Available online as PDF file [72p.] at: http://www.odi.org.uk/RAPID/Publications/Documents/Tools_handbook_final_web.pdf

"….The number  of  think  tanks worldwide  has  expanded  rapidly  over  the  last  two  decades  as  government  becomes more  receptive  to  evidence-based  policy  solutions and  seeks  new solutions in rapidly changing political environments. Think tank-like organisations continue to spring up all across the world, as off-shoots of university departments, programme evaluation and policy divisions of NGOs, or independent consultancies. What they all have in common is a wish to capture  the  political  imagination;  they  aim  to  use  their  insight to have political  impact. 

This handbook  addresses  various  factors  that  need  to  be  considered  in  this  process,  and provides  a comprehensive  selection  of  tools  that  can be  used  when  attempting  to  turn  research  into  policy  influence…

…. The Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) Programme has four main themes: 

•  The use of evidence in policy identification, development and implementation;

•  Improving communication and information systems for development agencies;

•  How better knowledge management can enhance the impact of development agencies;

•  Promotion and capacity building for evidence-based policy……..."