Peer-powered policy solutions: how peer reviews can increase your skills and inspire better policies

During the talk on 'Peer-powered policy solutions', Elena Ferrario, the Thematic Manager of the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform, gave an overview of how peer reviews can increase skills and inspire better policies.

Interreg Europe's Policy Learning Platform offers a peer review service for regions and cities to help resolve policy challenges together with selected peers and the Platform's experts. The peer review service is available for public bodies responsible for local and regional development policies.

A peer review is a two-day meeting focused on a specific policy challenge. Participants are carefully selected peers that share their know-how with the host, providing input and hands-on advice. A peer review offers an in-depth analysis of the identified policy challenge, an exchange with relevant policymakers, as well as a presentation of potential solutions and specific recommendations and knowledge to make better-informed decisions.

What is included in the peer review:
- Access to knowledge available within the Interreg Europe community
- A committed team dedicated to make the experience fruitful for all
- Support throughout the process: from preparation, to implementation and follow-up
- A service free of charge and free of administrative burdens (tailored approach)

Participants also had a chance to share their own challenges and regional policy issues they are working on to see whether the peer review could be a tool to work towards new solutions.

Do you have a regional policy challenge? Are you looking for new ideas or would you like to hear from other regions how they have found solutions? Get in touch with the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform and let's see if you can benefit from a peer review too!