Policy Briefs: Transforming Insights into Action
Policy briefs are a tool for change. They take complex research and boil it down into something clear, actionable, and persuasive. At Written Progress, we specialize in turning your insights into policy action that resonates with decision-makers and influences real-world outcomes.
Need a Policy Brief? Why Choose Written Progress?
When it comes to policy documents, clarity is everything. But clarity isn’t easy. You need to strip away the fluff and get to the heart of the issue — without losing the impact of the original research. Here’s why our approach works:
Expertise in Complex Topics
We know how to communicate the essentials without drowning your readers in jargon. Whether it’s environmental policy, public health, or education, we translate complicated topics into language that drives decisions.
Proven Success
We’ve helped a range of organizations communicate findings that influence policy and funding decisions. Our experience spans across sectors, from sustainability to social policy.
Tailored to You
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach at Written Progress. Each policy document is customized to meet your goals, your audience, and your messaging.
Working with Written Progress has been instrumental in helping structure and streamline complex ideas and results into clear, concise, and easily communicable formats. They excel at distinguishing between ‘nice-to-know’ and ‘must-know’ information, which greatly enhances effective communication. Beyond their expertise, they are great people to collaborate with.
The Anatomy of an Effective Policy Brief
A successful briefing paper is more than a summary; it’s a persuasive document designed to inform and prompt action. Here’s what we prioritize:
Clear Objectives
A focused goal ensures your message stays on track. What do you want to achieve with this brief? Whether it’s shifting regulation or enabling funding, we start with a clear purpose.
Target Audience
Which policymakers? What is important to them? What do their constituents want more of? Your brief needs to speak directly to that. We tailor the terms and content to engage your audience effectively.
Concise Content
Policymakers having competing interests pulling them in all directions. So we get straight to the point. No filler, no fluff — just the key insights that matter. We keep things brief and memorable.
Compelling Visuals
A chart or an infographic often says more than words. We integrate visuals to attract the eye and make your data intuitive.
Actionable Recommendations
Every policy brief should end with a clear call to action. We help decision-makers take the next steps with recommendations that are practical and easy to follow.
Our Process for Creating Policy Briefs
Creating a policy brief that checks all the boxes takes a bit of structure. Here’s how we make it happen:
Discovery and Strategy
We start with a conversation — getting to the core of your goals, audience, and key messages. It’s the foundation for everything that follows.
Research and Analysis
Good policy documents rely on solid research. We dig into your data, analyze findings, and ensure everything leads through to a recommendation.
Drafting
We take the research and craft it into a structured draft. We edit for clarity, tone, and readability, making sure the content flows and stays engaging.
Refinement
You’ll have the option at key intervals to review our work and adjust our direction to fully align with your vision.
Visuals
- Infographics to simplify data.
- Charts and Graphs to make statistics digestible.
- Custom Illustrations that add flair and professionalism.
Finalization and Delivery
Once everything is polished, we finalize the visuals for print or digital distribution. Whether you need a PDF or a web-friendly version, we’ve got you covered.
Why Briefing Policymakers Matters
There’s no denying it — briefs change policy. When crafted well, they:
Inform Decision-Makers
A good policy brief equips policymakers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions.
Simplify Complex Topics
Dense, technical research doesn’t do anyone any good if it’s not communicated clearly. We make sure your message is simple and actionable.
Amplify Your Advocacy
A great brief amplifies your voice, underscores your expertise, and advances your cause. It’s a tool to mobilize support and drive change.
Distribution: Getting Policy Recommendations Into the Right Hands
Creating a compelling policy outline is only part of the process. You need to get it into the right hands. We help you strategize the best way to distribute your brief, whether that’s through direct outreach to decision-makers, social media, or submitting to journals, advocacy groups, and online platforms.
Enhancing Briefs Through Stakeholder Collaboration
Engaging stakeholders in drafting can make a brief even more effective. Their input can make sure the brief is relevant, practical, and actionable. By incorporating the views of those directly affected by or involved in the issue, you make sure recommendations are grounded in reality.
Why Stakeholder Input Matters
Improves Relevance
Stakeholders provide real-world insights that make the brief more applicable.
Builds Trust
Including feedback from stakeholders helps build credibility and buy-in from decision-makers.
Expands Perspectives
Stakeholders often offer new perspectives that enrich the content of your brief.
Technology and Brief Development
Technology plays a crucial role in making briefs on policy both effective and efficient. At Written Progress, we use the best tools to enhance the quality of your brief and extend its reach.
Tools We Use
Data Visualization Software
For creating infographics and charts that clarify complex data.
Collaboration Platforms
Engage remote stakeholders through online white boards, synchronous document sharing, and video communication.
AI Insights
Using AI to analyze data quickly and identify trends that matter.
Common Challenges in Developing a Brief for Policymakers
Creating a great policy overview comes with its challenges. We’ve tackled some common hurdles:
Key Challenges
Too Much Information
Overloading a brief with too much detail can dilute the main message. We prioritize the essential information.
Lack of Clarity
If the brief is hard to read, it loses its impact. We focus on clarity and structure to keep readers engaged.
Ineffective Visuals
Poor visuals can detract from the message. We create visuals that add value and enhance understanding.
Ensuring Accessibility in a Policy Brief
Your policy summary isn’t effective if it doesn’t reach your audience. At Written Progress, accessibility is key. We make sure your brief is readable, understandable, and available to all.
How We Ensure Accessibility
Plain Language
We avoid jargon and keep the language simple and clear.
User-Friendly Design
We structure the brief to be easy to read, using headings, call-outs, bullet points, and white space.
Localization
We offer translations to ensure your message reaches a global audience.
Policy Summaries: Real-World Success Stories
We’ve seen the power of briefs on policy firsthand. Here’s how we’ve helped clients make an impact:
Empowering Ethiopian Soil Science for Policy Impact
A scientific coalition in Ethiopia achieved an incredible feat: they built a digital soil profiling tool using a database of approximately 20,000 soil data points. This groundbreaking resource promised transformative potential for Ethiopia’s agricultural economy. But data alone doesn’t drive change — it needs to reach decision-makers.
The coalition, comprising over 150 soil and agronomy experts, partnered with the Written Progress team to craft a policy brief aimed at bringing their work to the attention of national policymakers.
Here’s how we delivered:
- Aligning Issues with Policymakers’ Platforms: We connected the coalition’s soil science innovations to the pressing concerns of Ethiopian policymakers, focusing on how better soil management could directly benefit their constituents.
- Proposing Actionable Policies: The brief outlined key policy actions to remove barriers and unlock growth in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.
- Creating Intuitive Visuals: We used clear, engaging visuals to translate complex scientific data into accessible insights.
- Optimizing for Skimmability: Strategic formatting and thoughtful page design ensured that busy policymakers could grasp the essentials at a glanc
The result?
A polished, compelling policy brief that positioned Ethiopia’s soil scientists as indispensable contributors to national agricultural and economic progress.
Shaping Food Policy for Healthier Diets
Research at the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT is shedding light on how national policies can shift food demands toward better-quality diets, improving national health and productivity in Tanzania, Nigeria, and Malawi. The Written Progress team collaborated with these researchers to brief policymakers in each country. Let’s take Tanzania as an example.
Key messages for Tanzanian policymakers included:
- Income and Food Prices Drive Diet Quality: Improved diets are closely tied to rising incomes and lower food prices.
- Cash Transfers are Key: Targeted cash transfers are more effective than price vouchers in enhancing diet quality.
- Selective Subsidies: While price subsidies could help, they should avoid focusing exclusively on the most micronutrient-rich foods to maximize impact across broader populations.
Our work included:
- Connecting Policy to Outcomes: We linked the Alliance’s findings to policymakers’ goals, showing how improved diets would bolster national health and productivity metrics.
- Tailored Messaging: The policy briefs were customized to reflect the unique economic and agricultural conditions in Tanzania, Nigeria, and Malawi.
- Strategic Design: Skimmable layouts and succinct visuals ensured accessibility for time-strapped policymakers.
These briefs equipped national leaders with actionable strategies to support dietary improvements, laying the groundwork for healthier, more productive communities.
Building a Long-Term Brief Strategy
A single policy recommendation report can make a difference, but a long-term strategy will amplify your impact, particularly for advocacy campaigns. Here’s how we help you build that strategy:
Regular Updates
Periodic briefs keep your stakeholders informed.
Consistent Messaging
Aligned messaging across all briefs strengthens your voice.
Proactive Distribution
Establishing a strong network for distributing your briefs ensures maximum reach.
How A Policy Brief Strategy Drives Advocacy
Simplify Complex Issues
Clear, concise briefs make it easier to explain the urgency of your cause.
Engage Stakeholders
They provide a tangible resource to spark conversations and drive action.
Facilitate Policy Change
Well-crafted briefs empower decision-makers to take action.
Ready to Craft a Policy Brief That Matters?
At Written Progress, we want to make sure your message resonates and drives action. Whether you’re looking to influence policy, secure funding, or mobilize support, we have the expertise to make it happen.
Reach out today, and let’s start crafting a brief that can make a real difference.