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Evidence-to-Policy Conference (E2PC) 2027|පර්යේෂණ පාදක ප්රතිපත්ති සමුළුව (වසන්ත සැසිය) 2027
Thematic Focus: Environmental Resilience and Sustainable Resource Governance
Environmental resilience and sustainable resource governance are essential to achieving sustainable development, protecting communities, and securing Sri Lanka’s future. As the country faces growing challenges from climate change, natural disasters, environmental degradation, and increasing pressure on water resources, evidence-informed policies and effective governance are critical to building a resilient and sustainable nation. Through the E2PC Spring Session 2027, the Centre for Systems and Foresight (CSF) invites contributors to develop practical, evidence-informed policy solutions that address Sri Lanka’s environmental and resource governance challenges.
Unlike a conventional academic conference, E2PC is designed to bridge the gap between research and real-world policymaking. CSF will seek the participation of representatives from relevant government ministries, and departments as observers on this conference day with you. This will create opportunities for researchers and policy professionals to present evidence-informed solutions directly to those working in the relevant policy areas. Furthermore, the technical evaluation panel will bring together academic expertise and the practical experience of former senior public-sector professionals. This multidisciplinary approach aims to ensure that policy papers are assessed not only for research quality and analytical rigour, but also for their practical relevance, feasibility, and potential to inform public policy.
E2PC’s distinctive value lies in bringing research evidence, professional expertise, and government policy practice together on one collaborative platform.
You do not have to be an academic to contribute to public policy. Practical experience, a clear understanding of a policy problem, and a commitment to evidence-informed solutions can provide a strong foundation for a valuable policy paper.
CSF welcomes policy paper proposals from individuals with an interest in, or experience relevant to, environmental and resource governance, including:
Academics and researchers
PhD and Master’s graduates
Public officials and government professionals
Professionals working in NGOs and INGOs
Industry experts and independent researchers
Professionals involved in local, divisional, district, provincial, and central government administration
CSF particularly encourages public-sector professionals and practitioners working in the relevant thematic areas to contribute their practical experience, institutional knowledge, and policy insights.
Research and Policy Themes
We welcome policy papers that address Sri Lanka’s development challenges under one or more of the following themes.
Environment and Climate
Disaster Management
Water Governance
Important – Papers should focus on clearly defined policy problems and offer evidence-informed, practical recommendations relevant to Sri Lanka.
Interested in Public Policy? You Can Write a Policy Paper!
You do not have to be an academic to write a policy paper. If you are a researcher, you can build on your existing research to develop policy recommendations. If you are not a researcher, you can investigate a policy issue, gather relevant evidence, and explore practical solutions.
Interested in contributing to policy but unsure how to prepare a policy paper? The E2P Catalyst Workshop is for you | ප්රතිපත්ති සම්පාදනයට දායක වීමට කැමති නමුත්, ප්රතිපත්ති ලේඛනයක් සකස් කරන්නේ කෙසේදැයි නිශ්චිත අවබෝධයක් නොමැතිද? එසේ නම්, ‘E2P Catalyst Workshop’ වැඩමුළුව ඔබ වෙනුවෙන්මයි!
The Centre for Systems and Foresight (CSF) will conduct a free online E2P Catalyst Workshop on Wednesday, 20 January 2027, introducing participants to the principles and practical steps involved in preparing a policy paper.
Workshop details
Date : Wednesday, 20 January 2027
Time : 2:30–3:30 p.m.
Format : Online
Participation fee: Free
Registration : Registration required
Register for the E2P Catalyst Workshop — Click Here
Important: Participation in the E2P Catalyst Workshop is a prerequisite for submitting a policy paper proposal to E2PC Spring Session 2027.
Submission Guidelines
Evidence-informed: Papers must be grounded in credible research, relevant data, documented experience, or other reliable evidence.
Original and analytical: Papers should contribute meaningful insights to policy discussions.
Policy-focused: Papers should address a clearly defined policy problem and offer practical, well-reasoned recommendations for the implementation.
Clear and accessible: Writing should be well-structured and understandable to policymakers, practitioners, and other relevant audiences.
Relevant to Sri Lanka: Papers should primarily address Sri Lankan policy challenges and align with at least one of the three thematic areas: Environment and Climate, Disaster Management, or Water Governance.
Consistently referenced: Authors may use APA referencing style or inline hyperlinks to credible sources, provided the chosen approach is applied consistently.
Language requirements: All submitted policy papers must be written in English. Conference presentations may be delivered in either English or Sinhala (සිංහල).
Eligibility requirement: Only individuals who have participated in the E2P Catalyst Workshop will be eligible to submit a policy paper.
How to Submit
Step 1: Attend the E2P Catalyst Workshop
Participate in the free online workshop on 20 January 2027. Register here on or before 08 January 2027.
Step 2: Submit a Policy Paper
Complete the online submission form and submit Your Policy Paper on or before 12 March 2027 — Click here to submit
Step 3: Proposal Review
The E2PC editorial team will assess submitted papers and notify applicants of the outcome according to the published submission schedule.
Step 4: Present at E2PC Spring Session 2027
Selected authors will present their policy papers at the conference on Friday, 30 April 2027. Presentations may be delivered in English or Sinhala.
Contributor Benefits
E2PC Evidence-to-Impact Awards: The first-, second-, and third-ranked policy papers will receive cash prizes in recognition of their research quality, policy relevance, and potential to generate practical impact.
Publication Opportunities: Accepted papers that are presented at the conference and meet the applicable editorial and publication requirements will be considered for publication in the designated conference proceedings or journal publication. Publication identifiers, such as an ISBN or ISSN, will depend on the publication format.
Professional Recognition: All authors who present their papers at the conference will receive certificates of presentation. Award recipients will receive additional recognition for their achievements.
Opportunities for Policy Impact: CSF will seek opportunities to share selected papers and their recommendations with relevant public institutions, government agencies, and decision-makers, where appropriate.
Editorial Guidance and Review: Contributors will benefit from the editorial review process and any guidance provided by CSF to strengthen the clarity, analytical quality, and policy relevance of their work.
Promotion of Your Work: Published papers and selected contributions may be promoted through CSF’s communication channels, including its website and LinkedIn, helping contributors reach audiences beyond their immediate professional networks.
Engagement Beyond Academia: E2PC provides a platform to communicate research findings and practical policy recommendations to public officials, policymakers, practitioners, industry representatives, and other relevant stakeholders.
Networking and Collaboration: Participation offers opportunities to exchange ideas, establish professional connections, explore collaborative research, and engage with individuals working at the intersection of research, policy, and practice.
Contribute to Better Public Policy
Whether you are an academic, researcher, public official, practitioner, or industry professional, your knowledge and experience can help address Sri Lanka’s policy challenges.
Bring your evidence. Share your insights. Help shape better policies.
Join CSF and contribute to the E2PC Spring Session 2027 — Evidence-to-Policy Conference.
Centre for Systems and Foresight (CSF)
See Systems. Shape Tomorrow.