Conceptual framework for systemic capacity strengthening for health policy and systems research

Abstract

Health policy and systems research (HPSR) is critical in developing health systems to better meet the health needs of their populations. The highly contextualised nature of health systems point to the value of local knowledge and the need for context-embedded HPSR. Despite such need, relatively few individuals, groups or organisations carry out HPSR, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. Greater effort is required to strengthen capacity for, and build the field of, HPSR by capturing the multilevel and nuanced representation of HPSR across contexts. No comprehensive frameworks were found that inform systemic HPSR capacity strengthening. Existing literature on capacity strengthening for health research and development tends to focus on individual-level capacity with less attention to collective, organisational and network levels. This paper proposes a comprehensive framework for systemic capacity strengthening for HPSR, uniquely drawing attention to the blurred boundaries and amplification potential for synergistic capacity strengthening efforts across the individual, organisational and network levels. Further, it identifies guiding values and principles that consciously acknowledge and manage the power dynamics inherent to capacity strengthening work. The framework was developed drawing on available literature and was peer-reviewed by the Board and Thematic Working Groups of Health Systems Global. While the framework focuses on HPSR, it may provide a useful heuristic for systemic approaches to capacity strengthening more generally; facilitate its mainstreaming within organisations and networks and help maintain a focused approach to, and structure repositories of resources on, capacity strengthening.

Factors affecting African postdoctoral researcher capacity development within ‘learn-by-doing’ international research partnerships: findings from the ‘Partnership for Increasing the Impact of Vector Control (PIIVeC)’

“…Our findings are largely positive in this regard, with many central elements of the learn-by-doing concept, such as experiential learning, mentorship and cohort membership,17 all featuring strongly as supportive factors of the PIIVeC programme. Finally, identifying practical components of research capacity strengthening initiatives that have consistently proven useful would complement broader, conceptual frameworks for research capacity strengthening that are beginning to appear in the literature 34…”

“…Finally, identifying practical components of research capacity strengthening initiatives that have consistently proven useful would complement broader, conceptual frameworks for research capacity strengthening that are beginning to appear in the literature. 34 …”

Global, regional, and national burdens of intraocular foreign bodies in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2019: a trend analysis

“…Moreover, the burden of YLD rates also significantly declined, with an AAPC of -0.47. This could be attributed to following reasons, including the implementation of safer outdoor activity measures in developing countries such as fireworks management strategies and wearing safety glasses [ 23 , 24 ]; reduced outdoor activity engagement among children and adolescents in high-income countries due to addictive electronic device use; and improved healthcare [ 25 , 26 ]. However, there have been previous contrasting reports.…”

Embedding research capacity strengthening in multi-country studies in low-and middle-income countries: learnings from sexual and reproductive health research

“…We started this exercise using the conceptual framework from our multi-country qualitative study with participants from 16 LMICs [ 35 ]. Next, we revised the framework and developed a preliminary list of suggested actions for embedded RCS based on evidence extracted from existing literature on RCS approaches, frameworks, or guidance [ 3 , 39–41 ]. We then conducted a validation exercise of the framework and suggested actions using a panel of experts from research institutions that work with HRP/WHO on SRHR RCS.…”