Global Commission on Evidence to Address Societal Challenges: Systematizing best evidence use in routine times and to address future global crises

Watch a recording from this webinar.

COVID-19 has created a once-in-a-generation focus on evidence and has fast-tracked collaboration among decision-makers, researchers and evidence intermediaries. But drawing from a range of types of evidence to inform decision-making is not yet routine. In this session, we heard from speakers who bring a variety of perspectives to this discussion:

• Andrew Leigh, a seasoned politician with expertise in economics, law and public policy
• Julian Elliott, a clinician researcher leveraging technology to inform decision-making in way that keeps pace with best available research; and
• Davina Ghersi, a researcher and research funder highly skilled in assessing high-quality research.

Hosted by secretariat staff of the Evidence Commission (Jenn Thornhill Verma, Jeremy Grimshaw), this panel shared ways to systematize the aspects of using evidence that have gone well (during the pandemic and otherwise) and address the many shortfalls, which the forthcoming Evidence Commission report will address.

The Global Commission on Evidence to Address Societal Challenges will produce recommendations and pursue 'pathways to influence' to strengthen the use of evidence by all decision-makers – be they government policymakers, organizational leaders, professionals, or citizens – in addressing societal challenges, both in routine times and in future global crises.