Policy Model

Rigorous. Impactful. Tailored.

Global Shield has a unique process designed specifically for producing policies that our country offices around the world use for their advocacy. Led by the policy team, this process – called the Policy Research, Development and Diffusion (RD&D) model – ensures that our policy proposals are high-quality, rigorous, impactful and tailored for the relevant country contexts.

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Policy model

Policy Research

Databases

Research papers

Newsletter

Policy directory

Policy Development

Case studies

Policy deep-dives

High-level proposals

Policy Diffusion

Policy landscape review

Tailored proposals

Briefing materials

Policy Research

We identify key policy questions related to global catastrophic risk, conduct in-depth research to form the foundation for rigorous policy analysis, and generate potential policy ideas to reduce GCR.

Policy Development

We select the best policy ideas and design detailed policy proposals, forming a library accessible to country offices and strategic partners. These policy proposals are continually refined based on the latest research and feedback from stakeholders.

Policy Diffusion

We identify countries where a given policy will be relevant and impactful and work with country offices to customize the proposals to their specific context. We will also facilitate collaboration between jurisdictions to share best practices and lessons learned.

Policy priorities

Global Shield will focus its policy research, development and diffusion on all-hazards global catastrophic risk:

Strategic policy: Strategic policy research relates to the policy-making processes and structures that might relate to GCR, such as policy levers and instruments, engagement and influence, agenda-setting, institutions, decision-making, and framing and messaging. Understanding how GCR relates to strategic policy making will help inform how we should engage policy and help prioritize our policy efforts.
Overarching policy: Overarching policy research to approaches for reducing GCR address the entire set of GCR. This type of policy sits above GCR, providing top-down support or guidance to identifying, managing, or reducing specific threats that have potential global catastrophic or existential consequences. Governments can take seven types of overarching policy for GCR: govern, understand, prevent, prepare, respond, communicate and collaborate.
Cross-cutting policy: Certain policy issues can impact or shape global catastrophic risk. These issues ‘cut across’ GCR. In some cases, cross-cutting issues drive or exacerbate the threats, such as the negative impact of geopolitical competition. In other cases, cross-cutting issues could be impacted by the threats, such as the resilience of food systems. We use the following taxonomy of cross-cutting issues: geopolitics and strategic competition; politics and governance; economics and finance; natural resources and the environment; infrastructure and built environment; health and healthcare; knowledge and information; technology and innovation; and society and culture.

Policy research

The Policy team identifies key policy questions relating to GCR, conducts in-depth research on priority questions to form the foundation for rigorous policy analysis and development, and gains insights into the implications of GCR on policy and the potential policy ideas for reducing GCR. Policy research can include:

Develop and maintain research agenda: We identify key policy questions or issues that require research and analysis. These questions will be prioritized based on the organization’s needs, including the criticality to our mission, need for policy research in the field, ease of research and utility to policy development and diffusion.
Conduct tailored research: We conduct research into the high priority questions. We will use a variety of techniques and sources – structured analytical technical, a thorough review of existing literature, our own databases – to identify and analyze policy implications and options.
Build and maintain databases: We establish and maintain databases to organize and store relevant research data, including research and policy ideas. Regular updates and maintenance ensure the availability and accessibility of information for future reference and analysis.
Publish policy products: We publish our research in various formats for internal and external consumption. This could include academic papers, research reports, policy briefs and newsletters.

Policy development function

Based on the combination of our own research insights, existing set of policy ideas, and engagement with other organizations, the Policy team selects the most promising policy ideas and designs detailed policy proposals. These policy proposals will continue to be iterated and refined based on the latest research and feedback from stakeholders.The Policy development function includes:

Prioritize the agenda: We assess and prioritize policy ideas based on their relevance, urgency, potential impact, and alignment with the organization’s mission and goals.
Design policy proposals: We develop high-quality, detailed and feasible policy proposals. We conduct research and analysis to identify the underlying problems or challenges that the policy proposals aim to address and recommend the appropriate policy mechanism.
Develop supporting products: We develop further products in support of the policy proposals, including explainers, talking points, case studies and other background materials needed for advocacy.
Refine materials: We refine and iterate on the policy proposals based on the insights gained from the feasibility and viability assessment and stakeholder feedback. This might involve revising the policy design, exploring alternative options, or incorporating additional evidence and data.

Policy diffusion

The Policy team works with country offices to develop tailored policy proposals. Insights and perspectives gained from developing and advocating for these proposals can benefit all country offices. We support the development of any further policy products. The policy diffusion function includes:

Tailor policy proposals: We work with country offices to tailor policy proposals for their jurisdictions, including framing, implementation, risks and sensitivities and costing.
Develop and tailor supporting products: We work with country offices to develop or tailor other products that might be needed. In addition to those listed above, we might support products such as drafting legislation, speeches and op-eds.
Knowledge exchange and collaboration: We foster knowledge exchange and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to facilitate policy diffusion. This involves engaging in partnerships, networks, or forums where policy experiences, best practices, and lessons learned can be shared and discussed.
Monitoring: We help develop mechanisms for monitoring the effectiveness and value of policy proposals, including conducting surveys or interviews, and actively seeking input from stakeholders. We also promote learning and knowledge management by documenting experiences, success stories, and lessons learned from the policy diffusion process.

Policy Database

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Research Database

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Case Studies

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