Economic policy is being made under unusual pressure. Fiscal space is narrow, shocks from climate, commodity markets and global finance arrive more often, and citizens expect governments to show that public money delivers results. At the same time, new data sources, cheaper computing and a growing body of rigorous evaluation evidence give analysts better tools than ever to inform decisions, provided they know how to use them and how to communicate what they find.

The Strategy and Innovation in Applied Economics & Policy Analysis Training Course brings these tools together in a structured policy cycle. Participants begin with problem diagnosis, objective setting and the identification of policy options. They then appraise options using cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness techniques, discounting and sensitivity analysis, before modelling wider economic and distributional effects. Midweek sessions turn to measuring what works, comparing experimental and quasi-experimental evaluation designs and their data requirements. The later sessions address innovation in the policy process itself, from high-frequency indicators and nowcasting to policy experimentation, behavioural approaches and strategic foresight, and close with political economy analysis and the craft of the policy brief.

Every topic is paired with applied work on datasets and policy cases drawn from taxation, agriculture, energy subsidies, social protection and trade. Participants complete an end-to-end options appraisal in teams and defend their recommendation before a mock cabinet committee.

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Frame policy problems using problem trees, objective hierarchies and clear counterfactuals.
• Appraise policy options with cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis, including discounting and sensitivity tests.
• Conduct a regulatory impact assessment proportionate to the significance of a proposal.
• Estimate economy-wide and distributional effects using input-output, partial equilibrium and microsimulation approaches.
• Select an impact evaluation design suited to the policy, data and budget available.
• Use high-frequency data, nowcasting and scenario analysis to inform timely decisions.
• Assess the political economy of reform and design strategies to build support.
• Communicate analysis through concise policy briefs and presentations to senior decision-makers.

The course is pitched at analysts and advisers who already work with economic data, including:

• Economists in ministries of finance, planning and trade
• Research and policy staff in central banks
• Policy analysts in parliamentary budget offices and legislative research units
• Economic advisers in regulatory agencies and revenue authorities
• Researchers in think tanks and university policy institutes
• Economists and programme officers with development partners and multilateral banks
• Strategy and public affairs economists in large companies and industry associations
• Monitoring and evaluation specialists moving into policy evaluation

Participants leave with:

• A completed options appraisal workbook covering costs, benefits, discounting and sensitivity.
• A regulatory impact assessment template adapted to their institution.
• A decision guide for choosing between evaluation designs.
• Reusable Stata, R or Excel scripts for the core analytical exercises.
• A political economy map for a reform in their own policy area.
• A two-page policy brief written and peer-reviewed during the course.

Analytical rigour is matched with practical application throughout:

• Short technical lectures followed by computer labs in Stata, R or Excel
• Policy cases on taxation, energy subsidies, agriculture, trade and social protection
• Team-based options appraisal carried across several days
• Brief-writing clinics with line-by-line feedback
• A simulated cabinet committee where teams defend their recommendations

Participants earn a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion issued by Vision Reach Global Consultancy once they have attended the full course, completed the computer labs and presented their team's options appraisal.