Health Ministry Staff Trained on Evidence-Informed Policy-Making and Gender Inclusion

In a bid to enhance the effectiveness of health policy-making in Kenya, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is undergoing a comprehensive training program focused on evidence-informed decision-making and gender inclusion. Despite the critical role of evidence in shaping effective policies and programs, challenges at individual, system, and institutional levels continue to hinder progress. Dr. Violet Murunga, a Research and Policy Analyst at the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), identified several key barriers to effective evidence use, including inadequate relationships between policymakers and evidence producers, untimely and irrelevant evidence, lack of gender and social inclusion data, and limited capacity for evidence synthesis and application.

To address these challenges, the AFIDEP-led Alliance for Evidence and Equity in Policymaking in Africa (AEEPA) has partnered with the Division of Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), the Directorate of Policy, Digital Health and Innovations (DPDH), and the Division of Policy, Health Research and Research (PHRR) to conduct a detailed 5-day Evidence-Informed Policy-Making (EIPM) training program. This initiative will be followed by a 6-month mentorship period aimed at equipping MoH staff with essential skills to integrate relevant evidence into the policy-making process.

Dr. Murunga, speaking in Machakos County, explained that the EIPM training is designed to enable policymakers to systematically identify, appraise, synthesize, and adapt relevant evidence, including gender and social inclusion data, to enhance policy decisions. The training will focus on improving the capacity for rapid evidence reviews, which will help in making timely and relevant policy decisions. Furthermore, it aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange at national, sub-national, and regional levels, bridging the gap between evidence production and policy implementation.

The program is part of a broader effort to ensure that health policies are based on robust, relevant, and timely data, thereby improving health outcomes and promoting equitable development. Dr. Murunga highlighted that AFIDEP’s broader mission is to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by advancing evidence-informed policy-making practices.

The training initiative is not unique to Kenya; similar programs have been implemented in other countries, including Nigeria, Malawi, and Uganda, demonstrating a growing recognition of the importance of integrating evidence and gender considerations into policy-making processes across the continent. By addressing these critical issues, the program aims to strengthen the Ministry of Health’s capacity to make informed decisions that ultimately benefit public health and contribute to the overall development goals of the region.