branch of government (the President, Deputy-President and Cabinet) develop new
policies and laws which the legislative branch (Parliament) may, or may not,
approve. This is often a long and slow process of debate and negotiation between
the ruling party, opposition parties, the general public, non-government organisations and special interest groups. The process is often informed by discussion
documents known as Green Papers and usually culminates in the publication of
the policy in the form of a so-called White Paper in the Government Gazette.
Although this process is political in nature, it is important to note that policymaking is triggered by current affairs and debates.
In this regard, one of the most important recent developments in policy-making
practise is the concept of evidence-based policy-making. According to Marais and
Matebesi (2013), the concept has risen to prominence internationally and it emphasises the provision of quality services that are ideologically free, pragmatic, forwardlooking, strategic, responsive, effective, efficient, and scientific.
The South African Government’s Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) in the Presidency is a vocal advocate of evidence-based policymaking and offers courses on the concept to senior government officials as key
policy-shapers. DPME believes that evidence-based policy-making helps policymakers and providers of services make better decisions, and achieve better outcomes, by drawing upon the best available evidence from research and evaluation
and other sources (DPME and UCT 2014). This includes decisions about the nature,
size and dynamics of the problem at hand; policy options that might be considered to
address the problem; effective and ineffective interventions to solve the problem; the
likely positive and negative consequences of the proposed policy option; the
intended and unintended consequences of the proposed policy option; effective
and ineffective modes of delivery and implementation; how long the policy will
have to run before positive results will be achieved; the resources that will be
required to implement the policy; the costs and benefits of the proposed policy,
and on whom will these costs and benefits fall; and the sustainability of the policy
from an economic, social, and environmental perspective. With this, DPME believes
that evidence-based policy-making is about making decisions based on knowing,
with an estimated degree of certainty, what will work to achieve which outcomes, for
which groups of people, under what conditions, over what time span, and at what
costs (DPME and UCT 2014).
According to Strydom et al. (2010) evidence is made up of a range of components—not only scientific—and it is never used in isolation. Scientific evidence
typically includes research, surveys, quantitative/statistical data, qualitative data, and
the analysis thereof. However, Strydom et al. (2010) note that evidence also includes
economic, attitudinal, behavioural and anecdotal evidence; together with knowledge
of experts, as well as lay persons, propaganda, judgements, insight/experience,
history, analogies, local knowledge and culture.
With this, and despite reservations about how policy-makers often source information with a particular agenda in mind, Strydom et al. (2010) still believe that
policies based on evidence are more likely to be better informed, more effective and
cost-efficient than policies which are formulated through ordinary time- and
18 Biological Invasion Policy and Legislation Development
517
policies and laws which the legislative branch (Parliament) may, or may not,
approve. This is often a long and slow process of debate and negotiation between
the ruling party, opposition parties, the general public, non-government organisations and special interest groups. The process is often informed by discussion
documents known as Green Papers and usually culminates in the publication of
the policy in the form of a so-called White Paper in the Government Gazette.
Although this process is political in nature, it is important to note that policymaking is triggered by current affairs and debates.
In this regard, one of the most important recent developments in policy-making
practise is the concept of evidence-based policy-making. According to Marais and
Matebesi (2013), the concept has risen to prominence internationally and it emphasises the provision of quality services that are ideologically free, pragmatic, forwardlooking, strategic, responsive, effective, efficient, and scientific.
The South African Government’s Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) in the Presidency is a vocal advocate of evidence-based policymaking and offers courses on the concept to senior government officials as key
policy-shapers. DPME believes that evidence-based policy-making helps policymakers and providers of services make better decisions, and achieve better outcomes, by drawing upon the best available evidence from research and evaluation
and other sources (DPME and UCT 2014). This includes decisions about the nature,
size and dynamics of the problem at hand; policy options that might be considered to
address the problem; effective and ineffective interventions to solve the problem; the
likely positive and negative consequences of the proposed policy option; the
intended and unintended consequences of the proposed policy option; effective
and ineffective modes of delivery and implementation; how long the policy will
have to run before positive results will be achieved; the resources that will be
required to implement the policy; the costs and benefits of the proposed policy,
and on whom will these costs and benefits fall; and the sustainability of the policy
from an economic, social, and environmental perspective. With this, DPME believes
that evidence-based policy-making is about making decisions based on knowing,
with an estimated degree of certainty, what will work to achieve which outcomes, for
which groups of people, under what conditions, over what time span, and at what
costs (DPME and UCT 2014).
According to Strydom et al. (2010) evidence is made up of a range of components—not only scientific—and it is never used in isolation. Scientific evidence
typically includes research, surveys, quantitative/statistical data, qualitative data, and
the analysis thereof. However, Strydom et al. (2010) note that evidence also includes
economic, attitudinal, behavioural and anecdotal evidence; together with knowledge
of experts, as well as lay persons, propaganda, judgements, insight/experience,
history, analogies, local knowledge and culture.
With this, and despite reservations about how policy-makers often source information with a particular agenda in mind, Strydom et al. (2010) still believe that
policies based on evidence are more likely to be better informed, more effective and
cost-efficient than policies which are formulated through ordinary time- and
18 Biological Invasion Policy and Legislation Development
517