The evidence ecosystem of the Ethiopian health sector: Current status and prospects for the institutionalization of evidence-informed decision-making

Abstract

Background: Evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) is an approach that aims to ensure policy decision-making is informed by the best available evidence. It enables scarce resources to be used more efficiently, reduces research waste, and improves transparency and accountability. Thus, the formulation and adoption of effective policies and programs depend on a functional evidence ecosystem, a system reflecting the formal and informal linkages and interactions between different actors (and their capacities and resources) involved in the production, translation, and use of evidence. Apart from identifying the main challenges in EIDM, no studies have documented the evidence ecosystem of the Ethiopian health sector nor mapped the main actors involved in EIDM comprehensively. This study explored the country’s health sector evidence ecosystem with a specific focus on EIDM. In addition, this study mapped the actors involved and their linkages and interactions in the Ethiopian health sector evidence ecosystem.