A stepwise approach to 'targeted' health research capacity strengthening (HRCS) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

Step one, develop indicators for assessing health research capacity in SSA; Step two, assess purposively selected low-, mid- and high-capacity health research institutions in SSA (utilising step 1 indicators) to inform a 'SSA health research capacity continuum'; Step 3, design a conceptual model for 'matching' existing HRCS interventions to the various points across the capacity continuum (developed in step 2); Step 4, test the conceptual model.

The proposed project will provide the means to more appropriately match existing HRCS interventions with the 'recipient' individual/institution/research system based on current capacity at the time of intervention. The indicators (step 1) and continuum (step 2) will also provide a means to evaluate the outcome of HRCS interventions. As such, the PhD will provide a method and resources to inform implementation of HRCS interventions (T3) and facilitate the development of a more robust evidence-base to accelerate HRCS in SSA (T4)