Narrowing the gap between research and policy: Using rapid evaluation during the COVID-19 crisis

An evidence base is vital to ensure well-informed policies with systematic processes.1,2 However, A research-to-policy gap exists that is widened by the discrepancy between the extensive time it takes to conduct conventional academic research and the short timescale over which policy-makers are often required to make decisions.2 This is especially concerning in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, that demanded an avalanche of data, analysis, and interpretation to be provided over a very short period of time. Rapid evaluation can be used to generate research-based evidence under pressure to inform decision-making and policy. Existing literature clearly details the steps involved in conducting rapid evaluation3; yet this literature contains little practical knowledge about how best to carry out such research. In this article, we reflect upon the practical implementation of rapid evaluation for an urgent project during the crisis of COVID-19.4