Given Hapunda

246 Evidence from the examples in the focus box suggest that wielding effective influence requires sharing information that is in demand by decision-makers. Policy makers often operate in an environment where they have to make decisions based on poor or sometimes almost no objective data. The ability to provide positive results and clear recommendations based on tested solutions can be the difference between ineffectual advocacy and achieving real results. Positive results and good recommendations enable an advocating organisation to position itself as a technical expert and trusted insider rather than simply an interest group (SWASH+, 2011). Organisations preparing actionable knowledge can package it in many forms, from simple, plain language briefs to more detailed policy documents. Here we discuss two forms to packaging actionable research; advocacy plans and policy briefs. Developing Advocacy Plans Organisations with evidence of best practices have tremendous potential to change the world around them through advocacy. Advocacy is a tool for addressing human problems and bringing issues affecting mankind to the forefront of the agenda for decision-making. Therefore, organisations are in a strong position to speak on behalf of their target project intervention beneficiaries given the results from M&E that demonstrate change and impact on mankind. UNICEF (2010), defines advocacy as a deliberate Focus Box 1: Translating Knowledge for Policy Kenya From 2006, CARE, Emory University’s Center for Global Safe Water, and Water.org, through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Sustaining and Scaling School Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Plus Community Impact (SWASH+) project, have worked to achieve sustainable and national-scale school WASH services in Kenya through applied research and advocacy. The project tested a multi-armed school WASH intervention through a randomiSed, controlled trial with multiple policy-relevant sub-studies. Research results were then used to advocate for policy change to bring about sustainable school WASH services nationally. These efforts have focused on improving budgeting for operations and maintenance costs, improving accountability systems with a focus on monitoring and evaluation, and more effectively promoting knowledge of WASH through teacher training and the national curriculum. Zambia Less than 50% of houses and business buildings in formal settlements in Zambia are connected to the national water and sanitation grid. As such, there has been an increase in drilling of boreholes for water, construction of underground septic tanks and soak-aways for sanitation purposes. Different players working in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) expressed concerned on likelihood of underground water contamination. Numerous research studies were done to test quality of water most of which suggested ground water is contaminated in settlements without proper water reticulation. To this end, a ground water and borehole drilling policy has been developed waiting cabinet approval .