Policy Brief planning tool

Purpose

To support CETPartnership RDI projects in designing impactful and policy-relevant briefs that effectively communicate key findings and recommendations to policymakers. This tool provides structured canvases and a concise step-by-step process to guide the development of high-quality policy briefs.

Participants

Include project and TRI representatives as well as stakeholders who are already familiar with the topic. Aim for a mix of roles (e.g. research, policy, business, civil society) and expertise across sectors. Best results with 10–15 participants.

Steps to take:

1. Identify a policy-relevant issue or insight
   • Select a project result, observation, or challenge that links to policy, regulation, public programmes, or governance.
   • Ensure it is timely and clearly targetable to a policymaker or institution.
2. Fill in the Policy Brief Design Canvas
   • Work as a team to define the key elements of the brief: problem, key findings, recommendations, and target audience.
   • Include the perspectives of relevant stakeholders (e.g. industry, cities, citizens) for legitimacy and buy-in.
3. Assess relevance and readiness using the Readiness Matrix Canvas
   • Use the matrix to prioritise possible policy messages and identify which are suitable for a brief format.
4. Sharpen your recommendations
   • Define 1–3 actionable, evidence-based, and realistic recommendations tailored to decision-makers.
5. Identify key decision-makers and policy windows
   • Specify who should read the brief and when (e.g. regulatory reviews, upcoming directives, funding programmes).
6. Draft the brief (ideally max 2 pages)
   • Ensure clarity, visual appeal, and accessibility. Use simple language, clear structure, and supportive visuals.
   • Base your content on the Policy Brief Canvas.
7. Disseminate strategically
   • Share via events, networks, newsletters, and direct contacts. Link the brief to relevant policy processes or agendas.

Next Steps

Recommended Follow-Up Workshops:

• Exploitation Strategy Roadmap Workshop to develop detailed strategies and action plans for the exploitation of the Policy Brief.
• Societal Readiness Workshop to evaluate and improve societal readiness of your Policy Brief -related results using the SRL tool.

Expected Impacts

• Clearer understanding of the policy relevance of your project.
• Identification of the strongest, most timely messages for policymaking.
• Concrete output: 1–2 page policy brief to share with institutions, networks, and stakeholders.

Tips for the Organiser

1. TIP: USE EXAMPLES
   • A strong example is the Biodiversa Policy Brief on Small-scale Fisheries and Co-management (see Downloadable materials). It illustrates:
     • Clear policy question and message
     • Research-based findings
     • Well-formulated, actionable recommendations
     • EU-level targeting and strong legitimacy
2. Let your canvas guide the content, and let the content guide your influence.