{"id":168,"date":"2021-02-09T07:17:23","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T07:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/national-performance-framework\/?p=168"},"modified":"2021-02-10T07:43:31","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T07:43:31","slug":"how-to-solve-a-problem-like-policy-for-outcomes-or-outcomes-focused-policy-making-in-scotland-a-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/national-performance-framework\/2021\/02\/09\/how-to-solve-a-problem-like-policy-for-outcomes-or-outcomes-focused-policy-making-in-scotland-a-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to solve a problem like policy for outcomes. Or ‘Outcomes-focused policy making in Scotland: A guide’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Almost exactly a year ago, on 13 February 2020, we sat down in St Andrews House with some lovely folks from Bridge 47, the IDEAS network, SDG Network Scotland, Scotland\u2019s International Development Alliance and Oxfam Scotland.<\/p>\n

The lovely folks had a proposal. Did we want to work with them to develop guidance to help policy makers work with the National Performance Framework (NPF) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?<\/p>\n

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Well, of course we did!<\/h3>\n

At that point, of course, we had no idea what the rest of 2020 would bring. And that our initial plans to work with policy colleagues to develop the guidance would need to be re-thought.<\/p>\n

So, our wee policy making guide has taken a little bit longer to create than originally anticipated. And it wasn’t quite the co-design process we’d imagined. But, thanks to some amazing work by Bridge 47 colleagues, we now have something we\u2019re very proud of<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Why is it important?<\/h3>\n

Policy is a mechanism for creating change. To achieve the National Outcomes, our policy making must be inclusive and take a holistic view of systemic problems.<\/p>\n

What’s the guide for?<\/h3>\n

We weren’t looking to create a comprehensive guide to policy making. That would be a task of Herculean properties. And anyway, we already have guidance for much of the policy development process. Instead, the guide aims to fill what was a bit of a gap in the existing guidance – developing policy that supports the National Outcomes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The guide will be useful at any stage of the policy process. But it\u2019s particularly effective in the early stages of policy development, for example, when reviewing existing policy, defining the problem and setting outcomes.<\/p>\n

What’s in the guide?<\/h3>\n

We’ve split the guide into two parts. The first part is a general overview of the SDGs and the NPF and how they’re interlinked.<\/p>\n

The second part uses a Global Citizenship Education approach, with practical activities to apply the NPF and SDGs in the policy making process, in an inclusive and reflective way. It’s an approach that can help us step back from business as usual and develop a shared engagement with the SDGs and the NPF.<\/p>\n

The guide also explains how a Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) approach can help ensure that policy making is joined up.<\/p>\n

The SDGs, the NPF and PCSD are not new. However, their delivery and the systems thinking that underpin them is not straightforward and depend heavily on building shared commitment, enthusiasm and drive. Our guide aims to support that process.<\/p>\n

And who\u2019s the guide for?<\/h3>\n

We designed the guide with the Scottish Government\u2019s policy profession in mind. The policy profession encompasses many roles in government, and makes up approximately 50% of the Scottish Government workforce.<\/p>\n

Like the other professions in the civil service, the policy profession has a competency framework which sets out the skills needed to operate effectively. The Scottish Government has adapted the Civil Service Policy Profession Standards framework to reflect our distinctive Scottish Approach<\/a> to policy making.<\/p>\n

These standards are supported by a digital curriculum – combining formal learning and best practice guidance for each stage of policy development. The guide now forms part of that curriculum.<\/p>\n

And, actually, most civil servants work in policy making organisations or organisations that mix policy with operational delivery. The guide is relevant to all of us in government.<\/p>\n

Beyond government, the overall approach and the practical exercises featured in the guide can be helpful in many contexts.<\/p>\n

What next?<\/h3>\n

We’ll continue to develop the guide – taking on feedback from policy colleagues who’ve used it. If you try out the guide, please let us know what you think of it<\/a>!<\/p>\n

We’re also developing additional resources to compliment the guide, including case studies and a community of practice.<\/p>\n

Where can I find out more?<\/h3>\n