Towards a community of practice : evidence-based advocacy and policy change

Supporting Colansa, the Community of Practice for healthy food systems, CLAS promoted evidence-based advocacy and policy change. In nine months over 2021-22, we set out to (1) position healthy and sustainable food systems among authorities and stakeholders; (2) support improved interaction between advocates and academics; (3) evaluate public awareness among stakeholders to improve communications; and (4) develop a strategy for reaching policy makers. Methods included group consensus, convening key actors, expert opinion, education for adults, and exploring social listening. To position the topic with authorities, Ministers of Health (MoH) and Finance were added to an electronic platform. MoH received a letter informing them about Colansa and its Manifesto. The “Regional NCD Agenda 2022-2030” included the collaboration with Colansa. To support interactions between advocates and academics, 2 videos and an interactive 2-day virtual session engaged them. The 51 participants discussed challenges of research for policy change, Mexico and Brazil experiences, and communicating research to non-academics. We convened and surveyed communication specialists and explored social listening in Central America showing there was a need for more frequent information and translating science into easy-to-understand concepts. Finally, a policy brief on Front of Package labelling for decision makers was developed responding to frequently asked questions