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The West African region is navigating a critical juncture, marked by macroeconomic instability, high debt burdens, weakening currencies, and worsening poverty indicators. According to the 2024 West African Development Outlook, regional growth slowed to 3.5% in 2023, inflation averaged 20.6%, and over 148 million people were classified as working poor. Debt-to-GDP ratio rose across most countries, while fiscal space narrowed amid recurring shocks, from electricity shortages to food insecurity. Leveraging evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) is now more critical than ever to guide effective policy responses and development interventions.

Moreover, the use of evidence in policymaking is gaining momentum across Francophone West Africa driven by growing political will, institutional reforms, and increasing demand for data across sectors such as health, agriculture, and education. Countries such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire have introduced national policies, frameworks, and partnerships that promote the use of evidence in decision-making. Yet, despite this progress, key barriers remain—including limited access to data, underfunding of research systems, and the dominance of English-language publications, which restrict evidence uptake in Francophone contexts.

To promote engagements among researchers, policymakers and EIDM actors in West Africa, the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), through the Evidence-Empowered Decision-Making for Africa’s Renaissance (EEDAR) project, hosted a policy forum on 10 December 2024 to discuss strategies for enhancing evidence use in the Francophone West Africa region. The forum provided an avenue to gather insights from key actors on potential solutions to the barriers in EIDM across Anglophone and Francophone West African countries.

Held under the theme “Bridging the Evidence-To-Policy Gap: Exploring Priority Interventions Responsive to the Context of Francophone Africa”, the forum discussed the drivers and barriers related to EIDM in Francophone West Africa and aimed at identifying opportunities and incentives that can enhance EIDM initiatives within the region. The discussions were facilitated by the findings from a landscape and political economy analysis (PEA) that included in-depth case studies conducted in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire. These were complemented by a broader regional review that explored cross-cutting patterns, institutional dynamics, and policy trends shaping evidence use across Francophone West Africa. The forum drew a multitude of participants across 21 countries, eight of which were Francophone, thereby emphasising the importance of cross-learning among countries.

Drivers of EIDM in Francophone West Africa

Several factors have contributed to the increasing prioritisation of EIDM in policymaking across Francophone West Africa. One of the most influential drivers is political will. Governments are increasingly recognising the value of evidence in shaping national policies, particularly

in health, agriculture, and education. Côte d’Ivoire has institutionalised this commitment through mechanisms such as the Public Policy Evaluation Commission and the National Evaluation Policy, which was developed in 2022 to promote evidence use across government departments. Similarly, Burkina Faso has a National Development Plan for Research (2022–2026) that seeks to ensure research findings are integrated into national policy frameworks.

Beyond government commitment, sectoral demand for research has played a critical role in advancing EIDM. In Cameroon, for instance, the National Health Development Plan (2016–2027) integrates evidence into health system strengthening, particularly in the control of infectious diseases. In Côte d’Ivoire, the National Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA), established in 1998, generates agricultural research that informs policy interventions aimed at improving food security and rural development.

A significant enabler of evidence use has been the emergence of knowledge translation platforms. Burkina Faso has developed various mechanisms to support research translation, including the National Agency for the Valorisation of Research Results (ANVAR), established in 1996, and the Knowledge Management and Transfer Unit (UGTC), which facilitate the dissemination of research findings to policymakers. These platforms help bridge the gap between researchers and decision-makers by ensuring that scientific evidence is accessible and policy relevant.

Collaboration between governments, universities, and research institutions has further strengthened the EIDM ecosystem. In Côte d’Ivoire, the Ministry of Education has partnered with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) to create Education Labs that generate policy-relevant evidence, ensuring that research findings are directly linked to decision-making processes. At the regional level, organisations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have demonstrated the importance of evidence use in shaping policy responses. During the Ebola outbreak, ECOWAS worked closely with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and local research institutions to integrate research into regional health governance, ensuring a coordinated response across member states.

Persistent Barriers to EIDM in the Region

Despite these positive developments, significant challenges continue to impede the institutionalisation of EIDM in Francophone West Africa. One of the most pressing issues is limited domestic funding for research. Governments in the region allocate minimal resources to research, making EIDM efforts heavily dependent on external donors. Burkina Faso, for instance, dedicates only 0.4% of its national budget to research, while Cameroon allocates 1%. As a result, external donors often dictate national research agendas, sometimes prioritising areas that do not align with the most pressing local needs.

Weak engagement between policymakers and researchers further undermines the integration of evidence into policy processes. Decision-making structures in many countries remain highly centralised, with limited opportunities for researchers to engage directly with government officials. Consequently, researchers struggle to align their work with policy needs, leading to critical knowledge gaps that affect decision-making.

Another significant challenge is the availability and accessibility of data. In many cases, bureaucratic hurdles prevent researchers from accessing critical datasets, delaying the production of timely evidence. In Côte d’Ivoire, for example, administrative restrictions within institutions such as the CNRA have made it difficult for researchers to obtain agricultural data, limiting the potential for data-driven policy interventions. Additionally, weak data collection and management systems, particularly within health ministries, undermine the quality and reliability of available evidence.

Language barriers also pose a substantial obstacle to evidence use. Most high-quality research papers and policy briefs are published in English, making it difficult for Francophone researchers and policymakers to access relevant studies. A researcher in Burkina Faso noted that as most available research articles are in English, many researchers and decision-makers are discouraged from actively seeking out evidence. As a result, they tend to rely only on the limited range of resources available in French, which restricts their access to comprehensive and up-to-date information for policymaking.

As one official from Burkina Faso’s National Institute of Public Health (INSP) explained: “The majority of available research evidence is published in English, which limits its accessibility in Francophone contexts. Many policymakers are discouraged from seeking out evidence because it often requires reading through multiple English articles. Moreover, there is a lack of policy briefs and summaries available in French, making the process of using evidence even more complex for decision-makers.” (Interview, 15 October 2024)

Political resistance to unfavourable evidence further complicates efforts to institutionalise EIDM. For instance, policymakers may downplay or disregard research findings that do not align with political priorities. One government official noted that decision-makers often prefer to highlight only the positive aspects of programmes, even when evidence suggests otherwise, leading to policies that may not effectively address underlying challenges.

In addition to these barriers, the inadequate capacity for research translation limits the extent to which evidence is utilised in policymaking. Even when high-quality research is available, there is often a lack of mechanisms to translate findings into clear, concise content tailored to policymaker needs, such as policy briefs, evidence summaries, decision memos, or infographics. In Cameroon, for example, organisations such as FAIRMED have established research synthesis protocols, yet these efforts remain isolated and insufficiently integrated into national policymaking processes. Without effective translation, research remains inaccessible to decision-makers, further widening the gap between evidence production and policy implementation.

Strengthening EIDM: Recommendations for Action

Overcoming these barriers requires a strategic and multi-faceted approach. One of the most urgent priorities is increasing domestic investment in research. Governments must commit to allocating at least 5% of national budgets to research and innovation, in line with African Union recommendations. Establishing dedicated national research funds, such as Burkina Faso’s National Research and Innovation Fund for Development (FONRID), could provide sustainable financing mechanisms for locally driven research initiatives. Performance-based funding models where research institutions receive funding based on clearly defined outputs or impact indicators should also be explored to ensure that research investments are aligned with national priorities and produce tangible policy outcomes.

Strengthening engagement between policymakers and researchers is another critical step. Institutionalising evidence-sharing dialogues through national research days, similar to Nigeria’s Research Days for Maternal and Child Health, could foster stronger linkages between researchers and government officials. Embedding evidence units within government ministries, as demonstrated by IPA’s Education Lab in Côte d’Ivoire, would also create opportunities for researchers to contribute directly to policy processes and ensure that research findings are incorporated into decision-making.

Improving data availability and management should be a key focus area for governments and research institutions. Investing in digital infrastructure for data collection, storage, and dissemination would ensure that policymakers have access to real-time, high-quality evidence. Establishing open-access research databases would further enhance transparency and accessibility, allowing decision-makers to use the best available data to inform policies.

Addressing language barriers is essential to ensuring that policymakers can access and use relevant research. The translation of key research findings from English to French should be prioritised to facilitate evidence accessibility in Francophone West Africa. Expanding bilingual evidence platforms, for instance through communities of practice, would also encourage cross-regional learning and collaboration, allowing policymakers to draw on insights from both Anglophone and Francophone countries.

Finally, strengthening research translation capacity would help bridge the gap between evidence production and policy implementation. Training researchers on policy communication and developing knowledge translation hubs, such as Cameroon’s Evidence-Informed Policy Network (EVIPNet), would ensure that research findings are communicated in ways that are easily understood and actionable for policymakers. Institutionalising EIDM in national policies would further reinforce its importance. Governments should enact policies that mandate the use of evidence in decision-making and publicly recognise institutions that successfully integrate EIDM through awards, media recognition, and funding incentives.

Conclusion

Francophone West Africa has made significant progress in advancing EIDM, with increasing political will, growing sectoral demand for evidence, and strengthened regional engagement. Nevertheless, strengthening domestic investments in research, fostering collaborations, improving data systems, and embedding EIDM within governance structures will be critical to unlocking the full potential of evidence-driven policymaking in the region. By taking these steps, Francophone West Africa can bridge the evidence gap and build a sustainable culture of evidence use in governance, ultimately leading to more effective policies and improved development outcomes.