VakaYiko grant supports evidence-informed policy making training in Sudan

The Gender Centre for Research and Training (GCRT) is delivering two training workshops on evidence-informed policy making in Khartoum, Sudan this month. These workshops form part of the centre’s “Capacity building for decision makers to use evidence in policymaking in Sudan” project, which is supported by INASP as part of the VakaYiko grants programme.

The training will take place over the course of eight days from the 19th of January until the 29th of January 2016, with participants drawn from the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Education. Informed by extensive focus group discussions held with over 80 participants from both ministries in September 2015, the training will focus on Evidence-Informed Policy Making in the Sudanese context, and will emphasize the importance of gender mainstreaming in the policy-making process.

A total of 50 participants, mostly female, are expected to take part in the two workshops; the first week will involve 25 participants from the Ministry of Education, and the second week will involve 25 participants from the Ministry of Labour. Representing different departments including the Department of Strategic Planning, the Training and Planning Department, and the Girls Education Department (Ministry of Education), all the participants highlighted the importance of research in their work and many identified similar challenges including lack of easily accessible materials, and limited time and resources.

Following the training, the GCRT plans to host a conference bringing together policymakers, researchers, journalists and civil society and grassroots organizations to share lessons from the project and promote open discussion on the challenges and opportunities to using evidence in Sudanese policy making.

About the GCRT

The Gender Centre for Research and Training (GCRT) is a pioneering non-governmental institution working to ensure gender mainstreaming in development programmes and government policies. It combines research and training with advocacy and networking in order to raise awareness of gender inequalities and equip Sudanese women with the skills needed to access decision-making structures.

About VakaYiko

VakaYiko is a three-year, INASP-led project that aims to build: individuals with the skills to access, evaluate and use research evidence; processes for handling research evidence in policy making departments; and a wider enabling environment of engaged citizens, media and civil society.
As part of the project, eight VakaYiko grants have been awarded to individuals and projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America to build the capacity of policymakers to use evidence in policy making. This project is funded by DFID under the Building Capacity for Use of Research Evidence (BCURE) programme.