This case study describes the process leading up to the policy shift to adopting the Sphere policy and the buy-in achieved through the first years of implementation to explore the research and policy linkages. The case study lookes at NGO performance as evaluated in terms policy impact of Sphere through the Study 3 Joint Evaluation of Emergency Assistance to Rwanda. It found that the ideas presented in the well-documented study report gave more or less immediate impetus to the embryonic Sphere project and Study 3 was regarded as impactful, highly credibly, and was seen as a very thorough piece of work. However, the impact was also partial as NGOs evaded addressing the more challenging and radical recommendations around accreditation and regulation of NGOs. The case found that research is more likely to contribute to evidence based policy if it fits within the institutional limits and pressures of policy makers, if policy makers and researchers share networks that create chains of legitimacy in policy areas, and if the outputs are based on credible evidence that are communicated appropriately.
BUCHANAN-SMITH, M. (2003): How the Sphere Project Came into Being: A Case Study of Policy-Making in the Humanitarian Aid Sector and the Relative Influence of Research. London: Overseas Development Institute URL [Accessed: 18.07.2016]