ESIC Series: Paper 3 Strengthening demand-side engagement: Recommendations from the Evidence Synthesis Infrastructure...

A persistent challenge to evidence use is the disconnect between producers of evidence syntheses and users. This gap is driven by well-documented barriers faced by decision-makers, including limited access to high-quality or relevant evidence emanating from evaluation and research processes, findings not being delivered in a timely way, insufficient capacity for knowledge translation and evidence uptake, and resource constraints.

The Evidence Synthesis Infrastructure Collaborative (ESIC) was established to guide the Wellcome Trust's planned investment in optimising the impact of research on policy and practice. ESIC Working Group 1 (WG1) aimed to explore demand-side engagement, specifically optimising engagement between evidence synthesis producers and evidence users and identifying solutions addressing high-priority challenges in the connection between evidence synthesis and policy / practice.

WG1 undertook a six-month, multi-stage planning process to systematically identify challenges, assess existing capabilities, and develop scalable solutions to support demand-side engagement. The group, comprising professionals from diverse sectors and regions, was guided by the 'double diamond' design framework, a Capability Maturity Model and an Impact-Effort Matrix. The activities comprised four stages: discovery (capability profile assessment), definition (capability maturity assessment), development (identify solutions), and delivery (prioritise solutions). Data collection included surveys, workshops, and consultations within and beyond WG1, with external stakeholders purposefully recruited by WG1 members.

Findings revealed significant gaps in data, technology, platforms, resources, processes, and systems, with most demand-side capabilities rated as 'initial' or 'developing'. The assessment highlighted sectoral and regional disparities, particularly affecting marginalised groups. Five potential solutions were developed. Three were considered high priority - establishment of regional demand-side secretariats, provision of support to evidence intermediaries, and co-production labs. Two were recognised as valuable complements - thematic repositories such as question banks and evidence-gap maps; and grants to end-users to build evidence synthesis awareness and capacity. These actions are designed to enhance capacity, foster collaboration, and promote equity in evidence-informed decision-making.

Challenges related to demand-side engagement vary significantly across sectors and geographic contexts. Effective solutions therefore encompass a broad array of strategies addressing factors including low engagement of marginalised communities; structural imbalances in research focus; restrictive paywalls; and lack of transparency in decision-making. Because most identified capabilities were heavily skewed to evidence synthesisers, support of demand-side engagement is a relatively high priority. A two-stream approach was proposed, accounting for the need to be flexible with sequencing. The first stream would focus on piloting and scaling in relatively mature sectors and regions, while the second stream would invest in building foundational capacity in underrepresented sectors and regions.

Effective demand-side engagement requires structured, inclusive, and context-sensitive strategies, with intermediaries playing a pivotal role. Sequencing and equity considerations are essential to ensure that evidence synthesis reaches and serves all stakeholders, particularly in underrepresented regions and sectors. If implemented as proposed, these recommendations offer a pathway to a more responsive, equitable, and sustainable evidence ecosystem.