Evidence-Based Public Policy Development Training Course – Istanbul, 16–20 May 2027

Evidence-Based Public Policy Development is a 1-week training course for policy analysts, planners and public sector managers who turn public problems into reasoned proposals, and each participant drafts a policy options paper on a live issue. Public bodies face rising expectations that proposals rest on sound evidence, open consultation and clear trade-offs before ministers or boards decide. Jupiter Prime Training treats Evidence-Based Public Policy Development as a core practitioner discipline.

Why Evidence-Based Public Policy Development Matters Now

Three forces press on policy units today: citizens and legislators ask to see the reasoning behind each proposal, administrative records and open datasets offer far more evidence than before, and cross-cutting problems such as housing, skills and public health rarely sit inside one department. A unit that frames problems precisely and compares options honestly earns trust and avoids costly reversals; one that skips these steps risks unintended effects and public resistance. The course follows the policy cycle, from agenda setting to evaluation, and uses the theory of change as its main logic model.

Who Gains Most from Evidence-Based Public Policy Development

• Analysts who frame public problems and gather evidence for proposals
• Planners who link sector strategies to concrete policy measures
• Managers who sign off submissions to senior officials and boards
• Researchers who commission surveys, evaluations and data studies for ministries
• Engagement officers who run consultations with citizens and interest groups

A policy unit or strategy office gains most when several analysts attend together.

Evidence-Based Public Policy Development Capabilities

Participants practise moving from a contested public issue to a set of defensible choices.

• Define a policy problem with root causes and affected groups — agenda setting
• Assess the strength and relevance of research, data and expert views — evidence quality
• Build a theory of change linking measures to intended effects — policy design
• Weigh options on cost, equity, feasibility and risk — senior decision makers
• Design a consultation that hears affected citizens and sectors — legitimacy
• Communicate recommendations in a concise submission — ministers and boards

Key Evidence-Based Public Policy Development Terms

• Policy cycle — the recurring stages of agenda setting, formulation, decision, implementation and evaluation through which public measures move.
• Problem statement — a precise description of a public issue, its causes, scale and the groups it affects.
• Evidence hierarchy — a ranking of evidence types by reliability, from expert opinion to systematic reviews and controlled trials.
• Theory of change — a logic chain showing how a measure is expected to produce outputs, outcomes and long-term effects.
• Option appraisal — a structured comparison of policy alternatives against agreed criteria such as cost, equity and feasibility.
• Regulatory impact assessment — a structured estimate of the costs, benefits and side effects a proposed rule creates.

Evidence-Based Public Policy Development Day by Day

Day 1: Framing the Public Problem

• Policy Cycle Stages and Entry Points — Choosing Where Analysis Adds Weight
• Problem Tree and Root Cause Mapping — Separating Symptoms From Drivers
• Problem Statement Drafting — Agreeing Scope Before Solutions Appear
• Agenda Setting and Political Timing — Judging When a Proposal Can Move
• Affected Groups Profile — Identifying Who Bears Costs and Benefits

Day 2: Gathering and Weighing Evidence

• Evidence Hierarchy and Quality Grading — Deciding How Much to Trust a Source
• Administrative Records and Open Datasets — Measuring Baseline Conditions
• Rapid Evidence Reviews — Summarising Research Within Policy Deadlines
• Comparative Case Studies From Other Jurisdictions — Testing Transferability
• Behavioural Insights and Citizen Research — Explaining Why People Act as They Do

Day 3: Designing Policy Measures

• Theory of Change Logic Model — Linking Measures to Intended Outcomes
• Policy Instrument Choice — Weighing Regulation, Incentives, Services and Information
• Long List to Short List Filtering — Removing Unworkable Alternatives Early
• Unintended Consequences Scan — Spotting Side Effects Across Sectors
• Indicators and Evaluation Design — Fixing How Success Will Be Judged

Day 4: Appraisal and Consultation

• Multi-Criteria Option Appraisal — Ranking Alternatives Against Agreed Criteria
• Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effectiveness Basics — Comparing Public Spending Choices
• Distributional and Equity Analysis — Showing Who Gains and Who Loses
• Regulatory Impact Assessment — Estimating Burdens on Firms and Citizens
• Consultation Design and Feedback Synthesis — Hearing Affected Groups Fairly

Day 5: Practising the Policy Options Paper

• Recommendation Logic and Trade-Off Statement — Presenting a Preferred Option Honestly
• Peer Challenge of Evidence and Assumptions — Strengthening the Case Before Submission
• Ministerial Submission Format — Writing Concisely for Senior Decision Makers
• Presentation to a Mock Policy Board — Answering Questions on Risk and Cost
• Completed Policy Options Paper — Finalising a Paper on a Live Issue

Applying Evidence-Based Public Policy Development After the Course

• Run a problem tree session with colleagues on an issue currently on the unit's agenda.
• Apply the multi-criteria appraisal grid to the next proposal before it goes to senior officials.

Evidence-Based Public Policy Development Questions (FAQ)

What is evidence-based public policy development and why does it matter now?

Evidence-based public policy development is the practice of defining public problems, testing evidence and comparing options before a measure is chosen. It matters now because citizens expect visible reasoning, data is more available and problems cut across departments.

Which roles gain most from evidence-based public policy development training?

Policy analysts, planners and public sector managers gain most. You benefit if you frame issues, commission research, compare options or prepare submissions for senior officials in health, education, transport or other public services.

How does evidence-based public policy development differ from a government relations course?

Evidence-based public policy development builds proposals from inside the public body. A government relations course looks at how outside organisations engage with officials and advocate positions, while this subject stays with problem framing, evidence, design and appraisal.

What do you bring back from evidence-based public policy development training?

You bring back a finished paper on a live issue from your organisation. It sets out the problem, the evidence, a theory of change, appraised alternatives, consultation findings and a recommendation ready for senior review.

Evidence-Based Public Policy Development: The Way Forward

The policy options paper first informs the choice between alternatives for a live issue such as a transport fare change. Analysts, managers and senior officials use it as the shared basis for discussion. After its first use, the evaluation indicators are worth revisiting, so that later papers learn from what the measure actually achieved.