Using writeshops to produce
policy briefs
Paul Mundy
Independent specialist in development
communication
paul@mamud.com
www.mamud.com, www.writeshops.org
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Structure of a policy brief
Content
Plus…
And…
Title
Summary
Recommendations
Introduction
The body (main
text)
Policy implications
Boxes and
sidebars
Cases
Tables
Graphics
Photographs
The masthead
(series title)
Authors
Acknowledgements
Publication
details
References
Conclusions
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Elements of an NCCR brief

Title



Lead

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

Max 7000 chars
At least 6 subtitles
Final section = Policy
implications
Cases




Max 1630 chars
3 different countries
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com

2-3 key refs only
Authors


Max 3
With captions
Further reading


Max 1
Photos


Ca 440 chars
Table or graphic

Max 700 chars
Main text


Max 640 chars
Boxes

Max 80 chars
Policy message


Name, position, institution,
email
This issue

Academic adviser, policy
adviser, editors, design
Why policy briefs?


Demand: Government wants information on
which to base policy
Supply: Organizations and projects have
experience and knowledge


Want to influence policy
Policymakers require specific types of
information



Short, easily to digest
Non-technical language
Focus on policy implications
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Problems with producing policy briefs


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Do not know policymakers’ needs
Do not know what a policy brief is
Do not how to write in appropriate style
Hard to get started
Difficult to identify evidence and
recommendations
Difficult to condense ideas and info to 2
pages
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
SNV guidelines for case writing
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
How to produce policy briefs through
writeshops


Writeshops to produce policy briefs
Mini-writeshop as part of larger event
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Writeshops to produce policy briefs



Within an organization
Multiple organizations
Training writeshops



ODI: India, S Africa,
Vietnam
NCCR North-South:
Switzerland
SNV: Zimbabwe
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Training writeshops to produce policy briefs
Before
Writeshop
After
Identify authors
(eg within your
organization)
Training
presentations
Authors complete
draft
Group
discussions and
exercises
Submit to editor
Invite authors to
identify topic
Provide authors
with a structure
and guidelines
Get authors to
prepare draft
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Individual work
writing & editing
One-on-one
writing clinics
Presentations by
the authors
Editor works with
author to finalize
draft
Submit for
approval
Publish
Mini-writeshop as part of larger event
Writeshop to produce book
Conference or workshop
Policy brief
Policy brief
UN-HABITAT/IIRR
Participatory enumerations
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
FAO/INMASP/IIRR
Farmer field schools
Producing policy briefs as a result of a
writeshop or conference





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Form small group during later part of event
Define structure of policy brief
Identify elements
Allocate each element to small group or
individual
Write drafts
Present drafts
Edit
Layout
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com
Training materials on policy briefs


www.mamud.com/mamud/techniques.htm
www.foodsec.org > training
Paul Mundy
www.mamud.com