Public Policy Analysis

Fall 2018
How to Write a Policy Problem
 What is Policy Paper

• A policy paper is a research piece focusing on

a specific policy issue that provides clear
recommendations for policy makers.
Difference Between Policy Papers
and Research Papers?
 What is its Purpose?

• To convince a policy maker’s staff to advocate

changing course on a specific policy issue.
 Component of a Policy Paper

• So, If you are a policy maker, what are

components, you would like to see in the
policy paper?
 Policy Paper Structure
• Title
• Table of contents
• Executive summary
• Introduction
• Problem description
• Methodology
• Policy options and Policy Selection
• Recommendations
• References
• Annex
 Title
• The process of communicating the message
contained in the policy paper.
• Should give readers a quick overview of the
subject, focus and problem addressed in the
policy paper.
• A reader may use this as one criterion in
deciding whether to read the paper or not.
 Title
• Most titles do not consist of full sentences.
• Key words are often foregrounded in the title.
• Some writers divide the title into two by using
a colon.
• Some writers indicate the major findings of
the policy paper in the title.
 Examples of Policy Papers Titles
• Fiscal decentralization: From command to
market
• Sustainable Transportation Policies in Cairo
• Energy Subsidy Reform in Egypt: Assessing the
Political Risks and Recommending a
Comprehensive Strategy
• Sinai Peninsula and Threat to Egypt’s National
Security
Table of Contents
List of Tables and/or Figures
 Executive Summary

• Purpose of the paper

• Definition and description of the policy

problem

• Evaluation of policy alternatives

• Conclusion and recommendations

 Introduction

• Brief Background about the topic

• Context of the policy problem
• Paper Objective
• Methodology and limitations of the study
• Road map of the paper
 Problem Description

• Highlight the urgency and state significant

findings for the problem based on the data.
Objectivity is your priority, so resist the urge
to overstate.
 First Component of Problem Description

• What is the problem? identifies, defines and

elaborates the nature of the problem?
• What were its causes?
• Who is reference object? Who has been
affected by the problem?
• When and where it happened?
• What are the current legal, social, economic,
political contexts and impacts of the problem?
 Example of Problem Description

• Since the 2011 revolution in Egypt, there have been a growing cycle
and speedy increase of terrorism in the northern Sinai. According to
the Global Terrorism Index in 2014, Egypt is ranked number 13 out
of 124 with score 6.5/10 (Global Terrorism Index, 2014, pp. 8-9),
which reflects the severity of terrorism as a phenomenon in Egypt.
The terrorist attacks that took place in Greater Cairo, Alexandria,
Western Desert, Fayoum, Beni Suef, and Sharqia have seen a
decline, while terrorism in North Sinai is viewed as a sustained
terror with large presence of military base for the extremist militant
groups (TIMEP, 2015j, p. 9). Figure 1 shows an emergence of
terrorism post 2011 revolution and severe escalation of terrorism
post ousting the Islamist President Mursi in July 2013. Moreover,
this figure indicates that since October 2014, there has been
another wave of sustained escalating terrorism in North Sinai
province.
 Description of Terrorism Pattern in
Northern Sinai Post 2011 Revolution
Number of Terrorists Attacks in North Sinai (2011-2015)
200

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

Terrorism Curve in North Sinai (2011-2015)

Terrorist Attacks by Location in North
Sinai
 Number of Casualties in Security
Forces by Terrorist Attacks 2011-2015
Number of Casualties in Security Forces by Terrorist Attacks 2011-
2015
250

200
193

150

132
Numer of Casulaties in Security Forces by
Terrorist Attacks 2011-2015
100

50
45

21

0
January 2011 - June July 2012- June 2013 July 2013- Dec. 2014 Jan. 2015- Sept. 2015
2012
 Second Component of Problem Description

• What past and current policies have been

implemented to try to address the problem?
• In what ways is the current policy
succeeding/failing? What is wrong with the
current approach?
• Why it is important to consider it in a policy
paper? needs to convince the reader that the
issue in focus requires government action.
Methodology
 Methodology
✓Data collection
✓Data Analysis Framework / Policy Evaluation
Approaches
✓Any limitations
 How you will collect the data?
• Desk Analysis

• Field Research and Interviews

 Policy Options and Policy Selection
How you would propose different policy
options
- Case Studies/Learned Experiences
- Innovation
How you would Analyze and evaluate the
Different policy options
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
- PEST or PESTEL
 PESTEL

Political Economic Social

Feasibility Feasibility Feasibility

Technological Environmental Legal factors

Feasibility Feasibility Feasibility
PEST Approach For Policy Evaluation

Political Economic
Feasibility Feasibility

Social Technological
Feasibility Feasibility
 Policy E L T S E P Risk
Alternatives Legal factors Environmenta Technologi Social Economic Political Assessment
Feasibility l Feasibility cal Feasibility Feasibility Feasibility
Feasibility

First + - + - - + Medium
Alternative

+ - + + + + High
Second
Alternative

- - + - + - High
Third
Alternative
Cost-Benefit Analysis in Qualitative
Approach
Cost-Benefit Analysis in Qualitative
Approach
 Recommendation
• Emphasis on the selected policy/ies

• Implementation mechanisms and Next Steps.

 References
• APA Citation
 Annex
• Any row data
• Photos
• Treaties/Agreements/Laws
• List of interviewees
• Questionnaire or list of questions in interviews
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- 2030

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
sustainable-development-goals/
 Egypt's Vision 2030
• http://sdsegypt2030.com/?lang=en
 Policy Issues / Examples
• Renewable Energy in Egypt
• Decentralization and Empowerment of Local
Units in Egypt: According to the Egyptian
Constitution, Egypt should be decentralized in
the next five years. A policy paper is needed to
clarify the best policies required to facilitate
the decentralization process.
• Waste Management
 Policy Issues / Examples
• Street Vendors in Cairo Downtown
• The Problem of Air Pollution in Greater Cairo
• Slums as a challenge for sustainable development
in Egypt
• Informal settlement as a challenge for sustainable
development in Egypt
• Ensuring Equitable Access to Clean Water and
Sanitation
• E-Governance in Egypt