UTAFITI WELLNESS

Policy advocacy and research translation

Service Overview

The Advocacy & Policy Translation service is Utafiti Wellness's dedicated bridge between research production and policy implementation. We recognize that peer-reviewed publications alone do not change policy—intentional, strategic translation of evidence into formats and relationships that decision-makers trust is essential.

This service supports government agencies, civil society organizations, and community groups in using evidence to inform health policy development, budget allocation, and program implementation. We specialize in translating complex research findings into accessible policy briefs, conducting parliamentary briefings, facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues, and building long-term capacity for evidence-informed policymaking.

Core Functions

  • Evidence Synthesis & Translation: Transforming research findings into policy-relevant formats
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Building bridges between researchers, policymakers, and communities
  • Capacity Strengthening: Training policymakers and advocates in evidence use
  • Policy Monitoring: Tracking implementation of adopted policies and identifying gaps
  • Coalition Building: Creating and sustaining advocacy alliances for systemic change

Five Core Policy Translation Services

1. Evidence-to-Policy Briefing Unit

Research Translation Service

Service Description: A dedicated unit that transforms complex research findings into accessible, actionable policy products. We work with researchers to extract key messages, contextualize findings for specific policy windows, and produce policy briefs, infographics, and one-page summaries that resonate with decision-makers.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Produce 15+ policy briefs annually on priority health topics
  • Translate research from Utafiti programs and partner institutions
  • Conduct rapid evidence syntheses for emerging policy questions
  • Develop visual summaries and data dashboards for county health departments
  • Create targeted messaging for different policy audiences (national vs. county, health vs. finance)
📋 Coordinator Role: Lead policy writer, evidence synthesizer, stakeholder liaison

2. Parliamentary & County Assembly Engagement

Legislative Advocacy

Service Description: A specialized service focused on engaging legislative bodies—both the National Assembly and County Assemblies—to inform health legislation, budget allocations, and oversight functions. We organize technical briefings, submit memoranda, and provide ongoing technical support to legislative committees.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Organize quarterly parliamentary breakfast briefings on health research findings
  • Develop and submit evidence-based memoranda to relevant committees
  • Track health-related bills and provide technical analysis to legislators
  • Facilitate site visits for legislators to see community-level evidence
  • Build relationships with legislative aides and committee clerks
📋 Coordinator Role: Legislative liaison, policy analyst, stakeholder relationship manager

3. County Health Policy Support Unit

Decentralized Policy Support

Service Description: Dedicated support for county governments to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-informed health policies. This service embeds policy translation expertise within county health departments and supports the integration of research into county health planning and budgeting processes.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide technical assistance to 3-5 counties annually on policy development
  • Support county health departments in using data for annual work plans and budgets
  • Facilitate county-level evidence-to-action workshops for health managers
  • Develop county-specific policy briefs using local health data
  • Build capacity of county health officials in evidence-informed decision-making
📋 Coordinator Role: County policy advisor, capacity building specialist, data translator

4. Community Voice Amplification Hub

Participatory Policy

Service Description: A service that systematically captures and translates community perspectives, experiences, and priorities into policy language that decision-makers understand. We work with Community Champions and local organizations to ensure that policies reflect the realities of those they are designed to serve.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Facilitate community scorecards and participatory policy dialogues
  • Translate community testimonies into policy briefs and advocacy materials
  • Train Community Champions in policy engagement and advocacy skills
  • Organize community-policymaker interface meetings
  • Document community-defined priorities for health system improvement
📋 Coordinator Role: Community engagement specialist, participatory methods facilitator, advocacy trainer

5. Policy Implementation Monitoring & Learning

Accountability & Learning

Service Description: A systematic service for tracking the implementation and impact of health policies adopted at national and county levels. We generate evidence on what works, identify implementation bottlenecks, and facilitate learning loops that inform policy refinement and future advocacy priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Track implementation status of 5-8 priority health policies annually
  • Conduct policy implementation research and rapid assessments
  • Develop policy scorecards and accountability dashboards
  • Facilitate policy learning forums with implementers and advocates
  • Document lessons learned and produce policy implementation briefs
📋 Coordinator Role: Policy monitoring specialist, M&E advisor, learning facilitator

Policy Translation Pipeline

1
Research Input

Research findings from Utafiti programs & partners

2
Evidence Synthesis

Extract policy-relevant messages & contextualize

3
Stakeholder Mapping

Identify policy windows & decision-maker priorities

4
Engagement

Briefings, dialogues, submissions, coalitions

5
Implementation Support

Monitor adoption, support implementation, document impact

Policy Translation Projected Impact (2025-2031)

75+
Policy Briefs Produced
15+
Parliamentary Briefings Conducted
10+
County Health Departments Supported
150+
Policymakers Engaged
10+
Policy Changes Influenced
20+
Active Advocacy Coalitions

Partner with Our Policy Translation Service

Whether you're a researcher seeking to influence policy, a county government needing evidence support, or a civil society organization looking to amplify community voices—our Policy Translation Service is designed to meet your needs.