Two new collaboration projects to receive our support in 2023-2024

We are pleased to announce the final selection of the two projects that will be receiving our funding and support via our Impact Collaboration Programme. Open between November 2022 and February 2023, the call received high quality proposals in a wide range of subjects, from sustainable development to migration and human rights solutions.A dedicated committee of experts took part in the decision-making process:

• Kristiann Allen, Associate Director at the Policy and International Engagement at Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, University of Auckland, and Executive Secretary at INGSA
• Ronald Jackson, Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction, Recovery for Building Resilience, UNDP
• Marianne Kettunen, Policy expert and advisor, formerly at the the Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs (TESS)
• Cyriaque Sendashonga, Ad-Interim Director at the Luc Hoffmann Institute

As a result of the process, we are excited to announce the following projects, which will receive a grant of max. CHF 60,000 each along with tailored advice and support by the GSPI team. The two projects will start in 2023 and produce actionable outputs to each address a specific science-policy issue over the next 12 months.

1. Supporting the routine use of evidence during the health policy-making process: a pilot project of World Health Organization checklist

• World Health Organization, Science Division, Research for Health Department, Evidence to Policy and Impact Unit
• University College London (UCL), Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Coordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre)

Science is key to informing health policy and practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into the limelight the need to strengthen and institutionalise evidence-informed policy-making (EIPM) and to establish sustainable, multisectoral collaboration for health policy. Still, little guidance is available to support countries in this endeavour. Institutionalisation of evidence into policy-making is different from simply establishing a team or a service, it entails sustaining efforts so that evidence is being routinely used in policy development and implementation.

This project aims to pilot the application of a new WHO guidance, an EIPM institutionalisation checklist. This practical tool aims to assist countries in establishing an institutionalisation process and will be piloted in two trial countries with diverse geographical locations and EIPM institutionalisation stages. Researchers will be analysing the needs and barriers to institutionalisation in both countries in consultation with national stakeholders.  The results of the project will enable the full deployment of WHO EIPM guidance in any member-states committed to put evidence at the centre of their health policies.

2. Equitable access to outer space: specifying new regulatory needs for radio spectrum management

• EPFL, Space Center
• International Telecommunication Union, Radiocommunication Bureau, Space Services Department

Space projects using non-geostationary-satellite orbit (NGSO) are currently booming, driven by rapid technological innovations and commercialisation since 2015. However, the increasing competition in the NGSO, particularly at low-Earth-orbit (LEO), raises concerns among developing and least developed countries about their access to radio spectrum. This finite resource in Earth’s orbit is critical for successful operations of all satellite systems.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) governs the allocation of radio spectrum and distributes radio frequency bands on a first-come-first-served basis through the ‘ITU Radio Regulations’, an international treaty signed by 193 Member States. Due to the rapid increase in satellite projects, the ITU now faces challenges to ensure fair access to radio frequency among developing and least developed countries.

This project aims to provide evidence-based insights through an analysis of existing trends and national strategies in terms of space infrastructure. This will inform the ITU about the specification of new regulatory needs in radio spectrum management. Addressing this gap is urgent to safeguard enough space resources for developing or least developed countries who are latecomers in the space sector.‍

Cover image credits: ESA/Hubble & NASA, C. Kilpatrick & Adobe Stock