EVIPNet Europe – bridging the research-to-policy gap

Abstract

Abstract Issue/problem Despite substantial investments into increasing the availability and accessibility of information in the WHO European Region, scientific evidence often plays a limited role in policy and practice resulting in lost opportunities to improving health systems and outcomes. Description of the problem The WHO Action plan and resolution to strengthen the use of evidence, information and research for policy-making, adopted in 2016, urges Member States to increase country capacity to foster the utilization of research in both policy and practice. To support and guide Member States in this effort, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe launched the Evidence-informed Policy Network (EVIPNet) Europe, a capacity-building initiative that operates in line with, and in support of, Health 2020 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. EVIPNet Europe aims to assist its member countries and catalyse sustainable change by strengthening both the evidence supply and demand sides, and building knowledge translation (KT) capacity at individual, organizational and system levels. Results EVIPNet Europe has been successful in enhancing the capacity of policy-makers and researchers to access, appraise, package and use evidence; strengthening organizational capacity and infrastructure; and creating institutional bridges between policy and research communities. The network’s activities have, furthermore, led to an increased conceptual and instrumental use of evidence in policy, introducing important changes in policy strategy development and legislations. Lessons To overcome the knowledge-to-policy gap, comprehensive capacity building strategies, operating at individual, organizational and systemic levels are required to create and sustain a culture more favourable to evidence-informed policy.