Introduction: Research Capacity for Evidence-Informed Policy Making in Africa

Abstract

This chapter describes the context and justification for the book. It discusses the growing recognition and action in advancing evidence-informed public policy making. It introduces the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) as a major intervention in this regard, discusses its intervention in higher education through the introduction of the Doctoral in Public Policy (DPP) programme and Master of Research and Public Policy programme (MRPP) and the need for a textbook that responds to the needs of the programme in 14 African universities. It then describes the content of the various chapters of the book and concludes with their relevance and uses.