Policy Brief Template
Usage
This template provides the skeleton for an evidence-based policy brief targeting decision-makers. Policy briefs are shorter, more direct, and action-oriented than academic papers.
[Policy Brief Title — Clear and Action-Oriented]
Author(s): [Author Name(s)] Affiliation: [Institution] Date: [Date] Target Audience: [e.g., MOE officials, university administrators, legislators]
Executive Summary
[The policy problem in 1-2 sentences.] [Key evidence in 1-2 sentences.] [Primary recommendation in 1-2 sentences.]
Key Recommendations
- [Recommendation 1 — one sentence]
- [Recommendation 2 — one sentence]
- [Recommendation 3 — one sentence]
1. Background
1.1 The Policy Problem
[What is the problem? Who is affected? How severe is it?] [Use specific data to illustrate the problem.]
1.2 Current Policy Context
[What existing policies or regulations are relevant?] [What has already been tried?]
1.3 Why Action is Needed Now
[What makes this urgent? What happens if nothing changes?] [Include a compelling statistic or projection.]
2. Evidence Base
2.1 Key Finding 1: [Title]
[Present evidence clearly with citations.] [Include a figure or table if helpful.]
2.2 Key Finding 2: [Title]
[Present evidence clearly with citations.]
2.3 Key Finding 3: [Title]
[Present evidence clearly with citations.]
2.4 International Comparisons (if relevant)
[How do other countries/regions handle this issue?] [What can we learn from their experience?]
3. Policy Options Analysis
Option A: [Descriptive Name]
[1-2 paragraph description of the option.]
| Criterion | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | [High/Medium/Low — brief justification] |
| Feasibility | [High/Medium/Low — brief justification] |
| Cost | [High/Medium/Low — estimate if available] |
| Timeline | [Short-term / Medium-term / Long-term] |
| Political Acceptability | [High/Medium/Low] |
Option B: [Descriptive Name]
[1-2 paragraph description.]
| Criterion | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | [assessment] |
| Feasibility | [assessment] |
| Cost | [assessment] |
| Timeline | [timeline] |
| Political Acceptability | [assessment] |
Option C: [Descriptive Name]
[1-2 paragraph description.]
| Criterion | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | [assessment] |
| Feasibility | [assessment] |
| Cost | [assessment] |
| Timeline | [timeline] |
| Political Acceptability | [assessment] |
4. Recommendations
4.1 Recommended Option
[State the recommended option and justify the choice.] [1-2 paragraphs]
4.2 Implementation Steps
- Step 1 (Month 1-3): [action]
- Step 2 (Month 4-6): [action]
- Step 3 (Month 7-12): [action]
- Step 4 (Year 2+): [action]
4.3 Success Metrics
| Metric | Baseline | Target | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Metric 1] | [current value] | [target value] | [when] |
| [Metric 2] | [current value] | [target value] | [when] |
4.4 Risk Mitigation
| Risk | Likelihood | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| [Risk 1] | [H/M/L] | [strategy] |
| [Risk 2] | [H/M/L] | [strategy] |
5. Conclusion
[1 paragraph restating the urgency and recommended action.]
AI Disclosure
[Standard AI disclosure statement.]
References
[Complete reference list — keep concise for policy brief audience.]
Appendix: Methodology Note
[Brief description of how the evidence was gathered and analyzed.]