Equity toolkit for policy making and evaluation

Description

This comprehensive toolkit, Gradient Evaluation Framework, provides a framework and tools to develop and assess policies to address health inequities. Developed by the Gradient Project, this resource includes checklists, worksheets, activities, strategies and case examples on the design and evaluation of policy actions to reduce health inequalities.

The evidence base on the effectiveness of policies and interventions to reduce health inequities is weak. Thus, policies and interventions that seek to address health inequities need to be adequately evaluated to increase the evidence base. For more equity resources, see NCCDH's Resource Library.

The Gradient Evaluation Framework can be used when designing new policies or to review existing policies retrospectively. The toolkit consists of two major components:

• Dimension 1: provides checklists for eight key areas to inform the design and evaluation of effective policy actions to address health inequities
• Dimension 2: provides more detailed self-assessment tasks outlining specific activities related to the design and evaluation of policy actions

Another useful resource from the Gradient Project that provides evidence on the effectiveness of policy interventions to address health inequalities is:

• The Right Start to a Healthy Life: Levelling-up the Health Gradient Among Children, Young People and Families in the European Union - What Works?

Steps for Using Method/Tool

The Gradient Evaluation Framework consists of a series of tools to assist in policy development, implementation and evaluation to address health inequities.

Dimension One: Applying the Gradient Equity Lens

This dimension includes checklists, worksheets and notes for each area:

• Proportionate universalism
• Intersectoral tools for all
• A whole systems approach
• Scale and intensity
• Life course approach
• Social and wider determinants
• Non-geographic boundaries
• Gradient friendly indicators

Dimension Two: Applying the Gradient Equity Lens

This dimension includes six steps with sample activities for design and evaluation of policies, including developing indicators to assess policy impacts on health inequities:

• Describe the policy and its related actions
• Engage stakeholders
• Focus evaluation design
• Collect relevant data (using relevant indicators)
• Analyze, interpret and synthesize data
• Disseminate findings and feedback