Strengthening health research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa: mapping the 2012–2017 landscape of externally funded international postgraduate training at institutions in the region

Abstract Background Sub-Saharan Africa continues to carry a high burden of communicable diseases such as TB and HIV and non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. Although investment in research has led to advances in improvements in outcomes, a lot still remains to be done to build research capacity in health. Like many other regions in the world, Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from a critical shortage of biostatisticians and clinical trial methodologists. Methods Funded through a Fogarty Global Health Training Program grant, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University in South Africa established a new Masters Program in Biostatistics which was launched in January 2017. In this paper, we describe the development of a biostatistical and clinical trials collaboration Module, adapted from a similar course offered in the Health Research Methodology program at McMaster University. Discussion Guided by three core principles (experiential learning; multi-/inter-disciplinary approach; and formal mentorship), the Module aims to advance biostatistical collaboration skills of the trainees by facilitating learning in how to systematically apply fundamental statistical and trial methodological knowledge in practice while strengthening some soft skills which are necessary for effective collaborations with other healthcare researchers to solve health problems. We also share some preliminary findings from the first four cohorts that took the Module in January–November 2018 to 2021. We expect that this Module can provide an example of how to improve biostatistical and clinical trial collaborations and accelerate research capacity building in low-resource settings. Funding source Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health.

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Mental health research capacity building in sub-Saharan Africa: the African Mental Health Research Initiative

Global Mental Health ◽

10.1017/gmh.2019.32 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Dixon Chibanda ◽

Melanie Abas ◽

Rosemary Musesengwa ◽

Chris Merritt ◽

Katherine Sorsdahl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Low Income ◽

Health Research ◽

Research Capacity ◽

Mental Health Research ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Theory Of Change ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Research Initiative ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders are a leading, but neglected, cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. The treatment gap for MNS is vast with only 10% of people with MNS disorders in low-income countries accessing evidence-based treatments. Reasons for this include low awareness of the burden of MNS disorders and limited evidence to support development, adaptation and implementation of effective and feasible treatments. The overall goal of the African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI) is to build an African-led network of MNS researchers in Ethiopia, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe, who are equipped to lead high quality mental health research programs that meet the needs of their countries, and to establish a sustainable career pipeline for these researchers with an emphasis on integrating MNS research into existing programs such as HIV/AIDS. This paper describes the process leading to the development of AMARI's objectives through a theory of change workshop, successes and challenges that have been faced by the consortium in the last 4 years, and the future role that AMARI could play in further building MNS research capacity by brining on board more institutions from low- and middle-income countries with an emphasis on developing an evidence-based training curriculum and a research-driven care service.

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Right from primary school, I liked science: understanding health research capacity building in sub-Saharan Africa through Kenyan training experiences

Global Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/1757975913515531 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 32-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Joseph Daniels ◽

Ruth Nduati ◽

Carey Farquhar

Keyword(s):

Primary School ◽

Capacity Building ◽

Health Research ◽

Research Capacity ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Research Capacity Building ◽

Science Understanding ◽

Sub Saharan

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A systematic review of existing national priorities for child health research in sub-Saharan Africa

Health Research Policy and Systems ◽

10.1186/1478-4505-3-7 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

George H Swingler ◽

James H Irlam ◽

William M Macharia ◽

Félix Tietche ◽

Martin M Meremikwu

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Child Health ◽

Health Research ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Child Health Research

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No Longer Overlooked and Undervalued? The Evolving Dynamics of Endogenous Educational Research in Sub-Saharan Africa

Harvard Educational Review ◽

10.17763/haer.76.1.1855703m42272353 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 76 (1) ◽

pp. 80-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

RICHARD MACLURE

Keyword(s):

International Development ◽

Educational Research ◽

Central Africa ◽

Research Capacity ◽

The United States ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Research Network ◽

Research Networks ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Local Research

Multilateral donors like the World Bank and bilateral agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the British Department for International Development exert a great deal of influence in international educational development — particularly in sub-Saharan Africa — both in the programs they fund and the types of research they engage in. In this article, Richard Maclure investigates educational research in Africa and juxtaposes research done by large, exogenous, Western, results-oriented organizations with research performed by smaller, endogenous, local researchers aided by local research networks. Maclure argues convincingly that research that falls into the exogenous "donor-control" paradigm far too often is irrelevant to the African educational policy context and does little to develop local research capacity. The cases of two African research networks — the Educational Research Network of West and Central Africa and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa—are presented as exemplars of organizations that promote an alternative type of research that is endogenous, relevant to policy and the process of policymaking, and controlled by Africans. Maclure concludes with a call for increased support for and development of these types of networks, and for the development of the long-term solution to educational research in Africa — the university.

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