Fostering a culture of evidence-based policymaking in North Africa

Recognizing the need for informed policy development, NAASAC was established in 2021 through funding from the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT). The center was strategically housed within the Institute of National Planning (INP), whose mission aligns with enhancing policymaking in areas crucial for national development. Today, NAASAC is reshaping the policy landscape in North Africa, emphasizing practical strategies that align scientific insights with policy needs and integrating global expertise and models to shape its educational and practical frameworks in partnership with IIASA.

The flagship diploma program

Central to NAASAC's efforts is its diploma in Applied Systems Analysis in Evidence-Based Decision Making. This curriculum, designed and refined in collaboration with IIASA, starts with foundational concepts like systems thinking and progresses to complex system modeling and the creation of policy briefs. This approach not only imparts theoretical knowledge but also trains participants to translate research into actionable policy insights, a skill emphasized by real government policymakers who contribute to the course.

The program's success is evident in its reach: within just two years, two cohorts including participants from Egypt, Palestine, and Sudan have completed the diploma. The course’s adaptability and focus on real-world application have made it a sought-after qualification regionally, underscoring the pressing demand for such capacity-building initiatives.

Key lessons and future directions

NAASAC's initial years revealed crucial insights. Local expertise, often overlooked, proved indispensable in contextualizing content, while international partnerships filled niche knowledge gaps. Engaging participants across governmental departments fostered an environment conducive to systems thinking, essential for coordinated decision making. However, transitioning from academic research to policy-oriented output remains challenging, requiring ongoing efforts to embed this shift into research culture.

The center’s next phase will focus on turning existing research into concrete policy options, promoting policy brief development as a research norm, and enhancing independent use of IIASA's sophisticated models among regional scientists. There are also plans to expand the diploma program and encourage participation from broader Arab and African regions to continue the momentum built to date. Additionally, NAASAC will strengthen community engagement through a dedicated platform that has already been established on IIASA Connect and public outreach that nurtures systems thinking among youth.

“By institutionalizing evidence-based policy development, NAASAC aims to bridge the gap between research and actionable policy. Its initiatives foster a new generation of policymakers equipped to handle complex challenges with data-backed solutions. The center’s ongoing collaborations, capacity-building programs, and targeted public engagement lay the groundwork for a culture that views systemic analysis not as an academic exercise, but as a practical necessity for sustainable governance,” says Tyseer Aboulnasr, Chair of the IIASA Committee for Egypt and a key proponent of NAASAC.

NAASAC’s journey is a testament to the power of strategic collaboration and localized adaptation in building resilient policy systems. As it looks ahead, the center’s work promises to empower policy developers with the tools they need to make informed, flexible decisions, shaping a future where evidence-based policymaking is the norm, rather than the exception.

Note: This article gives the views of the author, and not the position of the Nexus blog, nor of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.