Policy Preparedness and Comparable Evidence in Multilateral Drug Policy: Governing Access to Research for Informed Decision-Making

This presentation examines the complex relationship between evidence and policy-making in the field of drug policy, with a particular focus on multilateral governance contexts. It highlights how political priorities, institutional capacity, and data infrastructures shape the use of evidence in decision-making processes. The analysis identifies key barriers, including sectoral fragmentation, institutional silos, politicisation, and unequal access to data and analytical resources. It also shows that, despite strong monitoring systems on drug use, harms, and service coverage, evidence does not automatically translate into policy action. The presentation argues that policy-ready evidence requires improved transparency, better access to existing data, and the development of governance arrangements that enhance cross-sector coordination. It calls for strengthening evidence-informed decision-making through more integrated and accessible research ecosystems.