How to Understand Policymaking: A Guide to Key Information Sources – From Newsletters to Personal Conversations

Key features in a nutshell

• Organisation charts, key documents, and specialised media can give you a fast, low-cost overview of any policy field
• Regularly reading key documents and policy briefs has a useful side effect: it gets you used to policy language over time
• Strategy papers, action plans, and calls for evidence tell you what policymakers actually need; check these actively rather than waiting to be approached
• Personal conversations and policy events give you access to implicit knowledge that no published document can offer; it’s perfectly normal to approach policymakers directly, just as lobbyists do all the time.
• None of this requires a huge investment of time: most of it fits into hours or days, not weeks

What is the issue?

Researchers who are new to policy engagement often ask a fundamental question: Where do I start? This question is far from trivial. In practice, that question breaks down into several more specific ones:

• How can I quickly understand policy priorities and policymaking processes?
• How do I find out if my expertise is relevant to policymakers?
• How do I learn about possible engagement opportunities?
• How do I identify the right target groups for my expertise in policymaking institutions?
• How can I make sense of policy jargon?
• How can I do all of this in a time-efficient way?

This guide provides a structured overview of the key information sources that help answer these questions.

1. Organisational charts (Organigrams)

Think about the core topics of your research (e.g., cybersecurity, environment, mobility, or health). Search online for local authorities, regional or national ministries, European Commission Directorates-General (DGs), and international organisations dealing with these issues, and locate the organisational charts on their websites.

Organisational charts are invaluable for two main reasons:

First, quick Overview & Priority Assessment: You get a rapid overview of the responsibilities of policymaking institutions. They also help you gauge how prioritised a topic is: For instance, are multiple specialised units dedicated to different aspects of the topic, or is it handled by a single unit alongside many other issues?

Second, target Identification: You can pinpoint the exact units to invite to events, request meetings with, or inform about your research findings.

Tip: Compare organisational charts across regional or national ministries, European Commission DGs, and international organisations like the WHO or OECD. If you are unsure which department leads a crosscutting issue (e.g., environmental taxation or cybersecurity), check ministries in related domains as well.

Don’t be intimidated! Browsing organisational charts for the first time can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating large PDF files. Feeling a bit confused is completely normal. Many policy professionals admit it takes them time to locate the right contacts within policymaking institutions!

Parliaments: Take a look at overviews of parliamentary committees. In many political systems, parliamentary committees mirror the portfolios of executive ministries.

2. Key documents: Key documents offer strategic insights into the priorities and work plans of governments, political parties, and international bodies. These include:

• Party platforms / party manifestos
• Government programmes (e.g., Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland’s Future; A Strong and Committed Finland)
• Strategies, action plans, and roadmaps (e.g., EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; WHO Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2027; Digital Switzerland Strategy)
• Legislative acts and draft legislation
• Evaluations and impact assessments
• Background briefings on policy issues, usually published on institutional websites
• Calls for evidence, public consultations, and calls for commissioned research (e.g., EU portal ‘Have Your Say’; Areas of Research Interests (ARIs) in the United Kingdom)
• Analyses by policymaking institutions and expert bodies (e.g. OECD reports; IPCC reports)

A note of caution: Not every measure outlined in a policy document is implemented exactly as drafted. Political priorities can shift rapidly, particularly during crises (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic or Russia’s attack on Ukraine). Nevertheless, key documents are essential for research institutions planning medium-term policy engagement activities.

3. Policy analyses & position papers by think tanks, NGOs, and associations

Scientific research is not the only source of external information for policymakers. Think tanks, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), industry associations, and foundations regularly publish policy briefs and position papers.

Reading these publications helps you analyse policy developments and understand stakeholder demands. It is well worth mapping the key stakeholders in your field. If your research covers environmental policy, regularly review publications from business associations, environmental NGOs, and specialised think tanks. You can easily map these organisations using search engines or AI tools.

4. Newsletters, press releases, and social media

Subscribe to official newsletters and press releases and follow relevant policymakers and key stakeholders on social media. These channels provide timely updates on current developments and upcoming policy events.

Whom to follow?

• Political parties
• Members of Parliament (MPs): Focus on influential MPs, such as party spokespersons for your field or committee chairs; additionally, always follow the MPs representing the electoral constituency where your research institution is based
• Public institutions: Local authorities, regional and national ministries, executive agencies, and arms-length bodies; depending on your focus, subscribe to updates from European Commission Directorates-General and international bodies
• Key stakeholders: High-profile think tanks, industry associations, NGOs, and foundations active in your field (e.g., biodiversity, cybersecurity)

5. Media & specialised news services

Monitor major news outlets and specialised media formats. Platforms like Politico Pro or Euractiv offer deep-dive background reporting on EU policy developments. Similar specialised services exist at the national level (e.g., Table.Media or Tagesspiegel Background in Germany). Check with your university library to see which subscriptions, news services, or media databases (e.g., Nexis Uni) you can access free of charge under institutional licences.

6. Policy events and personal conversations

Especially capital cities host numerous events bringing together policymakers, researchers, and experts from think tanks and civil society.

Participating in policy events is crucial for two reasons:

1. Direct Networking: You can connect directly with policymakers and peers. Prepare a concise elevator pitch in advance. Make it a habit to exchange contact details after a meaningful conversation – and follow up! Connecting at events and following up a few weeks later is often far more time- and cost-effective than organising your own standalone events without existing policy networks.
2. Accessing Implicit Knowledge: Public documents, newsletters, and press releases only tell part of the story. Policymakers hold substantial implicit and contextual knowledge that can only be accessed through direct dialogue.

Don’t be shy: Its standard practice to identify relevant officials via organisational charts, contact them directly, and request a brief personal or virtual introductory meeting. Lobbyists and advocacy groups do this all the time – researchers should feel equally confident in reaching out with their expertise.

These strategies may seem time-consuming at first, but they yield significant long-term results. Regularly reading policy documents, think tank briefs, and specialised newsletters has another major benefit: it helps researchers become fluent in policy jargon.

Tasks and resources

Researchers

• Set aside regular time – even just 30 minutes a week – to read relevant newsletters and scan key documents and policy publications
• Identify a handful of institutions, committees, or individual policymakers to follow closely, rather than trying to track everything
• Attend policy events, prepare a short elevator pitch, and follow up with new contacts afterwards

Research managers and knowledge mobilisers

• Curate and share relevant newsletters, key documents, and event information with researchers at their institutions
• Explain the difference between various types of policy documents
• Help researchers identify the right policymaking institutions and contacts for their field
• Provide access to specialised media and information services through, for example, library subscriptions

Policymakers

• Keep organisation charts, key documents, and contact information publicly accessible and up to date
• Maintain an active newsletter or social media presence
• Stay open to direct meeting requests from researchers

Sources and further reading

Department of the Taoiseach (2025), Programme for Government 2025. Securing Ireland’s Future, https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/programme-for-government-securing-irelands-future.pdf  accessed on 12 August 2026.

European Commission (2020), Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en, accessed on 12 August 2026.

French, M.; Hawkins, M. (2024), Areas of Research Interest: A Practical Guide, https://upen.ac.uk/resources/areas-of-research-interest-a-practical-guide/, accessed on 12 August 2026.

Federal Council (2026), Digital Switzerland Strategy 2026, https://www.bk.admin.ch/en/digital-switzerland , accessed on 12 August 2026.

Finnish Government (2023), A Strong and Committed Finland. Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government, https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/server/api/core/bitstreams/ad4dc8fd-afad-4b21-b7c2-c197c8e4b378/content, accessed on 12 August 2026.

WHO (2025), Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2027, https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/a64d584f-015b-471f-9d86-9ea263cfb516/content, accessed on 12 August 2026.

Do you want to know more about the policy engagement toolkit?

Do you want to share your experience in policy engagement? Do you think about contributing to the policy engagement toolkit? Feel free to contact Tome Sandevski via science-policy@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de