Policy briefs are concise documents that summarize a particular policy issue, provide evidence and analysis, and offer recommendations. They are often used by policymakers, researchers, and advocates to influence decision-making.
A 12 page policy brief template can help you to structure your brief and ensure that it includes all of the necessary information. The template should include the following sections:
Executive Summary
The executive summary provides a brief overview of the policy issue, the analysis, and the recommendations. It should be no more than one page long and should be written in a clear and concise style.
The executive summary should include the following:
- A statement of the policy issue
- A summary of the analysis
- A summary of the recommendations
Background
The background section provides a more detailed description of the policy issue. It should discuss the history of the issue, the current state of affairs, and the relevant stakeholders. The background section should be no more than two pages long and should be written in a clear and objective style.
The background section should include the following:
- A description of the policy issue
- A history of the issue
- A discussion of the current state of affairs
- A discussion of the relevant stakeholders
Analysis
The analysis section provides evidence and analysis to support the recommendations. It should be no more than three pages long and should be written in a clear and concise style.
The analysis section should include the following:
- A statement of the research question
- A description of the research methods
- A presentation of the results
- A discussion of the implications of the results
Recommendations
The recommendations section provides specific recommendations for addressing the policy issue. It should be no more than two pages long and should be written in a clear and concise style.
The recommendations section should include the following:
- A list of the recommendations
- A discussion of the rationale for each recommendation
- A discussion of the potential benefits and risks of each recommendation
Conclusion
The conclusion provides a brief summary of the policy brief and the recommendations. It should be no more than one page long and should be written in a clear and concise style.
The conclusion should include the following:
- A restatement of the policy issue
- A summary of the analysis
- A summary of the recommendations
- A call to action