The articles in this issue focus on the capacities required for making evidence-based policies and practices for development a reality. Obviously the ability to conduct solid research and analyse the findings correctly are core capacities which, in the case of many NGOs and CBOs, require strengthening. But evidence itself is not enough. Other capacities are needed to drive the message home. Researchers must know and understand key stakeholders in the policymaking process. They need to grasp and adapt to the dynamics of the political debate and bring to the fore relevant evidence at the right time. Another crucial capacity is the ability to communicate in a language that policymakers can understand.

In his lead article, John Young explains why it is difficult to feed research-based evidence into policy and practice and which capacities need to be strengthened. He presents a six-step approach that can help research organisations maximise the influence of research-based evidence on policy and practice. Paul Mably demonstrates how, since the early 1990s, a number of NGOs that focus on international trade policies have developed such capacities and have been able to influence trade policies in a very significant way.

Internal organisational capacity needs to be complemented by an enabling environment. Multiparty democracies are more conducive for research institutes and CSOs to engage in advocacy on the basis of researched evidence than are autocratic and oligarchic regimes. Rijit Sengupta explains how, in the well established democracy of India, a CSO has already developed its second generation tools and methods that lead to enhanced capacity to share research findings with Indian parliamentarians and to influence policymaking. The new approached focused much more on proper timing, choice of topics, good communication and the process was more aligned with the way political agenda evolved.

The introduction of multiparty democracy in East and Southern Africa is much more recent. Research institutes and CSOs are still coming to grips with evidence-based approaches to advocacy. In these regions, work by a large group of researchers, including Nicola Jones, Joseph Bitature, William Kambona, Irene Alenga, Vivian Kazi, Deodatus Kakoko, Stephen Karekezi, John Kimani and Nicholas Owino, shows that good practices are emerging. However, evidence also indicates that there are a number of critical capacity gaps that need to be addressed, including research and analytical capacity, the ability to share and communicate knowledge, leadership credibility and accountability. A group of Latin American organisations identified a very similar mix of key personal capabilities and organisational capacities that CSOs need to have in place in order to be successful in influencing policy with research based evidence. Gala Díaz Langou elaborates on this in his article.

According to Ambassdor Mahamet Saleh Annadif, ambassador of the permanent mission of the African Union in Brussels, it is crucial that researchers and policymakers trust each other. Researchers must gain the trust of policymakers by relating to them, learning their views, exchanging ideas with them, going out into the field and talking to stakeholders. Policymakers on the other hand must be dedicated to transparent and accountable governance in order for the seeds of researched evidence to land on fertile soil.

By Heinz Greijn, Editor-in-Chief