Knowledge Utilization for Governance in Africa: evidence-based decision-making and the role of survey data archives in the region

Abstract

Findings from social surveys can support effective policy-making in Africa. However, research will only affect policy change if it is supported by the combination of an optimal political environment, timely recognition of a particular social problem and advocacy by policy analysts to government decision-makers. For this research to be utilized optimally, and more widely, obstacles to knowledge utilization in Africa need to be overcome. These relate mainly to dysfunctional research/policy interfaces in many African countries. Limited access to research data is another obstacle to the utilization of empirical research for policy decisions. African countries lack organizations which can act as intermediaries between data producers and data users in Africa. Survey data archives can fulfil this role through preserving and sharing empirical data and advocating for the use of social research in policy-making.