual Conferences. This year
the WG on PP received more than 20 applications in the area of main fields of
interest of the WG. Roughly, the following themes could be distinguished::
-Knowledge
and information in policy analysis
-Procedures
of policy design and coordination
-Evidence
based policy analysis, development and implementation
-Case
studies of the application of techniques (e.g., stakeholder analysis,
regulatory impact assessment, ex ante impact assessment, policy
evaluation)
-Paths
forward and problems in public policy capacity building
-Public
administration in ensuring good governance.
The Working Group still remained a forum for academic
and practitioners in exchanging experience on how academics can meet urgent
needs of public servants in practice oriented studies in preparing and
promoting relevant policy advice as well as in upgrading academic and training
programs in public policy analysis.
All in all, 12 papers were selected and actually
completed for presentation during the conference meetings in Budapest that
formed for separate sessions. As not all presenters were able to come to
Budapest, the number of sessions was limited to three sessions focused on:
-General Knowledge and information in policy-analysis
-Democratic Governance and Auditing
-Implementation and Evaluation.
According to the results of discussion the WG decided
to continue the work in the same format but with an accent on practical
application of the presented results. Coauthored papers done by academics and
practitioner are highly encouraged for the next annual conference.
Activities in 2013
Meeting of the Working Group on Public Policy Analysis Development Issues
WG Programme Coordinators:
Lesya Ilchenko-Syuyva, National Academy of Public Administration, Office of the President of Ukraine
Frans Jorna, Centre for Urban and Environmental Development, Enschede, Netherlands
Place: The 21st NISPAcee Annual Conference, Belgrade, Serbia
Date: May 16-18, 2013
Despite the cat that in recent years there has been a significant effort to improve decision-making within the public sector by developing capacity in policy analysis in CEE, Central Asia, and Caucasus countries, public policy analysis as the basis for evidence based policy is still in its initial stages. Many countries are still heavily reliant.
Activities in 2012
Meeting of the Working Group on Public Policy Analysis Development Issues
WG Programme Coordinators:
Lesya Ilchenko-Syuyva, National Academy of Public Administration, Office of the President of Ukraine
Place: The 20th NISPAcee Annual Conference, Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia
Date: May 23-26, 2012
Topic: Public Policy Analysis in CEE,
Caucasus, and Central Asia: Evidence of Implementation and Future Challenges."
The working group provided a forum for discussion and a unique opportunity to analyze and compare which factors restrict further development of policy analysis, who are potential stakeholders of policy analysis, how current stage of policy analysis in a particular country impacts on economic, social and political enviroment, how those challenges can be overcome.
Firstly, the working group created a forum for exchanging experience on how academics can meet contemporary needs of public servants in upgrading academic and training programs in public policy analysis as well as in preparing and promoting relevant policy advice.
Secondly, the working group was focused on country case studies of public policy analysis and policy implementation that in its turn allowed for the comparative study of different approaches to institutionalization and implementation of PA procedures. Such a review was useful in assessing how effective and efficient existing policy analysis processess are within administration and proposing how they might be improved. The presentation of papers and discussion among participants representing CEE, Central Asia and Caucasus countries as well as countries of Western Europe and North America allowed the working group to position itself as a forum for sharing experience and unique opportunity to jointly work out ideas and recommendations on PPA improvement and better implementation to meet the urgent need in establishing responsive governance that become even more important under conditions of worldwide economic crises which forces governments to step in regulating market failures more rigorously.
The participants expressed a high interest in
continuing the activities of the working group under the umbrella of the
NISPAcee annual conferences in these selected areas: weaknesses/ strengths of
policy analysis in a single country or selection of countries, either generally
or in specific sectors; application of techniques (e.g. regulatory impact
assessment, ex ante impact
assessment, evaluation) and a comparative analysis of similar challenges in policy
analysis faced by a variety of countries.
Activities in 2011
Meeting of the Working Group on Public Policy Analysis Development Issues
WG Programme Coordinators:
Lesya Ilchenko-Syuyva, National Academy of Public Administration, Office of the President of Ukraine
Leslie Pal, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Place: The 19th NISPAcee Annual Conference, Varna, Bulgaria
Date: May 19-22, 2011
Topic: Public Policy Analysis in CEE, Caucasus, and Central Asia: Current Challenges, Future Remedies
The working group issues was officialy formed in 2010 after organizing several successful panels at NISPAcee conferences in previous years. It brings together international scholars conducting research on various aspects of public policy.
The WG PPA
continued discussions on which factors restrict the further development of
policy analysis, who are the potential stakeholders of policy analysis, how the
current stage of policy analysis in a particular country impacts on economic,
social and political environment, and how these challenges can be overcome
(i.e. through upgrading academic, training and retraining programmes).
This year, the working group had organized four panels on policy analysis (practice and theory) in five sessions:
- policy analysis (practice and theory),
- perspectives on the policy
process,
- policy design and policy instruments, and
- evaluation and regulatory
impact assessment.
14 papers explored transational spaces, political parties and other actors in the policy process, evaluation and regulatory impact assessment. Country and regional case studies included: Bulgaria, Kyrgystan, the EU, the OECD, poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Ukraine.
Activities in 2010
Meeting of the Working Group on Public Policy Analysis Development Issues
WG Programme Coordinators:
Lesya Ilchenko-Syuyva, National Academy of Public Administration, Office of the President of Ukraine
David
Elder, Queen´s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Valeriy
Tertychka, National Academy of Public Administration, Office of the President
of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Place: 18th NISPAcee Annual Conference, Warsaw, Poland
Date: May 12-14, 2010
During the 2010 NISPAcee Annual Conference, the Working Group primarily focused on the main challenges the CEE, Central Asia and Caucasus countries presently face:
-
methods and tools of public policy analysis on various government levels: supranational (i.e. EU experience), national and local;
-
experiences in developing and circulating policy communication documents (i.e. white papers, green papers, policy papers etc.);
-
institutional framework of regulatory impact assessment (hereinafter - RIA)procedures;
-
ex-post policy analysis (policy monitoring and evaluation).
All in all, more than 40 representatives took part in the Working Group sessions. Practitioners and researchers from more than 10 countries showed an interest in the topic and 14 speakers presented their papers on the various elements of sectoral public policy analysis.
Call for Papers 2010
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