A new methodology for assessing health policy and systems research and analysis capacity in African universities

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dc.contributor.authorLê, Gillian
dc.contributor.authorMirzoev, Tolib
dc.contributor.authorOrgill, Marsha
dc.contributor.authorErasmus, Ermin
dc.contributor.authorLehmann, Uta
dc.contributor.authorOkeyo, Stephen
dc.contributor.authorGoudge, Jane
dc.contributor.authorMaluka, Stephen
dc.contributor.authorUzochukwu, Benjamin
dc.contributor.authorAikins, Moses
dc.contributor.authorde Savigny, Don
dc.contributor.authorTomson, Goran
dc.contributor.authorGilson, Lucy
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-30T04:11:33Z
dc.date.available2015-07-30T04:11:33Z
dc.date.issued2014-10-08
dc.date.updated2015-01-15T17:59:07Z
dc.description.abstractAbstract Background The importance of health policy and systems research and analysis (HPSR + A) has been increasingly recognised, but it is still unclear how most effectively to strengthen the capacity of the different organisations involved in this field. Universities are particularly crucial but the expansive literature on capacity development has little to offer the unique needs of HPSR + A activity within universities, and often overlooks the pivotal contribution of capacity assessments to capacity strengthening. Methods The Consortium for Health Policy and Systems Analysis in Africa 2011–2015 designed and implemented a new framework for capacity assessment for HPSR + A within universities. The methodology is reported in detail. Results Our reflections on developing and conducting the assessment generated four lessons for colleagues in the field. Notably, there are currently no published capacity assessment methodologies for HPSR + A that focus solely on universities – we report a first for the field to initiate the dialogue and exchange of experiences with others. Second, in HPSR + A, the unit of assessment can be a challenge, because HPSR + A groups within universities tend to overlap between academic departments and are embedded in different networks. Third, capacity assessment experience can itself be capacity strengthening, even when taking into account that doing such assessments require capacity. Conclusions From our experience, we propose that future systematic assessments of HPSR + A capacity need to focus on both capacity assets and needs and assess capacity at individual, organisational, and systems levels, whilst taking into account the networked nature of HPSR + A activity. A genuine partnership process between evaluators and those participating in an assessment can improve the quality of assessment and uptake of results in capacity strengthening.
dc.identifier.apacitationLê, G., Mirzoev, T., Orgill, M., Erasmus, E., Lehmann, U., Okeyo, S., ... Gilson, L. (2014). A new methodology for assessing health policy and systems research and analysis capacity in African universities. <i>Health Research Policy and Systems</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13630en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationLê, Gillian, Tolib Mirzoev, Marsha Orgill, Ermin Erasmus, Uta Lehmann, Stephen Okeyo, Jane Goudge, et al "A new methodology for assessing health policy and systems research and analysis capacity in African universities." <i>Health Research Policy and Systems</i> (2014) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13630en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationLê, G., Mirzoev, T., Orgill, M., Erasmus, E., Lehmann, U., Okeyo, S., ... & Gilson, L. (2014). A new methodology for assessing health policy and systems research and analysis capacity in African universities. Health Research Policy and Systems, 12(1), 59.
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Lê, Gillian AU - Mirzoev, Tolib AU - Orgill, Marsha AU - Erasmus, Ermin AU - Lehmann, Uta AU - Okeyo, Stephen AU - Goudge, Jane AU - Maluka, Stephen AU - Uzochukwu, Benjamin AU - Aikins, Moses AU - de Savigny, Don AU - Tomson, Goran AU - Gilson, Lucy AB - Abstract Background The importance of health policy and systems research and analysis (HPSR + A) has been increasingly recognised, but it is still unclear how most effectively to strengthen the capacity of the different organisations involved in this field. Universities are particularly crucial but the expansive literature on capacity development has little to offer the unique needs of HPSR + A activity within universities, and often overlooks the pivotal contribution of capacity assessments to capacity strengthening. Methods The Consortium for Health Policy and Systems Analysis in Africa 2011–2015 designed and implemented a new framework for capacity assessment for HPSR + A within universities. The methodology is reported in detail. Results Our reflections on developing and conducting the assessment generated four lessons for colleagues in the field. Notably, there are currently no published capacity assessment methodologies for HPSR + A that focus solely on universities – we report a first for the field to initiate the dialogue and exchange of experiences with others. Second, in HPSR + A, the unit of assessment can be a challenge, because HPSR + A groups within universities tend to overlap between academic departments and are embedded in different networks. Third, capacity assessment experience can itself be capacity strengthening, even when taking into account that doing such assessments require capacity. Conclusions From our experience, we propose that future systematic assessments of HPSR + A capacity need to focus on both capacity assets and needs and assess capacity at individual, organisational, and systems levels, whilst taking into account the networked nature of HPSR + A activity. A genuine partnership process between evaluators and those participating in an assessment can improve the quality of assessment and uptake of results in capacity strengthening. DA - 2014-10-08 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1186/1478-4505-12-59 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - Health Research Policy and Systems LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - A new methodology for assessing health policy and systems research and analysis capacity in African universities TI - A new methodology for assessing health policy and systems research and analysis capacity in African universities UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13630 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13630
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1478-4505-12-59
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationLê G, Mirzoev T, Orgill M, Erasmus E, Lehmann U, Okeyo S, et al. A new methodology for assessing health policy and systems research and analysis capacity in African universities. Health Research Policy and Systems. 2014; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13630.en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066en
dc.publisher.departmentHealth Economics Uniten_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 License*
dc.rights.holderLê et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0*
dc.sourceHealth Research Policy and Systemsen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://www.health-policy-systems.com/
dc.subject.otherHealth Systemsen_ZA
dc.subject.otherPolicy Researchen_ZA
dc.titleA new methodology for assessing health policy and systems research and analysis capacity in African universities
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetype
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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