This working paper describes how the Government of South Africa engaged with evidence-based policy making through a case study of the process of conducting the 20-Year Review of South Africa 1994-2014. The Review was undertaken by the South African government to reflect on how the country has progressed since the dawn of democracy in 1994, the challenges it still faces and how these can be addressed.
The Working Paper looks at the process of the Review to explore experiences that may be of interest for other middle income countries contexts on how evidence was acquired, analyzed, and used from within a policy space; what capabilities are required within government organizations to use evidence at individual, organizational and institutional levels; and the institutional context necessary to embed and support evidence practice and an evidence seeking culture in government departments.
