Evidence-Informed Decision-Making

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched an innovative online repository of Evidence-Informed Decision-Making (EIDM) tools. This pioneering platform, the first of its kind, showcases WHO tools and external tools used by WHO to facilitate knowledge translation. It also highlights partner organisations involved in planning, managing, monitoring, and evaluating the process of evidence use and implementation.

Developed by the Evidence to Policy and Impact Unit of the Research for Health Department in the Science Division, in collaboration with the Evidence-Informed Policy Network (EVIPNet), the repository supports the unit’s EIDM capacity-sharing work. The platform complements the WHO evidence ecosystem framework published last year, specifically focusing on the policy/action cycle.

Navigating the Online Platform

The user-friendly online platform enables users to search and access EIDM methods and tools corresponding to each step of the policy/action cycle. Users can refine their searches using advanced functionalities to filter by document type, language, and publication date. The platform offers tools that span the clinical (or practice), public health, and health system domains.

Currently, the repository houses and maintains 75 tools, with continuous updates as new tools emerge. The Evidence to Policy and Impact Unit plans to actively add more tools to the repository, employing a scoping literature review and other steps.

The ultimate goal of EIDM and the work of EVIPNet is to support WHO staff and Member States in applying rigorous, systematic, and transparent methods for the creation and application of research evidence in their day-to-day work. This will enable the organisation to successfully achieve the “Triple Billion” targets: a billion more people with universal health coverage, a billion more people protected from health emergencies, and a billion more people with better health and well-being.