Technical workshop sponsored by WWP provided a useful opportunity for exchanging experiences on longitudinal studies focused on the analysis of social policies
BRASILIA, 16 March 2016 – Research studies of panel data are able to show the development of indicators over time (such as poverty) and serve as inputs for analyses of social policies. “Longitudinal studies can tell us the life history of people at a given moment in time or across time, showing how famiies and individuals change. They can also provide us with an understanding of social change”, according to Glenda Mezarobba, Director of Institutional Cooperation of the National Council of Scientific and Techological Development (CNPq).
In the light of this, a group of British experts met with researchers from a number of Brazilian universities and research institutions to share over 40 years’ experience in data collection and this type of research practice. The meeting took place on 7 and 8 March in Brasilia, bringing together 30 experts in areas related to research, public policies and development.
Brazilian and British experts in longitudinal studies exchange experiences and know-how at a technical workshop in Brasilia. (Photo: Marianna Rios/WWP)
The technical workshop Longitudinal Studies and their Applications in Social Policywas an opportunity for teams from both countries to share experiences, explore data sources and identify possible areas of interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
During the two days of the workshop, lectures were given by experts from participating Brazilian institutions – such as the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the National School of Statistical Sciences (ENCE/IBGE), the University of São Paulo (USP), the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FioCruz) – and international institutions such as Oxford University and the Cohort & Longitudinal Studies Enhancement Resources Consortium (CLOSER).
The presentations focused on innovations in the area such as the new techniques to enhance data collection, and addressed challenging subjects such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the measurement of multidimensional poverty.
Wasim Mir, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Brasilia, said that “This workshop has been of real importance for examining the outcomes of social sciences, health and education programs, both for our colleagues from Brazil and those from the UK, all of whom can now take away with them the new knowledge acquired over the last two days”.
Paulo Jannuzzi, National Secretary for Information Evaluation and Management of the Ministry of Social Development and Fight against Poverty (MDS), emphasized the efforts made by Brazil to produce data that is of use in the area of social policies. “Over the last 13 years, the Ministry has invested in the production of data to enhance our public policies, and this workshop is an opportunity to learn how to scale up our methods of producing such data.”
The event was organized by the Information Evaluation and Management Secretariat (SAGI), of the MDS, and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), supported by CNPq and the Newton Fund, partnered by the World Bank, UNESCO and the Brazil Learning Initiative for a World without Poverty (WWP).
Marianna Rios, WWP