This is a toolkit on how to utilise, synthesise, scrutinise, and engage with evidence and expertise for policy development.

This toolkit was created by Nesta in partnership with the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) programme and the Chief Scientific Adviser’s (CSA) Office at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

It will help you to understand how to harness data, information, knowledge, and wisdom (aka evidence) to inform live problems, and understand what ‘good’ and ‘better’ evidence use means in policy practice.

It will support you to access diverse forms of expertise and engage with the UK scientific community to progress your goals.

It offers a range of interactive activities that you can use to determine what evidence and expertise is needed for what purposes – and the principles, processes, methodologies, and tools that can support this work.

We call these evidence use and expert engagement capabilities.