Abstract:
There is a current global push to identify and implement best practice for delivering maximum impact from development research in low-income and middle-income countries. Here, we describe a model of research and capacity building that challenges traditional approaches taken by western funders in Africa. Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) is a global health research and delivery partnership with a focus on strengthening health systems to combat neglected tropical diseases, malaria and emerging pathogens in Africa. Partners are academic and research institutions based in Ghana, Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and the UK. Fifteen other African countries have participated in TIBA activities. With a starting budget of under £7 million, and in just 4 years, TIBA has had a verified impact on knowledge, policy practice and capacity building, and on national and international COVID-19 responses in multiple African countries. TIBA\'s impact is shown in context-specific metrics including: strengthening the evidence base underpinning international policy on neglected tropical diseases; 77% of research publications having Africa-based first and/or last authors; postgraduate, postdoctoral and professional training; career progression for African researchers and health professionals with no net brain drain from participating countries; and supporting African institutions. Training in real-time SARS-CoV-2 viral genome sequencing provided new national capabilities and capacities that contributed to both national responses and global health security through variant detection and tracking. TIBA\'s experience confirms that health research for Africa thrives when the agenda and priorities are set in Africa, by Africans, and the work is done in Africa. Here, we share 10 actionable recommendations for researchers and funders from our lessons learnt.
摘要:
当前,全球正在努力确定和实施最佳做法,以从低收入和中等收入国家的发展研究中产生最大影响。这里,我们描述了一种研究和能力建设的模式,挑战了西方资助者在非洲采取的传统方法。应对感染以造福非洲(TIBA)是一项全球卫生研究和交付合作伙伴关系,其重点是加强卫生系统以对抗被忽视的热带病。非洲的疟疾和新兴病原体。合作伙伴是总部设在加纳的学术和研究机构,苏丹,卢旺达,乌干达,肯尼亚,坦桑尼亚,津巴布韦,博茨瓦纳,南非和英国。另有15个非洲国家参加了TIBA活动。起始预算低于700万英镑,在短短四年内,TIBA已经对知识产生了验证的影响,政策实践和能力建设,以及多个非洲国家的国家和国际COVID-19反应。TIBA的影响表现在特定环境的指标中,包括:加强支持被忽视的热带病国际政策的证据基础;77%的研究出版物有非洲第一和/或最后一位作者;研究生,博士后和专业培训;非洲研究人员和卫生专业人员的职业发展,没有参与国的人才流失;并支持非洲机构。SARS-CoV-2病毒基因组实时测序培训提供了新的国家能力和能力,通过变异检测和跟踪为国家应对措施和全球卫生安全做出了贡献。TIBA的经验证实,当议程和优先事项在非洲确定时,非洲的健康研究就会蓬勃发展。非洲人,这项工作是在非洲完成的。这里,从我们的经验教训中,我们为研究人员和资助者分享10个可行的建议。