Research-policy partnerships - experiences of the Mental Health and Poverty Project in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia

dc.contributor.authorMirzoev, Toliben_ZA
dc.contributor.authorOmar, Mayeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGreen, Andrewen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBird, Philippaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLund, Cricken_ZA
dc.contributor.authorOfori-Atta, Angelaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDoku, Victoren_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-11-23T11:41:48Z
dc.date.available2015-11-23T11:41:48Z
dc.date.issued2012en_ZA
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Partnerships are increasingly common in conducting research. However, there is little published evidence about processes in research-policy partnerships in different contexts. This paper contributes to filling this gap by analysing experiences of research-policy partnerships between Ministries of Health and research organisations for the implementation of the Mental Health and Poverty Project in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. METHODS: A conceptual framework for understanding and assessing research-policy partnerships was developed and guided this study. The data collection methods for this qualitative study included semi-structured interviews with Ministry of Health Partners (MOHPs) and Research Partners (RPs) in each country. RESULTS: The term partnership was perceived by the partners as a collaboration involving mutually-agreed goals and objectives. The principles of trust, openness, equality and mutual respect were identified as constituting the core of partnerships. The MOHPs and RPs had clearly defined roles, with the MOHPs largely providing political support and RPs leading the research agenda. Different influences affected partnerships. At the individual level, personal relationships and ability to compromise within partnerships were seen as important. At the organisational level, the main influences included the degree of formalisation of roles and responsibilities and the internal structures and procedures affecting decision-making. At the contextual level, political environment and the degree of health system decentralisation affected partnerships. CONCLUSIONS: Several lessons can be learned from these experiences. Taking account of influences on the partnership at individual, organisation and contextual/system levels can increase its effectiveness. A common understanding of mutually-agreed goals and objectives of the partnership is essential. It is important to give attention to the processes of initiating and maintaining partnerships, based on clear roles, responsibilities and commitment of parties at different levels. Although partnerships are often established for a specific purpose, such as carrying out a particular project, the effects of partnership go beyond a particular initiative.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMirzoev, T., Omar, M., Green, A., Bird, P., Lund, C., Ofori-Atta, A., & Doku, V. (2012). Research-policy partnerships - experiences of the Mental Health and Poverty Project in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. <i>Health Research Policy and Systems</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15233en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMirzoev, Tolib, Maye Omar, Andrew Green, Philippa Bird, Crick Lund, Angela Ofori-Atta, and Victor Doku "Research-policy partnerships - experiences of the Mental Health and Poverty Project in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia." <i>Health Research Policy and Systems</i> (2012) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15233en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMirzoev, T. N., Omar, M. A., Green, A. T., Bird, P. K., Lund, C., Ofori-Atta, A., & Doku, V. (2012). Research-policy partnerships-experiences of the Mental Health and Poverty Project in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. Health Res Policy Syst, 10(1), 30.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Mirzoev, Tolib AU - Omar, Maye AU - Green, Andrew AU - Bird, Philippa AU - Lund, Crick AU - Ofori-Atta, Angela AU - Doku, Victor AB - BACKGROUND: Partnerships are increasingly common in conducting research. However, there is little published evidence about processes in research-policy partnerships in different contexts. This paper contributes to filling this gap by analysing experiences of research-policy partnerships between Ministries of Health and research organisations for the implementation of the Mental Health and Poverty Project in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. METHODS: A conceptual framework for understanding and assessing research-policy partnerships was developed and guided this study. The data collection methods for this qualitative study included semi-structured interviews with Ministry of Health Partners (MOHPs) and Research Partners (RPs) in each country. RESULTS: The term partnership was perceived by the partners as a collaboration involving mutually-agreed goals and objectives. The principles of trust, openness, equality and mutual respect were identified as constituting the core of partnerships. The MOHPs and RPs had clearly defined roles, with the MOHPs largely providing political support and RPs leading the research agenda. Different influences affected partnerships. At the individual level, personal relationships and ability to compromise within partnerships were seen as important. At the organisational level, the main influences included the degree of formalisation of roles and responsibilities and the internal structures and procedures affecting decision-making. At the contextual level, political environment and the degree of health system decentralisation affected partnerships. CONCLUSIONS: Several lessons can be learned from these experiences. Taking account of influences on the partnership at individual, organisation and contextual/system levels can increase its effectiveness. A common understanding of mutually-agreed goals and objectives of the partnership is essential. It is important to give attention to the processes of initiating and maintaining partnerships, based on clear roles, responsibilities and commitment of parties at different levels. Although partnerships are often established for a specific purpose, such as carrying out a particular project, the effects of partnership go beyond a particular initiative. DA - 2012 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1186/1478-4505-10-30 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - Health Research Policy and Systems LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2012 T1 - Research-policy partnerships - experiences of the Mental Health and Poverty Project in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia TI - Research-policy partnerships - experiences of the Mental Health and Poverty Project in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15233 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/15233
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-10-30
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMirzoev T, Omar M, Green A, Bird P, Lund C, Ofori-Atta A, et al. Research-policy partnerships - experiences of the Mental Health and Poverty Project in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. Health Research Policy and Systems. 2012; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15233.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisherBioMed Central Ltden_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentCentre for Public Mental Healthen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licenseen_ZA
dc.rights.holder2012 Mirzoev et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.en_ZA
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0en_ZA
dc.sourceHealth Research Policy and Systemsen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://www.health-policy-systems.com/en_ZA
dc.subject.otherPartnershipen_ZA
dc.subject.otherMental healthen_ZA
dc.subject.otherAfricaen_ZA
dc.subject.otherResearch-policyen_ZA
dc.subject.otherMinistry of healthen_ZA
dc.titleResearch-policy partnerships - experiences of the Mental Health and Poverty Project in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambiaen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Mirzoev_Research_policy_partnerships_2012.pdf
Size:
385.1 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Collections