What to expect from our policy resources

A streamlined approach to more inclusive, higher impact policies — designed for busy policymakers and regulators.

Genesis of our tools and resources

UNCDF’s advice and technical support to governments has always been a collaborative process. We work in partnership with policymakers and regulators to bring their priorities to life while ensuring change is sustainable and aligned with best practice.

Traditionally, we have relied on in-person engagement and in-country support. However, as demand from governments grew and we began to work across more markets, we needed to innovate our approach to providing wide-scale advice and assistance. The idea of this site and its resources emerged from a simple concept: make UNCDF technical resources available to partners at any time, across any channel.

Naturally this meant exploring how we could create a digital presence that worked in tandem with our in-person engagement. It also makes our work with regulators and policymakers more collaborative and transparent. The effort required to build high quality, useful tools also meant they needed to systematic and evidence-based. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 certainly accelerated our thinking and created an urgency to develop an approach that did not rely on being in-person.

Our goal is to empower policymakers and regulators to participate more fully in each step of the policy design process. International experts often have good advice and perspective, but they are not responsible for the outcomes and impact of change. We hope our tools are used as a medium for dialogue and debate with experts and advisors so proportionate, enabling regulations and policies are implemented in a timely fashion.

How our policy resources work

Our resources provide a simple and comprehensive structure for policymakers, regulators, and development partners to work together. This is even more important for complex issues like financial inclusion, digital finance, and inclusive digital economies.

The resources draw from UNCDF’s years of experience working in tandem with governments on enabling policy change. They are made available here to collaborate more effectively with government authorities and also to provide more transparent about how we apply our technical assistance.

Our resources are:

Practical
Adaptable to the local context
Intended to complement existing processes by contributing suggested structures, focus areas, and templates
Designed to be useful to governments

They do not propose a new model for policymaking and regulatory development — we respect that each government institution will have its own process.

We are not precious about how our resources are used. Please adapt them as needed (and tell us what you did).

Guides

Guides sequence a selection of tools to help you achieve a larger objective. Guides can focus on a stage (e.g., identify policy opportunities) or a topic (e.g., regional harmonistion) related to the policymaking process.

The guides are presented in a suggested sequence that parallels a logical approach to policy and regulatory design.

For example, if you are starting from the very beginning of the policy or regulatory development process, then you may go to “Identify policy opportunities” first.

Or, if you’re ready to consult with stakeholders, you might start with our guide “Consult with stakeholders”.

Tools

Tools can help you perform specific tasks faster and more inclusively. They typically include downloadable templates and worksheets.

Tools can be accessed both from the relevant guides and also on the main policy tools webpage. They can be used independently or as part of a sequence with other tools and resources.

We want to hear from you

We hope our resources help make it easier to design and implement policies and regulations that prioritise women, rural communities, migrants, and other marginalised groups without sacrificing growth or innovation.

If you have suggestions, questions, or would like support with implementing our resources, please feel free to contact us. Your feedback is critical to helping us update and improve our work. Thank you in advance!