Promoting the use of evidence in health policymaking in the ECOWAS region : the development and contextualization of an evidence-based policymaking guidance

The need for a tool to provide systematic guidance on evidence-based policymaking necessitated the production of the evidence-based policy-making (EBPM) Guidance. A regional Guidance Validation Meeting for West African policymakers was convened by the West African Health Organization (WAHO) to review findings from existing guidance documents and validate the new EBPM Guidance edition. Among key recommendations it includes: properly defining/refining policy problems; reviewing contextual issues; initiating policy priority setting; considering political acceptability of policy; commissioning research; use of rapid response services, use of policy advisory/ technical/steering committees; and use of policy briefs and policy dialogue.West African Health Organizatio