Public Policy Formulation

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱? This paper ⬇️ on policymaking under complexity argues that the answer lies in 𝘩𝘰𝘸 policies are conceived, designed, and implemented in the face of unpredictable, interconnected systems. Traditional policy models assume linear cause-and-effect relationships: identify the problem, design the solution, implement it, and evaluate the results. Reality, however, is far messier. Public policies often fail because they underestimate 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘆, that is, the multiple actors, shifting incentives, feedback loops, and external shocks that shape policy outputs and outcomes. In such environments, even well-designed interventions can trigger unintended consequences, be captured by vested interests, or lose momentum as political priorities change. Another reason is the 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹: policymakers often believe they can steer complex systems through top-down plans, but they evolve in ways that cannot be fully predicted or controlled. Policies also falter when they ignore 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 of local actors, those on the ground who interpret, modify, and sometimes resist policy directives. The paper suggests that success under complexity requires a shift in mindset: 👉 Design policies as 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀, not fixed blueprints. 👉 Build 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽𝘀 that capture feedback early and adjust the course. 👉 Invest in 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 and 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 among actors to improve coordination. In short, public policy is less about engineering perfect solutions and more about navigating a dynamic, uncertain landscape. Failure is not inevitable, but avoiding it means embracing complexity, not denying it. #PublicPolicy #PolicyFailure #SystemsThinking

How can UK government be more effective when addressing chronic problems like inequalities or crises like climate change? This idea of ‘effective government’ has no clear, coherent, or agreed definition. Rather, advocates of reform identify multiple principles to which to aspire, including to: - Hold to account the people and organisations responsible for policy. - Anticipate and prevent policy problems rather than react to crisis. - Avoid power hoarding at the ‘centre’. - Co-produce policy with citizens. - Ensure policy coherence and policymaking integration. - Foster evidence-informed policymaking. - Mainstream equity, fairness, or justice across all policy. - Ensure that public services deliver public value. There is no technical way to combine these principles or resolve their trade-offs. Rather, policymakers make political choices to signal rhetorical support for all of these aims but demonstrate strong support for some. This tension between effective government principles is at the heart of a dominant and pessimistic academic story of UK policymaking in which the principle of Westminster-style accountability overshadows all others. Consequently, policymaking is inevitably short-termist, elitist, and centralist, and other reform efforts are doomed to failure. We recognise this problem but present a cautiously optimistic account about future prospects, grounded in new efforts to promote ‘Positive Public Policy’ (PoPP). We describe the potential to reinvigorate a range of approaches including: - Strategic state approaches to encourage more policy coherence and policymaking integration. - Systems thinking and place-based approaches to situate holistic government in more local decision-making contexts. - Evidence-informed government, to reflect massive UK government investment in research for policy. - Renewed forms of public participation to boost democratic legitimacy and inform policy. - Behavioural public policy, to understand how people think and behave and support behavioural change. What is a more positive account of the limited progress of these reforms? First, although rather ambiguous, they are all sufficiently clear to prompt debate and collaboration on how to translate abstract aims into concrete change. Second, although we may witness short-term setbacks, repeated reform efforts often have a cumulative effect. Third, although there is limited financial capacity to support major reforms, these initiatives support the new government’s focus on reforms that offer tangible rewards from low investment. This new reality provides an important window of opportunity for learning and applying the lessons of Positive Public Policy. Full article: Paul Cairney, John Boswell, Sarah Ayres, Catherine Durose, Dr Ian C Elliott, Matthew Flinders, Steve Martin, Liz Richardson (2024) ‘The state of British policymaking: How can UK government become more effective?’, Parliamentary Affairs, https://lnkd.in/edXQadDY

🔍 From Theory to Practice: Crafting Policy Recommendations That Actually Work Many research papers end with policy recommendations. Few produce recommendations that are implementable, defensible, and aligned with institutional realities. The gap between research findings and policy action is rarely about lack of insight, it is about lack of evidence alignment, feasibility, and contextual awareness. In this guide, I argue that strong policy recommendations are not add-ons; they are the logical culmination of rigorous analysis. ✅ Evidence is the foundation of credibility Recommendations must flow directly from findings, not from opinion or normative preference. ✅ Clarity strengthens policy uptake Decision-makers need actionable guidance, not abstract aspirations. ✅ Each recommendation should answer five questions: • What policy area is addressed? • What specific action is required? • What evidence supports it? • How will it be implemented? • What is the realistic time horizon? ✅ Trade-offs must be acknowledged Every policy choice involves fiscal, political, or operational constraints. Ignoring these weakens credibility. ✅ Context determines feasibility Institutional capacity, governance quality, and financial realities shape whether recommendations succeed. ✅ Doctoral-level contributions go further They propose implementation pathways, risk mitigation strategies, and monitoring frameworks, not just policy ideals. 💡 Strategic insight: Policy recommendations are strongest when they translate evidence into action while acknowledging risk, constraints, and institutional complexity. 👉 What distinguishes a useful policy recommendation from an academic one in your experience? #PublicPolicy #EvidenceBasedPolicy #ResearchImpact #Governance #PolicyAnalysis #PhDLife #InstitutionalPerformance #StrategicPlanning #PublicSector #PolicyImplementation #AcademicResearch #DoctoralResearch #DecisionMaking #ResearchExcellence #PolicyDesign

Decisions made by public officials have a direct impact on the lives of people in the country, whether they are citizens or expats. I am pleased to hear that the current cabinet in Kuwait is reversing course on many policies adopted by previous governments. The cost of wrong or ideologically driven policies is extremely high for both affected individuals and businesses, as well as society as a whole. Formulating a public policy is a complex and multi-faceted process that requires careful consideration of various factors: 1️⃣Identify the issue: The first step in formulating a public policy is to clearly identify the issue or problem that needs to be addressed. What problem are we trying to fix? It is important not to make assumptions or be driven by emotions or ideologies. 2️⃣Research and analysis: It is important to conduct thorough research and analysis to understand the root causes of the problem. This step is extremely important to make a good diagnosis of the problem. This may involve gathering data, consulting experts, and reviewing existing policies. 3️⃣Stakeholder engagement: It is crucial to engage with stakeholders who will be affected by the policy, including community members, advocacy groups, and government agencies. Their input can provide valuable insights and help ensure that the policy is effective and inclusive. A lot of time decisions are made without engaging with stakeholders who are most influenced by the decision, particularly, when such groups are underrepresented. 4️⃣Set goals and objectives: Based on research and stakeholder input, establish clear goals and objectives for the policy. These should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) to guide decision-making and evaluation. 5️⃣Develop options: Consider different policy options that could address the issue at hand. Evaluate each option based on its feasibility, cost-effectiveness, impact on stakeholders, and alignment with goals. 6️⃣Decision-making: After considering feedback and weighing the pros and cons of each option, make a decision on which policy option to pursue. This decision should be based on evidence-based research, stakeholder input, and alignment with goals. 7️⃣Implementation plan: Develop a detailed implementation plan that should include timelines, responsibilities, budget considerations, monitoring mechanisms, and communication strategies. 8️⃣Evaluation/ Review: Monitor  implementation  assess its effectiveness in achieving its goals. Periodically review  ensure it remains relevant light changing circumstances new information. Make revisions necessary improve outcomes address emerging issues. Questions remain: ➡ Best approach to formulate policy, whether it should be done at the national level or within each ministry. ➡ There is a need to determine the role of the cabinet in ensuring that policies align with the nation's overall vision. Follow/connect with me and hit bell 🔔 so you don't miss them.

Strategic Evaluation in Public Policy Evaluation is not an afterthought in public policy—it is the backbone of strategic design, delivery, and reform. This model captures a robust and structured evaluation model that supports every phase of a policy’s life cycle: 1. Ex Ante Evaluation (Before Implementation) This is a forward-looking evaluation conducted during the policy design phase. It assesses the clarity of the problem, alignment with priorities, feasibility of objectives, and potential efficiency. Think of it as the “due diligence” of public policy. —> Tools like SWOT analysis and logic models are often used here to validate strategy before launch. 2. Evaluations During Implementation (Real-Time Assessment) This ongoing process ensures policies are progressing toward their intended outcomes. These evaluations allow for real-time course corrections and performance adjustments. They are critical for identifying bottlenecks early and recalibrating interventions before damage is done. 3. Ex Post Evaluation (After Completion) Once the policy or programme concludes, ex post evaluations examine whether the objectives were achieved, the impact generated, and if long-term value was delivered. It also includes learning feedback loops to guide future policy formulation. Why This Matters? This triangle model shows that evaluation is continuous, not linear. It builds feedback into the system to ensure: • Accountability • Adaptability • Institutional learning • Long-term value creation #PublicPolicy #Evaluation #ExAnte #ExPost #Governance #StrategicPlanning #PolicyDesign #PolicyReview #EvidenceBasedPolicy

A reflection from experience… Public Policy: Where Vision Meets Real Life Over the years of working in Government and advising on reforms; I’ve seen one thing clearly: public policy is only as powerful as its application. We spend months—sometimes years—designing the perfect policy. The intent is noble, the paper is polished, and the vision is clear. But the real challenge begins after the policy is announced. That’s when success depends on whether it’s translated into enabling laws, by-laws, regulations, and most importantly applied with the right intent!!! In the economic realm, this is especially critical… Policies are meant to attract investment, stimulate innovation, and drive inclusive growth — but none of that happens unless there’s: • A legal and institutional readiness, • A clear and enforced accountability, and • A real commitment to serve, not just to regulate. Policy is not a document. It’s a living process. It’s the bridge between vision and people’s lived experiences… and when done right, it changes lives. #PublicPolicy #GoodGovernance #EconomicReform #PolicyToImpact #InstitutionalCapacity #StrategicLeadership #MasharekAdvisory #FromVisionToImpact #EnablingChange #PolicyMatters #EvidenceBasedPolicy #RegulatoryReform

March was a month of meaningful movement for the Policy team! We hit the ground running with engagements in Murang’a, Mombasa, and Nairobi, working hand-in-hand with county governments to develop context-responsive school feeding policies—a critical step toward achieving food, nutrition and education equity for all children. But that’s not all. This momentum aligns with a major milestone at the national level—the launch and dissemination of the Public Policy Handbook and Guidelines (2024) by the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary. This game-changing resource introduces a standardized approach to policy development across all sectors—clarifying the structure, timelines, and responsibilities involved in policy formulation and review. For too long, policy processes in Kenya—and across Africa—have been driven more by institutional turf wars or personal interests than by national development goals or the public good. This handbook provides an opportunity to reclaim policy spaces and drive an advocacy agenda that is people-centered, inclusive, and rooted in national priorities. Now is the time to: Review and align sectoral policies Collapse duplicative or conflicting legislation Streamline fragmented frameworks And most importantly, center people in policy. "Good policy is not about paperwork, it's about people—it’s about turning aspiration into action, and potential into progress." Let’s champion a future where policy is not just drafted, but delivers. #PolicyForPeople #PublicPolicy #Governance #SchoolFeeding #Kenya #FoodForEducation #RightToFood #PolicyAlignment #PolicyReform #StrategicAdvocacy #MarchMoments #CountyEngagements #SDGsInAction