Institutional collaboration is critical in building capacity for health systems research in low income countries: Experience from the Africa Hub program

Abstract

Purpose: The Africa Hub, funded by the DFID through the Future Health Systems Consortium, has utilized a network approach for health systems research (HSR) capacity building in partnership with seven schools of public health in six countries in East and Central Africa to support health policy and health systems decision-making within the region. The novel approach was designed deliberately to permit cross-organizational and multi-country learning and capacity building while taking into consideration the complexities of individual academic contexts. A baseline institutional capacity assessment conducted at the inception of the project in 2011 guided capacity building priorities for the project period. In 2015, a similar assessment was conducted to evaluate changes in knowledge, understanding and capacity in HSR over the project period across all partners. The purpose of this session is to share the findings from this approach to HSR capacity building. Focus/content: The presentation will highlight the capacity building activities that were undertaken under the remit of the entire network, and other activities that were deemed to be priorities for individual SPHs but not the entire network. Furthermore, the presentation will provide an overview of the assessment design and approach as well as a summary of key capacity changes from 2011 to 2015. We will then reflect on the outcomes of these various activities, enabling as well as constraining factors to enhancing capacity within Africa Hub, coupled with the broader relevance the network approach to HSR capacity building. We will conclude by providing reflections and experiences from other related networks that have worked on HSR capacity building, on what and how capacity development changes have happened within those networks. Significance for the sub-theme area/field-building dimensions: A network approach to HSR capacity building has emerged in recent years as a novel approach to develop HSR capacity and resilience in low and middle income countries. Networks harness varied organizational strengths and help to establish more sustained country or multi-country capacity for HSR. In recognition of this, Africa Hub – a network of academic institutions – and other networks such as CHEPSAA, ARCADE etc have explored this approach and have been experimenting how best to leverage networks to build HSR capacity. Each has had varied approaches with varying results that will be explored with lessons for future work in this novel area.