Use of Personal stories to shape public policy

APSP conducts research to strengthen knowledge generation and knowledge enhancement in the region. We conduct research that promotes the generation of knowledge and evidence to inform social policy in general and social protection in particular. The evidence we generate is used for strengthening our advocacy with policy and decision-makers. One of the foundations of our work is to simplify the knowledge we generate into policy briefs to make t accessible and persuasive to policymakers. The value of research in improving service delivery cannot be overemphasized. We, therefore, conduct action research to generate evidence for policy and practice. Research also contributes to new approaches and interventions in our work.

We believe that personal stories are a major catalyst of change. We promote the use of powerful personal stories to strengthen our evidence generation as well as for social transformation. We recognize that decision-makers are sometimes far removed from the realities they seek to address.  There is a very strong link between policy and our realities, our lives, our people, our schools, our communities, our institutions. We use personal stories to strengthen citizen participation in shaping public policy. We build the capacities of our members and communities to connect these stories to collective social, economic, and political issues. Through our stories, we seek social and political transformation as well as democracy and justice.