From Research To Policy
Photo © Adobe Stock/Malambo C
From Research To Policy
19 May–2 June 2025
The course is available in English
Background
The global challenges faced by countries, ranging from geopolitical instabilities, increasing inequalities, and a reversal of gains in living standards due to the COVID-19 pandemic health crises to financial crises and cost of living, have created an urgent need for evidence-based policymaking. The already dire situation is further exacerbated by the combination of debt, food and energy prices, coupled with extreme weather events, geopolitical tensions and instabilities. In this context, advancing social justice and promoting decent work remains the priority for ILO.
The ILO Director-General, in the 112th International Labor Conference (ILC, 2024) Report, highlights the constraints on advancing social justice and proposes several concrete steps, including capacity building for constituents. The dire situation necessitates strengthening countries' ability to narrow social justice deficits and enhance social contracts through evidence-based policymaking. This will only happen if governments, workers, employers have the capacity to fruitfully engage in evidence-based policymaking for advancing social justice and decent work.
Introduction to the course
To address these challenges, the ILO Research Department in collaboration with the ITCILO are offering this blended Training Course on "From Research to Policy: Evidence-based Policymaking for Decent Work". The aim of the course is to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of research and data skills for evidence-based policymaking in the fields of social justice and the promotion of decent work. Throughout the learning path, participants will analyse the policy development process and evidence-based policymaking, explore cutting-edge research methodologies, statistical analysis techniques, and learn how to integrate empirical evidence into the dynamic landscape of the Labour Market. The course aims to promote evidence-informed policymaking for decent wok and to guide policies through research. The training course is strategically based on the Global Coalition for Social Justice, the themes of the four Action Programmes, as well as, the Centenary Declaration, the Global Call to Action, and the Sustainable Development Goals, at the three levels of capacity development: individual, organizational and societal. Technical skills and abilities of individuals would be built, while "increasing the capacity of organizations to fulfil their mandates" which will result in improving a country's "policies, legislation, regulations, labour market institutions, and societal systems".
Who attends this course?
The course is intended for: - Policymakers, government officials, and representatives from ministries in the fields of labour, employment, and the broader world of work. - ILO and UN staff and development practitioners and consultants. - Representatives of Trade Unions and employers' organisations. - Public investment, employment and labour market policy advisers. - Policy analysts working for national and global think tanks, financial institutions, research departments and foundations. - Individuals interested in or actively contributing to the provision of information, analysis, and recommendations crucial for policymaking and advocacy.
Course Structure
The course is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive and immersive learning experience, combining online learning, an in-person phase in Turin, and the remarkable opportunity to attend the opening of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva.
The online phase will take place from 19 to 23 May 2025 and will begin with an introduction to the ILO Decent Work Agenda, setting the foundation for the subsequent learning components.
The in-person phase will be held at the ITCILO in Turin from 26 to 30 May 2025. This phase will focus on a range of key topics, including evidence-based policy-making, designing policy questions, searching for and appraising evidence, synthesizing evidence, and understanding research. Participants will also engage in sessions on labour market statistics and analysis, interpreting labour market data, communicating evidence, and drafting and presenting policy briefs.
A highlight of the course will be attending the opening session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva on 2 June 2025, providing participants with an unparalleled opportunity to experience global policy discussions first-hand.
This structure ensures a balance between theoretical understanding, practical application, and exposure to global policy discussions.
Contents
To foster a comprehensive understanding of research and data skills for evidence-based policymaking in the fields of social justice and the promotion of decent work, the training course will delve into several crucial topics:
- Evidence-Based Policymaking: Analysing the policy development process, evidence-based policymaking, and policy drafting in the context of the decent work agenda
- Searching for Evidence: Learning to develop a search strategy, dissect "Request for Evidence," and find suitable evidence
- Appraising Evidence: Exploring different elements of research design and learning to judge evidence reliably and assess a wide range of evidence
- Synthesising Evidence: Understanding the key parameters for evidence usability, the steps in evidence synthesis, and the main elements of a policy brief
- Understanding Research: Learning different research techniques and methodologies to provide sound and rigorous evidence
- Labour Market Statistics and Analysis: Delving into data collection methods, fundamental concepts, and definitions, with a specific focus on key labour market indicators
- Interpreting Labour Market Statistics: Understanding and interpreting key labour market statistics, familiarising them with ILOSTAT
- Communicating Evidence: Effectively tailoring research to different audience groups and create an effective communicating strategy
Certification
The course requires an overall commitment of 60 hours of active study/participation. At the end of the course, in order to evaluate the knowledge and skills learnt, participants will be required to submit an individual policy brief for review by the ILO and ITCILO specialists and trainers. Upon successful completion of this assignment, participants will receive an ITCILO Certificate of Achievement.
