On June 23, Vanessa Mello Rodrigues, PhD, Brazil Coordinator for the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) spoke at the 10th Annual Agriculture, Nutrition and Health (ANH) Academy Week in Tanzania. A global community of researchers, practitioners and policymakers working on the intersections within the food system attended this gathering.
Vanessa joined a panel called “Learning Lab: “Making Research Usable: How do you maximize the impact of your research for real world change?” with academics from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the University of Massachusetts and Tufts University and an investigative journalist. The session explored why high-quality research often goes unused and speakers shared practical tips to increase its real-world relevance and uptake.
Vanessa focused on why and how research gets used in policy and advocacy based on GHAI’s experience supporting civil society organizations to advance policies. She also shared how to package research to attract the attention of policymakers, the media and the public.
Key takeaways from the session included:
Draw on local evidence and relevant to the country context where policies will be developed and promoted.
Consider the broader network of people who might be exposed to the research, including opponents.
Use storytelling to communicate the importance of the work, rather than relying solely on technical language.
Develop tailored narratives for different stakeholders and deliver them in ways that resonate with each audience.
Link evidence gaps with collaborators who can help address them to strengthen the case for the policies.
While in Tanzania, Vanessa took the opportunity to put some of these principles into action. GHAI is partnering with the ANH Academy to explore opportunities for science-policy engagement around healthy and sustainable diets across Africa. This collaboration is rooted in the recognition that bridging the gap between research and policy is essential to address the continent’s pressing challenges in food systems, nutrition, and health. As part of her trip, Vanessa and Nadia Fogny, a consultant for GHAI, connected with researchers and other key stakeholders to learn more about the local context. This locally led approach paves the way for public policy designed to respond to the specific needs and characteristics of each country.
