This study assessed the individual and institutional capacity gaps in both the Kenya Ministry of Health and the Parliament of Kenya as part of a wider programme to improve evidence use in decision-making for health.

The assessment revealed that both top- and mid-level policymakers in Kenya recognise the importance of using evidence in decision-making. However, the actual application of evidence and data is curtailed by several challenges and constraints, including:

·         Political and personal interests competing with using research evidence

·         Inadequate technical skills to access, analyse and apply research evidence

·         Weak institutional linkages with research institutions

The policymakers who participated in the assessment recommended the following to address the challenges and constraints:

·         Training staff in accessing, synthesising and communicating research evidence and data

·         Strengthening forums for discussing research evidence and data with decision-makers

·         Strengthening linkages between the Ministry and research institutions

The authors noted that as a participatory approach was used, with the assessment incorporated as part of the work plan of the Division of Health Research and Development, the implementation of the findings is more likely to be successful.

To read more, please follow this link to download the full report.

If you use the information detailed in the report, please cite as follows:

Kenya Ministry of Health and SECURE Health Consortium (2014) An Assessment of Capacity Needs for Application of Research Evidence in Decision-making in the Health Sector in Kenya. AFIDEP

AFIDEP: The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) is an international non-profit policy think tank with the mission to translate and enable utilisation of research evidence in policy-making. To find out more about the work of AFIDEP, please follow this link.