Evidence-Based Policy Development in South Africa: the Case of Provincial Growth and Development Strategies

Abstract

The concept of evidence-based policy making has risen to prominence internationally. This paper briefly traces the history and ideological paradigms associated with evidence-based policy making. Then the international experience in respect of evidence-based policy making is discussed. Finally, the paper turns to an evaluation of the degree to which evidence-based policy making has been entrenched in the development of Provincial Growth and Development Strategies. It is found that the concept of evidence-based policy making is not well developed at provincial levels and that in many cases it is narrowed down to the use of data. Inhibiting factors at provincial government level include the reality that research is seldom institutionalised, the relationship between policy making and research is seldom understood, academic research is viewed as not being relevant to the policy-making process, there is a lack of in-house research capacity and funding resulting in poor quality, research brings conflicting results which are difficult to interpret, there are concerns around research authenticity and legitimacy, concerns around the quality of research conducted in-house, and an overall lack of strategic thinking about research at provincial level. A range of barriers at research institutions were also identified and include the fact that the formal way in which academic research is published and disseminated is not always “friendly” to policy makers, researchers view academic research and policy making as a linear process, not all provinces have universities, research used in these strategies is mainly orientated around the discipline of economics, the fact that universities are accountable to national government and not provincial government, and limited links between researchers and policy makers. Aspects such as an entrenched research culture, an acknowledgment of the importance of research in policy making, the utilisation of international and national research institutions, the ability of researchers to understand the policy-making process, and the availability of a research agenda for provinces were mentioned as reasons contributing to evidence-based policy making. In conclusion, the paper argues that space should be created to evaluate provincially based research findings, and partnerships between universities and provincial planning units are crucial.