ASPIRES integrates broad consultation and outreach into all phases of the research-policy process continuum. It achieves this integration through the following systematic engagement techniques:

• Pre-research consultations with key stakeholders in the public-, private, civil society, and development partner sectors. These consultations help define the specific issues that require analysis if stakeholder concerns are to be addressed in any policy change;
• Early phase outreach meetings to share emerging results and thoughts on next steps. These meetings help ensure that the most important questions are being asked and that results are seen as credible and useful by stakeholders;
• Advocacy and consensus building once research and consultation has generated a sufficient body of evidence and policy perspectives;
• Support to the reform process as ideas for concrete reform emerge; such support can take the form of presentations to stakeholders, fast turnaround analysis on the policy issue when requested, and small workshops to work out policy details;
• Piloting of concrete changes when relevant; and
• Evaluation of impact of changes in policies and programs that emerge from this process.