Bridging the gap between data and decision-making for effective reforms: a discussion in Cairo

In early April, policymakers, experts, and officials from Egypt and Europe gathered in Cairo for a three-day peer learning event focused on strengthening the use of evidence in education, employment, and training policy. Organised by the Egypt Impact Lab (EIL) and the European Training Foundation (ETF), the event aimed to bridge the gap between data and decision-making through dialogue and hands-on technical training.

Participants began by answering questions using an interactive platform, revealing that evidence use within institutions remains irregular and largely unstructured. These insights set the stage for discussions on how to build more integrated and sustainable evidence ecosystems.

Joining remotely, ETF Director Pilvi Torsti emphasised that policies must not only be well-intentioned but demonstrably effective, especially given today’s budget constraints. “Data collection, monitoring, and evaluation must be done well,” she said. This approach is central to the ETF’s mission of supporting countries beyond the EU in designing effective, evidence-based reforms.

Cristina Mereuta, ETF Acting Head of Unit, highlighted Egypt’s urgent need to align labour market demands with available skills - an effort that must be supported by reliable data. This was echoed by Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Rania Al-Mashat, who talked about over 100 ongoing projects supporting human capital, social protection, and the green transition. She highlighted the value of long-term partnerships with the EU in education and digital transformation, particularly in a world shaped by uncertainty. Robust evidence, she argued, is essential for building resilient futures.

Participants identified major barriers to evidence-based policymaking: large-scale evaluations, complex monitoring frameworks, and limited data availability. Reham Rizk, Director of the Egypt Impact Lab, pointed to institutional capacity and the difficulty of defining programmes and identifying needs as additional challenges.

Nevertheless, she underlined EIL’s progress. Launched in 2022 by J-PAL MENA and Egypt’s Ministry of Planning, EIL helps to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking by evaluating public programmes and promoting a culture of data use across institutions.

Speakers shared real examples of evidence in action. Joanna Hofman (RAND Europe) described a mental health employment programme piloted with randomised trials, and later scaled internationally. Radwa Abdelraouf (GIZ) shared a local case where an employment centre was created in Cairo’s 6th of October industrial city to connect jobseekers with vacancies. UNICEF’s Shiraz Chakera recalled a literacy initiative in Kenya, where long-term data collection led to measurable improvements.

The event also featured training by J-PAL MENA’s Ahmed El-Sayed and Mai Mahmoud, who introduced evaluation principles, including the theory of change. Ahmed stressed that effective impact measurement relies on solid programme design, clear needs assessments, and strong implementation.

Participants responded with energy and interest. If the lessons are taken forward, the event could really kick-off meaningful change. As Pilvi Torsti concluded: “This event is not just about exchanging ideas - it’s about acting on them. We need the courage to work together, to build trust in evidence, and to shape results that matter in an uncertain world.”