Policy Analysis and Development Framing in the Public Sector
Define a policy problem properly, weigh the options with evidence, and write briefs and Cabinet memos that decision-makers in Ghana can act on.
What you'll learn
- Explain what public policy is and place any policy task within the stages of the policy cycle
- Describe how policy moves through Ghana's system, including the roles of Cabinet, NDPC, Parliament and the assemblies
- Write a clear problem statement and build a problem tree that separates root causes from symptoms
- Gather and judge evidence from official statistics, research, administrative data and citizen input
- Map stakeholders on a power-interest grid and plan how to engage each group
- Generate realistic policy options and appraise them with cost-benefit analysis, multi-criteria analysis and an equity check
- Draft a policy brief and a Cabinet memo that lead with the recommendation and stand up to scrutiny
- Build an implementation plan with a results framework for monitoring and evaluating a policy
Who this course is for
- Policy officers and planning officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies
- Staff of PPME and research units who draft policy papers, briefs and Cabinet memos
- Directors and deputy directors who review and sign off policy submissions
- Development planning officers and coordinating directors in MMDAs
- Researchers and civil society staff who want their evidence to reach decision-makers
Course content
8 sections · 42 lessons · 6h 47mModule 0: Start here 3 lessons · 15 min
Module 1: Public policy and the policy cycle 5 lessons · 45 min
Module 2: Ghana's policy environment and its stakeholders 6 lessons · 53 min
Module 3: Framing the problem and finding the evidence 6 lessons · 55 min
Module 4: Generating and appraising policy options 6 lessons · 59 min
Module 5: Writing policy briefs and Cabinet memos 6 lessons · 56 min
Module 6: Consultation, implementation and M&E 6 lessons · 59 min
Final module: Putting it to work 4 lessons · 1h 5m
Before you start
- Good working English and some experience of office work in the public sector or a related organisation
- No background in economics is needed; the calculations use simple arithmetic
- A live or recent policy issue from your own work will help you get the most from the activities
About this course
Most policy papers that die on a director's desk were not killed by politics. They died because the problem was never clearly defined, the options were a list of wishes, and the reader could not find the recommendation until page nine. This course fixes that.
It is written for policy officers, planning officers, researchers and directors in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and for staff of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies who draft bye-laws and plans. It follows the way policy is actually made in Ghana: from an issue that catches a Minister's attention, through the Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, stakeholder meetings, the Cabinet memo, Parliament or the Assembly, and then the hard part, implementation.
One worked example runs through the whole course. A fictional urban assembly, the Densu Municipal Assembly, is drowning in plastic waste: choked drains, flooded markets and angry residents. You will follow its policy team as they define the problem, build a problem tree, gather evidence, map the stakeholders, compare a ban, a levy and a collection scheme using cost-benefit and multi-criteria analysis, write the brief, consult the traders and plan the monitoring.
Every module gives you something to reuse at work: a problem statement template, a power-interest grid, an options scoring sheet, a regulatory impact checklist, a policy brief structure with sample wording and an implementation and M&E plan. Two branching scenarios test your judgement when the evidence and the politics pull in different directions.
You finish with a personal action plan built around a live policy issue in your own institution, and a certificate once you pass the final assessment.
Your instructor
SkillsPillar Faculty
Practitioners and trainers in strategy, public service, enterprise and workplace compliance
SkillsPillar courses are written by practitioners who have trained graduates, managers, public servants and business owners across Ghana. Every course is built around real situations, practical tools and activities that test judgement, not memory.
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Frequently asked
How do I pay for a course?
Pay securely with MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash, AT Money, Visa or Mastercard through Hubtel. You get access straight after payment.
How long do I have access?
For life. Once you enrol, the course stays in your account and you can learn at your own pace, including any updates we make.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. Finish every lesson in a course and a certificate is issued automatically. Each one has a QR code and a public link employers can use to check it.
Can I learn on my phone?
Yes. Everything works on a phone, tablet or computer, and your progress follows you between devices.
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