Conducting academic research can be thrilling yet challenging, especially for young researchers eager to see their work influence real-world decisions. One crucial skill to master is the ability to communicate complex research findings and policy recommendations that may arise in a compelling and easy-to-understand manner. The Livestock Systems Innovation Lab offered Policy Brief Writeshops through which participants can acquire and apply the skills needed to produce policy briefs from their LSIL-funded research.
Dr. Renata Serra, who leads the Enabling Environment cross-cutting theme, and Dr. Nargiza Ludgate, who leads the Local Capacity Development cross-cutting theme, are facilitating a series of Writeshops together with the country coordinators, starting in Ethiopia this September and to be followed by similar events in, Rwanda, and Nepal in the coming months.
Having been involved with similar coaching on policy brief writing from other projects, Dr. Serra and Dr. Ludgate recognized the need for such writeshops for researchers involved in projects supported by the Lab. They have made a purposeful effort to address the growing demand for skills that enable researchers to communicate their findings to wider audiences.
Two researchers from each project make up the policy brief writing team. The first and most important session is held in person while the check-in and follow-up sessions will be conducted online. For young researchers, acquiring these skills is a transformative step towards bridging the gap between research and having an impact through informing policymaking.
Highlights from Ethiopia
The first policy brief writeshop was held in Ethiopia last week with 15 participants in attendance. It featured a diverse mix of young and seasoned faculty, including some participants who received funding for conducting their doctoral research through the lab in years past. They were interested, engaged and interacting positively throughout the session.
“The high level of interest was motivating,” Dr. Serra said, “It reaffirmed the need for this Writeshop.”
A unique aspect of the writeshops, which is often overlooked in theoretical training, is the dedicated time participants have to practice their new skills. Dr. Serra noted that these writeshops offer hands-on, interactive experiences that most participants have never received before. According to Dr. Serra, this capacity-building initiative could, in theory, be extended beyond the circle of researchers directly involved in Lab supported work.
Resounding feedback from the four-hour writeshop in Ethiopia was that it should be made longer. Participants wanted more time to better apply the skills they learned and produce materials. As a result, the facilitators have now decided to extend the length of the upcoming sessions in Rwanda. The full-day session in Rwanda will allow deeper engagement with the material, making the sessions much more meaningful. Dr. Serra has high expectations for the remaining writeshops and is confident that future sessions will be even better than the first.
Looking ahead, Dr. Nargiza Ludgate will lead the session in Nepal later this year, while Dr. Serra will coordinate similar sessions in Burkina Faso and Niger in 2025.
By Nadia Kusiima and Ana Ugalde
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