Across the globe, research has become a powerful tool for governance, informing decision-making, guiding public investment, and shaping laws that reflect evidence rather than opinion . Research is not conducted in isolation; it is intentional, responsive, and embedded within the policy-making cycle. This is the essence of policy-oriented research: research that directly responds to the questions, challenges, and priorities of policymakers and development actors. It is research done not for academic prestige, but for public purpose. Policy-oriented research focuses on utility. It emphasizes timeliness, clarity, and relevance. It aims to shape reality, not to contemplate on it alone. According to the OECD Development Assistance Committee (2015), policy-oriented research plays a crucial role in helping governments design more effective policies, enhance public services, and achieve sustainable development outcomes that can significantly improve people’s lives. Institutions like the World Bank, ODI, and UNDP have long emphasized this approach in their knowledge-for development agendas Shaxson et al., 2013; UNDP, 2021; World Bank, 2025 .
Countries in Europe and North America have cultivated ecosystems where evidence flows directly into policy. In these regions, the integration of research into governance is seen as essential for accountability and growth. Africa, however, presents a contrasting picture. Despite hosting numerous think tanks, research centers, and universities, evidence is rarely integrated into policy-making. The use of evidence in African policy-making remains “episodic and informal,” often influenced more by donor interests or political alliances than by structured data. A 2020 Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) report further highlights that many policy actors in Africa still operate in environments where decisions are influenced more by political and donor interests than systematic evidence, due to weak researcher-policymaker engagement structures .
Some scholars and policy experts argue that the persistent disconnect between research and policy formulation is one of the key reasons for Africa’s development challenges . Take education, for instance: policies that ignore local evidence often lead to textbook reforms that do not align with local realities. In public financial management, ignoring empirical research leads to wasteful spending and misaligned budgets, social protection programs miss their targets, infrastructure projects fail to meet local needs, youth unemployment policies remain tone-deaf to economic realities. In African policy systems, research utilisation and its quality, in particular are still posing a challenge” . Indeed, without a steady pipeline of evidence informing policy, interventions often miss the mark, leading to policies that are ill-suited to address on-the-ground realities. When done well, policy-oriented research gives Africa a clear and useful path forward. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it is an essential resource. It helps make sense of complex issues, ties decisions to real-world conditions, and builds a strong link between evidence and action. However, this only works if we confront a major challenge: the widening gap between researchers and decision-makers.
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