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Science meets regions training for policymakers

To ensure a good uptake of scientific evidence in policymaking, it is not enough to work only on the supply side. The policymakers, at the receiving end of the evidence, need to know how to work with it and how to integrate it into the complex machinery of policymaking. In other words, they need the skills to identify and use relevant evidence in an appropriate way.

After a pilot training course conducted in 2019-2020, the JRC together with external partners will develop new training material on evidence-informed policymaking issues in general, but also zooming in on specific policy fields relevant to local and regional authorities.

Regional and local policymakers will get the chance to participate in these training courses following a call for expressions of interest. The courses will focus on issues that are especially relevant for local and regional authorities, such as policy implementation and citizens’ engagement.

Pilot training course for the Western Balkans

In an effort related to Science meets Regions, though financed from the JRC Enlargement and Integration budget, an online training course on evidence-informed policymaking for Western Balkan policymakers is taking place in June-July 2021.

Numerous high-level policymakers throughout the Western Balkans have signed up for the course and will receive a thorough introduction to the challenges and opportunities of using scientific evidence in designing, implementing and assessing public policies - which is generally considered to be a key part of sound public administration.

The course is delivered by the EUI School of Transnational Governance in collaboration with The Hertie School. It comprises 6 interactive online sessions, devoted both to general aspects of finding, assessing and using evidence, and to the practical, hands-on implementation of this knowledge in the context of the Western Balkans.

The agenda of the training can be found here: jrc-wb-eipm.pdf