Designing good policy. Implementing what matters. Creating lasting impact.
Policy starts with understanding the problem: the evidence, institutions, interests, economic conditions and people involved.
It takes research. Analysis. Political and economic insight. Choices between alternatives. Clear recommendations. And the ability to communicate them through strategies, briefs, memos and plans.
But design is only half of it. Once a direction is chosen, another set of questions begins.
A policy or strategy exists and implementation hasn’t followed
You need evidence and analysis before committing to a direction
The right answer is clear and the path through the institutions isn’t
Several organizations share responsibility and nobody is coordinating
A program is running and nobody knows whether it’s working
Conditions have changed since the policy was written
You need to bring businesses, communities or other actors into implementation
An economic or industrial transition is underway and policy needs to respond
The starting point may be a mandate, an evidence gap, an implementation problem, or a policy that isn’t producing what it was designed to.
We combine policy research and analysis with experience designing development interventions and working through implementation.
We can help understand and shape a policy challenge — and stay involved as policy moves into programs, organizations, partnerships and practice.
Get in TouchIndustrial policy
Workforce and skills development
Technology transitions
Clean energy
Small and medium enterprise development
Local and neighbourhood development
Economic development policy
Immigration
Whatever the domain, good policy has to connect broader objectives with the realities of the people, businesses, communities and institutions it is meant to serve.
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Every policy challenge has its own political, economic and institutional context. We start by understanding that context, what needs to change, and what can realistically make that change possible.
Research & policy analysis
Bringing together evidence, experience and context to understand the problem and the forces shaping it.
Political economy & geopolitics
How institutions, interests, incentives and changing economic and geopolitical conditions affect policy choices and outcomes.
Policy options & design
Exploring alternatives, trade-offs and practical pathways from a policy objective to action.
Policy communication
Turning analysis into clear strategies, frameworks, briefs, memos and decision-ready recommendations.
Programs & implementation
Translating policy direction into programs, actions, responsibilities, resources and workable implementation pathways.
Institutions & governance
Clarifying roles, decision-making, coordination and accountability across the organizations involved.
Stakeholders & partnerships
Connecting government, businesses, communities, institutions and other actors whose participation can shape implementation.
Learning & adaptation
Following what happens in practice, learning from implementation, and adjusting programs and policy when conditions or evidence change.
Policy choices shape implementation. Implementation exposes assumptions, constraints and opportunities that can’t always be seen at the design stage.
We help keep that connection alive — bringing evidence into action, and experience back into policy.
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When you need to understand the problem.
When you need to choose a direction.
When policy needs to move into action.
As implementation unfolds.
A direction has been set and nothing has been built. We work through what programs are needed, which organizations run them, what resources and capabilities are missing, and how progress gets measured.
Before committing to a direction, we bring together evidence, institutional analysis and political economy to understand what is actually driving the problem and which interventions could realistically shift it.
Several organizations share responsibility and none has clear authority. We work on roles, decision-making, coordination and accountability so the arrangement can actually deliver.
A program is running and its results are unclear. We look at what has happened in practice, why, and what should change — treating evaluation as a learning process rather than a verdict.
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Government departments and ministries
Municipalities and local governments
Regional districts and regional organizations
Provincial and federal agencies
Crown corporations and public institutions
International and multilateral development organizations
First Nations and Indigenous governments and organizations
Industry associations and clusters
Foundations and nonprofit organizations
Research institutions and universities
Tell us what you’re working on. We’ll tell you honestly whether we can help.
