Overview
Policy research sits between academic research and decision-making. It asks practical questions, such as which intervention reduces school dropout most cost-effectively, or what regulatory options exist for gig-economy platforms, and it must answer them on a timeline and in a form that decision-makers can use.
We support two kinds of work. First, the research itself: rapid evidence reviews, policy scans across jurisdictions, stakeholder interviews and options analysis. Second, communication: turning findings from a thesis, report or project into a policy brief, evidence summary or submission to a consultation, written for a non-specialist audience.
Researchers, think tanks, NGOs, university impact teams and public bodies use this service. Doctoral and master's students can use it to learn the policy brief format or to translate their own findings for impact, with the student remaining the author of anything assessed.
Who it’s for and the problems it solves
This is for you if you are…
- Researchers who want to share findings with policymakers, practitioners or funders
- NGOs, think tanks and advocacy organizations preparing briefs or consultation responses
- University impact and knowledge exchange teams supporting researchers
- Public-sector analysts needing a rapid evidence review or cross-country policy comparison
- Graduate students on public policy programs learning to write briefs, through coaching and feedback
Common problems we help with
- Your research is solid but written for academics, and policymakers will not read it
- You have eight pages of findings and need two pages of key messages
- You are unsure how strong the evidence has to be before making a recommendation
- A consultation deadline is close and you need a structured, evidence-based response
- You need to compare how several countries or regions have approached the same problem
What’s included — and what isn’t
Included
- Clarifying the policy question, audience, decision window and desired action
- Rapid evidence reviews using transparent search and selection methods, with a quality appraisal of included studies
- Cross-jurisdiction policy scans comparing approaches, implementation and evaluated outcomes
- Stakeholder mapping and interview design to capture implementation perspectives
- Policy options analysis against criteria such as effectiveness, cost, equity, feasibility and political acceptability
- Policy brief drafting or editing: key messages, problem statement, evidence summary, options and recommendations
- Evidence summaries, one-page summaries and consultation submissions
- Data visualizations and infographics that communicate findings accurately
- Plain-language review for non-specialist readers while preserving accuracy
Not included
- Presenting a recommendation as stronger than the evidence supports
- Lobbying, political campaigning or contacting officials on your behalf
- Legal opinions on legislation; we summarize and analyze, but legal interpretation needs qualified counsel
- Writing assessed policy briefs for students to submit as their own
What you receive
- Policy brief
- Typically two to four pages with key messages up front, a clear problem statement, evidence summary, options and recommendations, and references.
- Evidence review report
- Methods, search strategy, included studies table, quality appraisal and synthesis, suitable as a technical annex.
- Options appraisal table
- Each policy option scored or described against agreed criteria, with the evidence behind each judgment.
- One-page summary
- A short, highly visual version for briefings, meetings and social media.
- Consultation response
- A structured submission answering the consultation questions with cited evidence.
How it works
Set the question and audience
We agree who will read the output, what decision they face, when, and what action you hope they will take.
Gather and assess evidence
We review your findings and wider literature, or run a rapid evidence review, noting the strength and relevance of each source.
Analyze options
We set out the realistic options, including the status quo, and assess them against agreed criteria.
Draft
We draft the brief or review, lead with key messages and test it for readability with a non-specialist reader in mind.
Revise and finalize
You review for accuracy and position; we revise, check every citation and prepare final layouts.
Methods and formats
- Rapid evidence assessment
- A streamlined systematic approach with documented search, inclusion criteria and appraisal, completed faster than a full systematic review and transparent about its limitations.
- Policy scan
- Structured comparison of laws, strategies and programs across countries or regions, including implementation details and evaluation evidence.
- Options analysis
- Criteria-based comparison of alternatives, making trade-offs between effectiveness, cost, equity and feasibility visible.
- Stakeholder analysis
- Mapping interest and influence, and interviews to understand implementation barriers.
- Evidence grading
- Plain statements of certainty, informed by approaches such as GRADE where health evidence is involved, so readers know how confident to be.
- Brief structures
- Key messages, context, findings, implications, recommendations, with length and tone adapted to government, NGO or academic audiences.
What makes a policy brief work
The brief should be understandable from the first half page alone. Readers look for the problem, why it matters now, what the evidence says and what should be done. Methods and caveats belong in the brief, but briefly, with detail in an annex.
Recommendations should be specific and actionable, naming who should do what. 'More funding is needed' is weaker than 'The ministry should extend the pilot to two further districts for 18 months and commission an independent evaluation'.
- Lead with three to five key messages in plain language
- Use one strong visual rather than several weak ones
- State the strength of evidence honestly, for example 'consistent evidence from several trials' or 'early findings from one pilot'
- Separate what the evidence shows from what you recommend
- Include contact details and a link to the full research
Being honest about uncertainty
Decision-makers must act even when evidence is incomplete, so a brief that says only 'more research is needed' is rarely useful. The better approach is to state what is known, what is uncertain, and what the recommendation is given that uncertainty, perhaps a pilot with evaluation rather than immediate national rollout. We help you calibrate language so it is neither overconfident nor so hedged that the message is lost.
From thesis or article to policy impact
Researchers are increasingly asked to demonstrate impact beyond academia. A policy brief based on your thesis or published paper is one of the most practical ways to do so. We help you identify the policy-relevant findings, the right audience and the right moment, such as a consultation or a budget cycle. For broader outreach, see our research communication support.
What the work can look like
Illustrative example — fictional data
A brief on school meal programs and attendance
A fictional education NGO has evaluation data from a school meal pilot in 40 rural schools and wants to brief a regional education authority ahead of its budget planning.
Evidence base
The pilot evaluation found attendance about 4 percentage points higher in participating schools compared with matched schools. A rapid evidence review of 14 studies from comparable settings found generally positive but mixed effects on attendance, and weaker evidence on learning outcomes.
Options
Three options were compared: maintain the pilot, scale to all rural schools, or scale in phases with evaluation. Phased scale-up scored best on feasibility and learning value, at moderate cost.
Brief
The final brief was three pages, opening with four key messages, one chart comparing attendance trends, and a recommendation specifying which districts to add first and what to measure.
Illustrative, invented scenario and figures. Real briefs depend on your evidence, audience and policy context.
What you’ll need to provide
- Your research outputs, data or report, or the policy question if starting fresh
- The target audience and any known positions or constraints
- Your organization's style guide, template or branding requirements
- Consultation documents or deadlines if responding to a call
- Clarity on what you can and cannot recommend, for example if you are a neutral research body
You don’t need everything ready to ask for a quote — tell us what you have and we’ll say what’s missing.
What affects price and turnaround
Price depends on
- Whether new evidence gathering is required or the brief draws on existing findings
- Breadth of the evidence review or number of jurisdictions compared
- Length and number of outputs (brief, annex, one-pager, consultation response)
- Design and data visualization requirements
- Deadline pressure, such as consultation closing dates
Turnaround depends on
- Scope of evidence review and availability of sources
- Stakeholder interview scheduling if included
- Internal approval processes in your organization
Every project is quoted individually. How we price our work.
Questions people ask before starting
How long should a policy brief be?
Commonly two to four pages, but conventions vary. Some government audiences prefer a single page with an annex. We match the format to your audience and any template you must use.
Can you write a brief from my thesis?
Yes, after your thesis is complete and assessed. You remain the author, and we help you identify the policy-relevant findings and write or edit the brief for a non-academic audience.
Will the brief take a political position?
The brief reflects your organization's position within the limits of the evidence. We keep evidence and recommendations clearly separated, and we do not engage in lobbying on your behalf.
Is a rapid evidence review as good as a systematic review?
It uses similar principles but with shortcuts, such as fewer databases or single screening, to meet tight timelines. It is useful for policy decisions if its limitations are stated. For publication-grade reviews, consider our systematic review service.
Can you help respond to a government consultation?
Yes. We structure the response around the consultation questions, bring in evidence and help you make clear, specific points before the deadline.
I am studying public policy. Can you help with my assessed brief?
We can coach you on structure, audience and evidence use, and give feedback on your draft. The brief you submit must be your own work.