From knowledge to influence, these policy briefs reflect the HSRC’s commitment to nurturing research that informs policy, showcasing the work of NRF postdoctoral fellows as they translate evidence into actionable insights for policy change. 

HSRC-NRF Partnership Supports Postdoctoral Policy Training

In a continued effort to integrate research into policy processes, the HSRC, in collaboration with the NRF, launched a focused initiative to strengthen the policy engagement capacities of early-career researchers. As part of this partnership, NRF postdoctoral policy fellows participated in a series of focused policy brief training workshops held in September and December 2024, facilitated by the HSRC policy brief team.

The September workshop introduced the postdoctoral policy fellows to the fundamentals of policy brief development. It focused on the principles of science-policy advice, the purpose and the value of evidence-informed policymaking and the structure and expectations of policy briefs produced by researchers. Fellows also received training on aligning their policy work with national priorities and strategic goals, while also learning how to frame research to respond to current policy debates.

Building on this foundation, the December workshop focused on dissemination and engagement planning. The use of innovative formats for communicating policy insights such as infographics, animations and other multimedia tools were discussed at length. The training also included stakeholder mapping and communication planning ahead of the African Young Graduates and Scholars (AYGS) conference in March 2025, where the fellows presented their work.

This HSRC-NRF initiative reflects a growing commitment to supporting early-career researchers as active contributors to policy discourse. Twenty policy briefs have been developed for publication through this initiative and the topics cover a wide scope of research in the natural and social sciences.

See below to explore the policy briefs published by the NRF postdoctoral fellows, with the review and production process facilitated by the HSRC policy brief team. Also see some of the innovative dissemination outputs developed from these policy briefs by the HSRC.

NRF POLICY BRIEFS

AYGS NRF DISSEMINATION OUTPUTS

Unpacking Barriers Influencing Postgraduate Unemployment in South Africa: Policy Challenges and Solutions

Infographic: Distinguishing Tuberculosis from Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacterium Infections in South Africa

Fostering Research Excellence in Historically Disadvantaged Institutions Through Policy Interventions

350 Grant Poem by Kirsten Deane