Institutionalizing the evidence flow
In many sectors, the gap between research and policy exists because there is no ‘door’ for policymakers to walk through when they need answers. Our Policy Engagement and Analysis Unit is changing that. We have moved beyond one-off reach-outs to create a formal, permanent infrastructure for evidence. Our goal is to make evidence-informed decision-making a standard institutional practice in the sectors we operate.
The Service Desk
Our most significant breakthrough is the partnership between ACRES and the National Renewable Energy Platform (NREP) within the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
Rather than sending unsolicited reports, we established a formal Evidence Service Desk. This is a dedicated channel where policymakers can articulate their urgent needs and receive synthesized, high-quality research in return. By building this within the Ministry’s own platform, we have created a sustainable “pull” for evidence.
The Service Desk has revolutionized the timeline of governance in the renewable energy sector in Uganda. Previously, an ad-hoc research request might take three months to fulfill; today, the Service Desk delivers evidence in an average of 14 days. This speed ensures that our work arrives while the policy window is still open.
To ensure this data is used, we’ve moved beyond static PDF reports. We now use interactive Shiny Apps to visualize complex research. For example, our analysis of solar infrastructure in health facilities and the health costs averted by clean cooking technologies are presented through digital tools that allow policymakers to manipulate data and see the impact of their decisions in real-time. These tools have seen a 60% higher interaction rate than traditional reports.
Scaling the Service Desk model
The Service Desk is a proof of concept. The success we’ve seen in the energy sector has provided a roadmap for Uganda’s water and climate change sectors. We are currently working to replicate this model across other domains, building a permanent network of Energy Evidence Portals that will serve as the digital backbone for a more accountable and effective African governance.
