Evidence for Policymakers

Dear visitor!

Welcome to the website of the conference Evidence for Policymakers!

It’s our pleasure to chair this international gathering on substantiating Evidence informed policies and politics. We are looking forward to welcoming you virtually – or in person - to discuss the current opportunities for improving our policy interventions. We now have the benefit to learn from international best practises and make use of the momentum that exists in many countries, like our own. For this conference we have developed ten Hague Recommendations. We would appreciate it if you will enrich this special event with your presence.

We are looking forward to an inspiring conference with tangible results!

Best regards,

              Pieter Duisenberg                                        Peter van der Knaap
       Chair of the association of                     Chairman of the Dutch Association
  Universities in the Netherlands                         for Policy Evaluation (Vide)
                      (VSNU)                                                            

                                          

Chairmen of this conference

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The Hague, The Netherlands

15 – 18 December 2020

Please find the final report with the summary and conclusions here.

 

Background

In times of crisis, the relationship between evidence and policymaking may change dramatically. The current Covid-19 Crisis generated manifestations of “evidence based policymaking” in an unprecedented way, both nationally and locally. It also showed that the need to use internationally organized reliable data for effective policy interventions has never been more urgent in times of peace. This information needs to be both profound and directly available.
This conference treats the outcomes of the current crisis as input for the process for professionalizing the structured interaction between evidence and policymaking. The current learning processes and challenges will be analyzed in the context of the existing knowledge infrastructure for policymakers. Instruments for creating evidence for policymakers have tremendously grown with the introduction of Big Data and the development of algorithms for generating new insights. Another widespread development is the use of Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT’s) in order to enhance the effectiveness of policy instruments and the growth of new standards for experimental policies.
Evidence for the effectiveness of new policy interventions is often related to the evaluation of policymaking. National Statistical Offices and many other governmental agencies play a role here. Evidence may also - especially in crisis situations - be used for the prediction of the effectiveness of new policies. In the Netherlands, the Policy Analysis Agencies (Plan Bureaus) have gained a special reputation to generate broadly accepted calculations which predict the effectiveness of political programs. Behavior Insight Teams in different parts of the world also have gained a reputation in creating well substantiated instruments to predict and enhance the effectiveness of policy interventions.
In all of these processes of shaping evidence informed policymaking, scientists from all kind of disciplines, whether it is data science, statistics, policy research, behavioral sciences or a structured way of fact checking, play a crucial role to substantiate the development of policies. These processes for a sound substantiation for policymaking are a main contribution to more effective and predictable policies, if well organized (a recent article by Times Higher Education discusses the groundbreaking pilot developed by Dutch experts to shape better policies through effective scientific support).


Organizing evidence for policy
The way that evidence for policy is organized, differs strongly per country or region in the world. In the Anglo-Saxon culture we see Chief Government scientists, organizing the impact of science form inside the Ministries. In 2010, the UK Prime Minister has successfully launched its What Works Networks with their related Behavior Insight Teams. In the US, we have seen What Works Cities and the “data for evidence” initiatives, started at the White House. Moreover, in January 2019, the US federal government has signed into law the “Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act”. In the European Union in 2016, the Science Advice mechanism has evolved and Joint Research Centres play a role. The Netherlands has its Central Policy Analysis Agencies. In Singapore we see a National Research Council, housed at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Evidence for effective policies needs to be robust and preferably universal. Bringing together the managers of these processes will create new insights and mutual benefits. This conference has the aim to bring together these experts worldwide to learn which methods and instruments can be applied for which situations and how they may improve the quality of evidence provided.

Topics
The conference will treat a range of issues that influence our capacity to enhance the development and practical use of evidence for policymakers. A short list of issues includes:
- Definitions of “evidence” and “evidence informed policymaking”
- The correlation between evidence and more effective policymaking
- How to convince policymakers to use evidence
- Internal and external organization of evidence for government
- Utilizing evidence for politicians and parliaments
- Enhancing the usability of research from universities and other knowledge institutes
- Ex post evidence and ex ante evidence
- Structured data for policymakers and researchers
- Effective use of algorithms for policymakers
- RCT’s to develop methods for proven effecctive interventions
- Applying research evidence to societal challenges

The Conference in The Hague

The city of the Hague has recently welcomed the Department for Governance and Global affairs from Leiden University, the oldest university of the Netherlands. The Hague also houses many international institutes, including several international organizations for research and statistics. Leiden University and ScienceWorks are the organizers of this event.

The Hague is a unique city one of the very few Government cities based on a sandy beach. Next to this, The Hague has gained a global reputation as the LegalCapital of the World. The conference will offer ample opportunities to the conference participants to experience this special venue during the social program.

Terms & costs

Confirmed speakers

Erwin Muller

Erwin Muller

Dean of Governance and Global Affairs, Leiden University

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Pieter Duisenberg

Pieter Duisenberg

Chair of The Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU)

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Peter van der Knaap

Peter van der Knaap

Managing-Director of SWOV, the national Institute for Road Safety Research in The Netherlands

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Ingrid van Engelshoven

Ingrid van Engelshoven

Minister of Education, Culture and Science

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Wopke Hoekstra

Wopke Hoekstra

Minster of Finance

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David Mair

David Mair

Head of Unit, Knowledge for Policy, European Commission

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Kathryn Newcomer

Kathryn Newcomer

Former president of the American Evaluation Association & Professor in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at the George Washington University

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Peter Gluckman

Peter Gluckman

Chair of the International Network of Government Science Advisors (INGSA) & incoming president of the International Council of Science

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Marie Gaarder

Marie Gaarder

Executive Director of the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3IE)

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Laurenz Langer

Laurenz Langer

Evidence Synthesis Specialist, Africa Centre for Evidence (ACE)

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Stephane Jacobzone

Stephane Jacobzone

Head of Unit, Evidence Monitoring and Policy Evaluation (OECD)

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Patricia Paskov

Patricia Paskov

Impact Evaluation Analyst, Worldbank

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Jonathan Breckon

Jonathan Breckon

Founder of the Alliance for Useful Evidence, NESTA, UK

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Rachel Tuffin

Rachel Tuffin

Director, Knowledge and Innovation

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Jeanne van Loon

Jeanne van Loon

Head of Unit, Knowledge, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

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Glen Steyn

Glen Steyn

Business Economist, Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism

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Justin Parkhurst

Justin Parkhurst

Associate Professor of Global Health Policy Department of Health Policy, The London School of Economics and Political Science

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Barend van der Meulen

Barend van der Meulen

Director of the Center of Higher Education Policy & Full Professor Evidence and Policy, University of Twente

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Sierd Cloetingh

Sierd Cloetingh

SAPEA Board

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Anne-Greet Keizer

Anne-Greet Keizer

Senior research fellow and international liaison of the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy/ Former executive secretary ESAF

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Dirk-Jan Koch

Dirk-Jan Koch

Chief Science Officer, Minstry of Foreign Affairs

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Jaakko Kuosmanen

Jaakko Kuosmanen

Secretary of Academy, Science Advice Initiative of Finland (SOFI)

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Tarmo Soomere

Tarmo Soomere

President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences

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Patricia Atkinson

Patricia Atkinson

Director of the Results and Delivery Uniut, Global Affairs, Canada

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Sarah Morton

Sarah Morton

Director, Matter of Focus, United Kingdom

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Michel Bloemheuvel

Michel Bloemheuvel

Advisor and researcher, Sira Consulting

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Leo Ancher

Leo Ancher

Coordinating Account Manager and Strategic Advisor, Province of South Holland

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Scott Douglas

Scott Douglas

Prof. Public Management, Utrecht University School of Governance

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Jeroen Kerseboom

Jeroen Kerseboom

Head of Research Department at the Netherlands House of Representatives

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Frans Leeuw

Frans Leeuw

Professor Law, Public Administration and Social Science Research, University of Maastricht

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Sarah Foxen

Sarah Foxen

Knowledge Exchange Lead, POST, UK Parliament

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Ole Petersen

Ole Petersen

Vice-President, Academia Europaea

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Thom de Graaf

Thom de Graaf

Vice-President, Netherlands Council of State

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Vivian Tseng

Vivian Tseng

Senior Vice President, Program, William T. Grant Foundation, USA

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Marc Hertogh

Marc Hertogh

Full Professor of Socio-Legal Studies at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands

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Howard White

Howard White

Chief Executive Officer of Campbell Collaboration, Norway

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Jon Baron

Jon Baron

Vice-President of Evidence Based Policy, Laura and John Arnold Foundation

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Danièle Lamarque

Danièle Lamarque

President of the European Evaluation Society

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Nynke de Witte

Nynke de Witte

Deputy Head of the Strategic Analysis Unit, Inspectorate of the Budget, Ministry of Finance, NL

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Peter Bex

Peter Bex

Founder/ Director, Sira Consulting

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Gerty Lensvelt-Mulders

Gerty Lensvelt-Mulders

Director, Research and Documentation Centre (WODC), Ministry of Justice

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Sherry Bennett

Sherry Bennett

Chief Data Scientist, DLT Solutions, USA

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Babette Bakker

Babette Bakker

Strategy & Collaborations in AI (Appl.AI) and researcher at TNO, The Netherlands

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Djoeke van Dale

Djoeke van Dale

Senior advisor Health Promotion Joint Action on Chronic Diseases and Healthy Aging, RIVM

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Harsha Dayal

Harsha Dayal

Research Director, Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Government of South Africa

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Daniel Trnka

Daniel Trnka

Seniot Policy Analyst, OECD

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Joost Sneller

Joost Sneller

Member of Parliament (D66), The Netherlands

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Bart Snels

Bart Snels

Member of the House of Representatives

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Nick Hart

Nick Hart

Chief Executive Officer of the Data Coalition and President of the non-profit Data Foundation

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Zeynep Engin

Zeynep Engin

Founder of Data for Policy, UK

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Barbara Ubaldi

Barbara Ubaldi

Senior Policy Analyst, OECD

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Marieke van Putten

Marieke van Putten

Senior Innovation Manager, Ministry of Interior

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Anne Fleur van Veenstra

Anne Fleur van Veenstra

Senior Researcher ICT Policy, TNO Strategy and Policy

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Jeroen van Velzen

Jeroen van Velzen

Chief Director of the Directorate of Data Services, Research and Innovation, Statistics Netherlands (CBS)

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Marten Tilstra

Marten Tilstra

Programme Manager IDA, Interprovincial Consultation (IPO), The Netherlands

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Claar Schouwenaar

Claar Schouwenaar

Project leader Digital Innovation and Participation, Province of Utrecht, The Netherlands

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Jaap van den Herik

Jaap van den Herik

Professor of Computer Science and Law at Leiden University and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Leiden Centre of Data Science (LCDS)

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Bram Klievink

Bram Klievink

Full Professor of Public Administration & Digitalisation, Leiden University, The Netherlands

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Massimo Craglia

Massimo Craglia

Senior Scientist in AI, European Commission

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Sander Klous

Sander Klous

Professor Big Data Ecosystems for Business and Society, University of Amsterdam & Partner KPMG

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Melanie Peters

Melanie Peters

Director of Rathenau Institute, NL

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Semiha Denktas

Semiha Denktas

Prof. Psychology and Behaviour change, Academic Director Big'R, The Netherlands

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Bianca Albers

Bianca Albers

Associate Director, Centre for Evidence and Implementation

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Peter van der Graaf

Peter van der Graaf

AskFuse Research Manager, UK

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Caroline Baan

Caroline Baan

Chief Science Officer, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Netherlands

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Laura Menenti

Laura Menenti

Chief Science Officer, Ministry of Security and Justice

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Rien Rouw

Rien Rouw

Senior Advisor Strategy and Knowledge Based Policy, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

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Eva Kunseler

Eva Kunseler

Senior Researcher, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency

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Natascha Wagner

Natascha Wagner

Associate professor of Development Economics, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), The Netherlands

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Ruben Brekelmans

Ruben Brekelmans

Programme Director Operation 'Inzicht in Kwaliteit', Ministry of Finance, The Netherlands

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Locations

Conference venue

15-18 December 2020
Leiden University, Wijnhaven

Turfmarkt 99

2511 DP, The Hague

Conference Diner

15 December 2020 from 19:00
To be announced

Social programme

14 December 2020 from 15:00 until 17:00 City Tour The Hague
Startlocation: Campus Leiden University, Wijnhaven

Turfmarkt 99

2511 DP, The Hague

14 December 2020 from 17:00 Welcome drink & reception
Location to be announced

Traveling to the conference location

The conference will take place in Leiden University, Wijnhaven in the Hague, which is located 5 minutes from the central station. If you want to come by car, which we would not suggest because of the costs and traffic, you can reserve a parking spot on the website of ‘Parkeren in Museumkwartier’ (via this link), which is also the cheapest option for parking in the city center.

The conference venue is 27 minutes away by car, and 45 to 60 minutes away by public transport.

Please find a detailed description of the available means of transportation to and from this airport here.