TY - JOUR
T1 - Institutional capacity for health systems research in East and Central African schools of public health
T2 - Experiences with a capacity assessment tool
AU - Jessani, Nasreen
AU - Lewy, Daniela
AU - Ekirapa-Kiracho, Elizabeth
AU - Bennett, Sara
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank each of the Focal Persons from the seven HEALTH Alliance SPHs for their contributions to this paper: Richard Ayah, Suzanne Kiwanuka, Aggrey Mukose, Eric Mafuta, Mabel Nangami, Lawrence Rugema, Daudi Simba, and Bosena Tebeje. Without their diligence and willingness to be interviewed, it would not have been possible to capture the nuances of the capacity self-assessment process between the various contexts. Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge Aggrey Mukose, Chrispus Mayora, and Angela Nanyanzi for facilitating and coordinating the process, William Bazeyo, Director of the Africa Hub, and the Deans of the seven SPHs for their support. Furthermore, we express our gratitude to Michael Zierler for his thoughtful review and editorial contributions. The authors express their appreciation for the financial support (Grant #H050474) provided by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for the Future Health Systems research programme consortium. This document is an output from a project funded by DFID for the benefit of developing countries. However, the views expressed are not necessarily those of DFID.
PY - 2014/6/2
Y1 - 2014/6/2
N2 - Background: Despite significant investments in health systems research (HSR) capacity development, there is a dearth of information regarding how to assess HSR capacity. An alliance of schools of public health (SPHs) in East and Central Africa developed a tool for the self-assessment of HSR capacity with the aim of producing institutional capacity development plans.Methods: Between June and November 2011, seven SPHs across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda implemented this co-created tool. The objectives of the institutional assessments were to assess existing capacities for HSR and to develop capacity development plans to address prioritized gaps. A mixed-method approach was employed consisting of document analysis, self-assessment questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and institutional dialogues aimed at capturing individual perceptions of institutional leadership, collective HSR skills, knowledge translation, and faculty incentives to engage in HSR. Implementation strategies for the capacity assessment varied across the SPHs. This paper reports findings from semi-structured interviews with focal persons from each SPH, to reflect on the process used at each SPH to execute the institutional assessments as well as the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the assessment process.Results: The assessment tool was robust enough to be utilized in its entirety across all seven SPHs resulting in a thorough HSR capacity assessment and a capacity development plan for each SPH. Successful implementation of the capacity assessment exercises depended on four factors: (i) support from senior leadership and collaborators, (ii) a common understanding of HSR, (iii) adequate human and financial resources for the exercise, and (iv) availability of data. Methods of extracting information from the results of the assessments, however, were tailored to the unique objectives of each SPH.Conclusions: This institutional HSR capacity assessment tool and the process for its utilization may be valuable for any SPH. The self-assessments, as well as interviews with external stakeholders, provided diverse sources of input and galvanized interest around HSR at multiple levels.
AB - Background: Despite significant investments in health systems research (HSR) capacity development, there is a dearth of information regarding how to assess HSR capacity. An alliance of schools of public health (SPHs) in East and Central Africa developed a tool for the self-assessment of HSR capacity with the aim of producing institutional capacity development plans.Methods: Between June and November 2011, seven SPHs across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda implemented this co-created tool. The objectives of the institutional assessments were to assess existing capacities for HSR and to develop capacity development plans to address prioritized gaps. A mixed-method approach was employed consisting of document analysis, self-assessment questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and institutional dialogues aimed at capturing individual perceptions of institutional leadership, collective HSR skills, knowledge translation, and faculty incentives to engage in HSR. Implementation strategies for the capacity assessment varied across the SPHs. This paper reports findings from semi-structured interviews with focal persons from each SPH, to reflect on the process used at each SPH to execute the institutional assessments as well as the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the assessment process.Results: The assessment tool was robust enough to be utilized in its entirety across all seven SPHs resulting in a thorough HSR capacity assessment and a capacity development plan for each SPH. Successful implementation of the capacity assessment exercises depended on four factors: (i) support from senior leadership and collaborators, (ii) a common understanding of HSR, (iii) adequate human and financial resources for the exercise, and (iv) availability of data. Methods of extracting information from the results of the assessments, however, were tailored to the unique objectives of each SPH.Conclusions: This institutional HSR capacity assessment tool and the process for its utilization may be valuable for any SPH. The self-assessments, as well as interviews with external stakeholders, provided diverse sources of input and galvanized interest around HSR at multiple levels.
KW - Capacity assessment
KW - Central Africa
KW - East Africa
KW - Health systems research
KW - Schools of public health
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U2 - 10.1186/1478-4505-12-21
DO - 10.1186/1478-4505-12-21
M3 - Article
C2 - 24888213
AN - SCOPUS:84903185182
SN - 1478-4505
VL - 12
JO - Health Research Policy and Systems
JF - Health Research Policy and Systems
IS - 1
M1 - 21
ER -