OECD Public Governance Reviews the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service Using Evidence-Informed Policy Making to Improve Performance

This OECD study analyses the institutional features and governance of IGEES in light of international bestpractices,offeringananalysisofitsprocesses,toolsandpeoplemanagement.Thestudy’srecommendations will informIGEES’ Medium-Term Strategy for 2020-23. It was undertaken at theinvitation of the Irish Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which supports the IGEES network,with a view to strengthening evidence-informed policy making in Ireland. At the OECD,this work helpsbuild a comparative understanding of countries’ evaluation systems and capacities to promote evidence-informed policy making.This study is based on the analysis of data collected through qualitative interviews in Ireland with seniorcivilservants involved in IGEES and related areas of the Department of Expenditure and Reform, currentIGEES members based in ministries, and policy officials in ministries. Data was also collected through aquestionnaire answered by government departments. Finally, the study draws on examples of existinginternational practices from OECD work on evidence-informed policymaking and other relevant areas. Foreword Acknowledgements Executive Summary 1 Key findings Drivers of change The current OECD study Achievements and Remaining Challenges Recommendations for the future Achieving greater coherence in the governance of IGEES Create an integrated advisory group Establish the foundations for an evidence based policy making policy to increase access and use of data Increase synergies with broader civil service renewal strategies Broaden the development of people and skills Start developing a market place and electronic community tools for IGEES analysts Explore the possibility to develop career opportunities for analytical professions Diversify professional skills to include social and applied sciences Reduce remaining barriers to mobility Leverage IGEES to further the quality and use of evaluation in Ireland Review and enhance the tools and guidelines to broaden their scope Enhance the focus on implementation and theory of change Strengthen capacity for evidence synthesis and knowledge management Strengthen mechanisms for use of evidence Further the scope of dissemination and sharing processes Continue and expand high level events Establish mechanisms for sharing at the more junior levels Envisage some stronger branding and dissemination strategy Overall organisation Machinery of government involved in EIPM Policy analysis within DPER and its connections with the Departments Structure of analytical resources within departments Statistical resources and data Role of IGEES in building analytical capacities across ministries Distributed analytical functions across the government Governance of IGEES IGEES governance structure and interactions Accounting Officer for IGEES Internal Advisory Group Policy Oversight Group External Advisory Group Assessment of the effectiveness of current institutionalisation arrangements References Notes 2 Processes, tools and people People Recruitment and progression Building skills and knowledge: learning and development Opportunities for mobility Learning and Development Framework Platforms for discussions Tools The role of frameworks and guidelines Strong focus on value for money, cost benefit analysis and spending review Broadening the analytical framework beyond the spending code and strict VFM approaches Processes The department work programmes for policy analysis The balance of work conducted internally versus externally References Notes 3 Overall effectiveness of IGEES and areas for further investment Remaining barriers to evidence informed policy making Data availability and use Recruitment and retention of staff Overall effectiveness and key areas for further investment IGEES as a capacity building initiative within the Civil Service Opportunities to strengthen the full range of policy analysis Strengthening capacity for impact evaluation Strengthening capacity for social research Strengthening capacity for evidence synthesis Building the use of results into decision making Moving from knowledge management to knowledge brokerage Communications and branding References Note Annex A. Papers Published by IGEES since 2016 This report presents a study of the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES). The IGEES seeks to improve policy formulation and implementation by providing and building economic and analytical expertise across the Irish civil service. Based on international best practices, the study analyses the extent to which IGEES has contributed to a greater use of evidence-informed policy making in Ireland. It provides an overview of the service's achievements and remaining challenges and makes recommendations for the future.