The Policy Process Documenting Framework (PPDF): A dual-lens approach for documenting subnational food system transformation policy processes

The Policy Process Documenting Framework (PPDF) is a methodological tool designed to document how subnational food system transformation policy processes unfold in practice. Co-developed in 2025 by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT with national partners in Vietnam, the framework combines two analytical lenses: the stages of the policy cycle (agenda setting, policy design, policy adoption, implementation, and evaluation) and key food system governance principles, including systems thinking, cross-sectoral coordination, adaptability, inclusiveness, accountability, and transformative capacity. The PPDF focuses on policy processes rather than outcomes, helping users examine how problems are framed, who participates, how decisions are coordinated, and whether enabling conditions for transformation are in place. It applies a structured scoring approach, based first on documentary evidence and then strengthened through targeted interviews and validation. Version 1.0 presents the conceptual framework, scoring logic, and five-step workflow, drawing on lessons from the Vietnam pilot. The framework is intended to support adaptive learning, transparency, and comparison across provinces, countries, and policy contexts.