Anatomy of an NCCR policy brief

1. Anatomy of an NCCR policy brief Research evidence for policy

2. Research evidence for policy • Published by NCCR North South since 2009 • www.north-south.unibe.ch/content.php/page/id/250

3. What types of information? • “…provides research highlights from the NCCR North-South on important development topics…” • “…offers information on topics such as governance, conflict, livelihoods, globalisation, sanitation, health, natural resources and sustainability in an accessible way.”

4. Recent topics • Conservation in protected areas: Do local people benefit? • Making migration safer • Overcoming ambiguities in decentralisation • Natural resources: the climate change challenge

5. Elements of written communication • Structure • How the information is organized • Design • How it is presented • Content • What it says

6. Masthead Photo Title Lead Policy message Main text Publisher Structure

7. Main text Photo Caption Graphic Policy implications Caption

8. Headings One level of headings 3-6 words each Text 2-3 paragraphs per heading 60-120 words per paragraph 1900 words total Boxes

9. Authors: Photos, names, positions, emails Cases 70-100 words each Further reading 2-3 vital items Publisher info Series info Keywords

10. A4 size (actually, A3 folded) Clear headings Orange echoes masthead Attractive format Highlighted info in shaded boxes 2 columns Design

11. Photographs: 4 colour - attractive but expensive Narrow columns: 5-6 words, easy to read Like a newspaper – readers scan down the middle of the column Boxes in two colours (black and orange) Colour says “read me!”

12. White space Dotted orange border Photo: Well composed, subjects not looking at the camera Caption: reversed over transparent rectangle Graphic: Clear, easy to understand Caption: Explains graphic

13. Elements all aligned to grid Easy in a desktop publishing program like Adobe InDesign Hard to do in Word! Text flush left, ragged right

14. Cases in shaded box Publisher’s logo Reference material “Don’t read me!” 4 pages total

15. Title: grabs attention, tells reader what is in the document Lead: grabs attention, sets the scene, tells reader what to expect in rest of document Policy messages: if they read only this, they will have got the message! Main text: divided into short sections, each on a different aspect Content Title Lead Example from Bolivia Policy messages

16. Captions explain and build on photo – make photo not just decoration Short, easy-to-read text: don’t make the readers work to understand what you are saying Boxes contain info that does not fit into text India Analysis of ex-amples Bolivia Example from India More analysis

17. Graphic: contrasts situation before decentralization (orange) with after (blue) Policy implications: What does it all mean for policy? 4-5 points Caption: Explains graphic More analysis Policy implic-ations Even more analysis Graphic and caption Policy implic-ations

18. Cases Self-contained, highlight main points only Reference material Where to go for more information Key refs only “This issue” Who helped put it together Cases Further reading This issue

19. Elements of an NCCR brief • Title • Policy message • Lead • Main text • Cases • Boxes • Table or graphic • Photos • Further reading • Authors • This issue

20. Title Max 80 chars Policy message Max 640 chars Lead Max 700 chars Main text Max 7000 chars At least 6 subtitles Final section = Policy implications Cases Max 1630 chars 3 different countries Boxes Ca 440 chars Table or graphic Max 1 Photos Max 3 With captions Further reading 2-3 key refs only Authors Name, position, institution, email This issue Academic adviser, policy adviser, editors, design Elements of an NCCR brief