The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) have formalized a strategic partnership to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and help translate development research into better government decisions, programs, and policies.
The two government institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on September 3, establishing a framework for collaboration in capacity development and education, policy research, knowledge generation and exchange, thought leadership, data tools and methodological development, and other forms of academic cooperation.
The partnership builds on years of collaboration between PIDS and DAP, including PIDS researchers serving as resource persons in DAP’s training and academic programs, as well as engagements with DAP’s social development and regulatory review units. These initiatives have enabled PIDS research and expertise to reach public officials and practitioners, while also allowing PIDS to learn from DAP’s experience across government.
PIDS President Dr. Philip Arnold P. Tuaño said the MOU formalizes an existing relationship while opening opportunities for deeper collaboration between the two institutions.
“Today’s MOU does not begin a new relationship; it formalizes and strengthens a relationship that has developed over a number of years,” Tuaño said.
He emphasized that PIDS and DAP bring complementary strengths to the partnership. PIDS is mandated to provide independent and forward-looking development policy research and actionable advice, while DAP brings expertise in capacity development, policy studies, and public sector innovation. Together, these capabilities can strengthen the link between knowledge generation and the capacity to use it effectively.
“Access to research is only one part of the equation,” Tuaño said. “We also need institutions and people with the capacity to find the right evidence, understand, assess it, and use it to address real policy problems.”
Bringing evidence closer to government
DAP Acting President and CEO Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian highlighted the importance of combining rigorous research with practical, on-the-ground experience in developing policies.
Sebastian noted that increasingly complex challenges—including poverty, food security, education, health, climate resilience, digital transformation, regional development, and public finance—cannot be addressed by a single government agency alone. He said these challenges require coordination across institutions, while policies must be grounded in evidence to anticipate rather than merely respond to the future.
He underscored the value of bringing together PIDS research expertise and DAP’s practical and institutional experience.
“It requires collaboration. ‘Yung experience, practical experience. Kasi minsan kailangan talaga meron din mag-mix in ‘yung magandang combination ng experience on the ground at saka ‘yung pag-develop ng model at formula (Practical, on-the-ground experience is important because there needs to be a good combination of ground-level experience and the development of models and formulas),” Sebastian said.
He also emphasized the importance of strengthening the use of data and evidence in government decision-making, drawing from his experience in policymaking where data served as an important basis for recommendations.
Building public sector capacity for evidence-based policy
A key area of collaboration is the proposed certificate course on evidence-based policy research, which aims to equip public sector professionals with a stronger understanding of how policy research is developed, communicated, assessed, and applied.
DAP Senior Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School of Public Management (GSPM), Dr. Lizan E. Perante-Calina, said the initiative reflects the complementary roles of the two institutions.
“This brings the evidence, rigorous, independent, and forward-looking research that helps governments understand complex challenges, identify policy gaps, and make better informed choices,” Perante-Calina said.
She added that DAP can help translate research into practice by working with public sector institutions to build capacity and promote institutional innovation.
“In this way, the partnership goes beyond producing knowledge. It invests in the people who will carry that knowledge forward,” she said.
The initiative is intended to create a space where research expertise meets the realities of policymaking, strengthening public servants’ ability to use evidence in addressing complex policy challenges.
A stronger evidence-to-action pipeline
The partnership also provides an avenue for PIDS to leverage its research expertise, network of fellows, and knowledge resources, while DAP’s Graduate School of Public Management provides a platform for engagement with public sector leaders and practitioners. Areas of collaboration include policy research, policy-related publications, evaluation and research, and capacity development.
The collaboration complements PIDS continuing efforts to make development knowledge more accessible through the Socio-Economic Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P), while strengthening the capacity of those who use research in government and policymaking.
For PIDS and DAP, the partnership comes at a time when development challenges are becoming more interconnected, and policy decisions increasingly require both sound evidence and capable institutions.
Tuaño described the MOU as a platform for sustained cooperation, saying he hopes the two institutions can move quickly from signing to activities that deliver tangible benefits for the government and the Filipino people.
“We need high-quality evidence, but we also need capable institutions and public servants who can translate that evidence into better decisions, programs, and policies,” Tuaño said.
The MOU was signed by officials from both institutions, including PIDS President Dr. Philip Arnold P. Tuaño and PIDS Department Manager III for Research Information Department Dr. Melinda T. Quiñones, and DAP Acting President and CEO Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian and Senior Vice President and Dean Dr. Lizan E. Perante-Calina.
The partnership seeks to strengthen the connections among research and implementation, evidence and expertise, and knowledge and action, contributing to a better equipped to make informed decisions and respond effectively to the country’s evolving development needs. ### — NMT
