This year I took on a quest to complete the Beluga ultra-marathon; 45 km of rugged trails up and down 1500 metres of rocky fjords.  I knew I needed a team so I enlisted my eldest daughter as coach, my running friend as training partner, my physiotherapist for injury treatment, a local running team to push my boundaries, and my family and closest friends as my cheering squad.

At Campbell, we are running a different kind of ultra-marathon; not up mountains but to provide better evidence to change people’s lives for the better. Like my ultra, our quest is only possible with a strong team.  

In August this year, Campbell proudly signed the Cape Town Consensus Charter as part of the Evidence Synthesis Infrastructure Collaborative (ESIC) that charts out five steps to take action on advancing this quest.

1: Building an open and fair infrastructure for all.  

Just as my coach gave me a training plan, Campbell is charting a path to an open, fair and easy to use evidence system.  We’re developing digital tools, including AI, through initiatives such as DESTINY. We are also building a methodological approach that will allow for a robust development and implementation of these tools with the Responsible Use of AI in Evidence Synthesis (RAISE) guidelines. To promote equity, we are strengthening partnerships with the Global South. With established hubs in Asia (Campbell South Asia and the Campbell China Network), we’re now expanding connections in Africa and Latin America.

2: Tackling the toughest questions

Ultras test your limits and so do policy-scale questions. Together with decision-making partners, we’re addressing pressing global challenges with up-to-date evidence: climate, food security, online hate, education and population ageing.  We encourage fit for purpose methods that explore not just what works but also why and how. We promote solution-oriented dialogue with researchers and diverse interest holders through our What Works Global Summits.

3: Expanding reach through teamwork

No runner succeeds alone. We work with evidence intermediaries like the Centre for Homelessness Impact to make research practical and accessible. We provide a range of tools such as evidence maps with user-friendly summaries that help practitioners, policy-makers and the public find the evidence they need, when they need it.

4: Actionable insights that make a difference

During my ultra, my cheering squad developed short, punchy lines to keep me going. Campbell is doing the same: we take our rigorous and detailed reports and use them to create clear, tailored briefs and plain language summaries. Working with trusted networks like the Global SDG Synthesis coalition, these insights reach the right people at the right time to tackle humanity’s global challenges.

5: Running toward better informed decisions for all

Crossing the ultra finish line was a milestone for me – but also just the beginning. I’m already planning my next run. Campbell’s evidence quest is no different. Building a stronger evidence ecosystem is a long run and like any ultra, it demands a dedicated, diverse and collaborative team.

Will you join us? No running shoes required- just a shared commitment to getting everything the world knows to solve vital problems in one place. https://www.campbellcollaboration.org/

Find out more about the ESIC progress to achieving the SDGs with AI and evidence, in which Campbell is collaborating, by watching the session recording on UN WebTV and reading the ESIC joint statement on our commitment.