Since 2013, Nesta and the Alliance for Useful Evidence have supported the development of more than eight evidence centres. This report draws on insight from our own experience, published material and interviews with senior leaders from a range of evidence intermediaries.
The report identifies five common ingredients that contribute to successful evidence centres:
- Clear objectives: Identifying the centre’s target user group, outcomes to work towards and a theory of change.
- Robust organisational development: Establishing independence and effective governance, employing staff with the right mix of skills and experience, and planning on the basis of realistic timescales.
- Engaged users: Understanding users’ evidence needs and working collaboratively with them to increase their capability, motivation and opportunity to use evidence.
- Rigorous curation and creation of evidence: A robust and transparent approach to selecting and generating high-quality evidence for your users.
- A focus on impact: Commitment to learn from the centre’s activities, including successes and failures, so that you can increase your effectiveness in achieving your objectives.
