across oecd member countries including the ones of similar scale to lithuania it is a sound practice for ministries to have inhouse or externally an analytical staff who can use this evidence to inform policy and who can knowledgeably broker education research for example in the estonian ministry of education and research a professional staff of nine analysts focuses on providing policyinforming data analysis and research and in translating external research findings to local needs their work supports the development of legislation regulations strategic plans and the design of programmes and the evaluation of existing programmes