GEH Montebello RetreatFebruary 2005

Establishing Knowledge Translation Platforms

The Zambian Experience

by

Joseph M. Kasonde, MD, Executive Director of ZAMFOHREmily Di Sante, MA, Research Associate

Zambia Forum for Health Research, Lusaka, Zambia

Presented atThe AHPSR/IDRC Conference:

“From Mexico to Mali: Taking Stock of Achievements in Health Policy and Systems Research”

Nyon, Switzerland, 25-27 May 2008

“In order to facilitate the uptake of research findings it is important to bridge the gap between producers and users of research (particularly policy makers).”

Report of the Task Force on Health Systems Research, March 2005, pg. 11.

Health Policy EnvironmentStrategic Options for Knowledge TranslationZambia Forum for Health Research Lessons Learned and the Way Forward

National Health Research Policy National Health Research Conference

2007 Human Resources for Health Research

Conference, June 2007 Human Resources for Health Research

Workshop, February 2008

Fig. 2 Models for linking research to action

 

Lavis, Lomas, Hamid, et al. “Assessing country-level efforts to link research to action.” Bulletin of the WHO. August 2006. p. 622.

Producers or

Purveyors of

Research

Research Users

Producers or

Purveyors of

Research

Research Users

Producers or

Purveyors of

Research

One group of research

users

Producers of

Purveyors of

Research

Research

Users

Knowledge Translation Platforms

Model A: Push efforts by producers or purveyors

Model B: User pull efforts

Model C: Exchange efforts Model D: Integrated efforts

The Zambia Forum for Health Research

Strengthening the Capacity to Undertakeand Utilize Research and Evidence

in Health Policy and Practice

Vision: an environment in which health research evidence forms the basis for policy and practice, leading to improved health.

Mission: to contribute to the improvement of the health status of the Zambian population through coordinated and responsive health research and evidence.

Vision and Mission

Facilitating the Flow of Knowledge

ZAMFOHR Objectives

With a focus on KM and KT, ZAMFOHR will:

Harvest existing research - published and grey Create a Database of Zambian research/ers Identify needs, priorities of both researchers and research-users Communicate results to decision-makers Link, network, brokerOffer training courses: systematic reviews, policy briefs and other knowledge translation techniques

Towards a Knowledge Translation Institute

manage

translate

harvest

identify

train

package

link

broker

Adding Value to Existing Initiatives

ZAMFOHR

MoH

Providers

Institutes

Private Sector

Universities

FBOs

CPs

Civil Society

Researchers

Media

KT is the most urgent task for researchers and policymakers

The process of utilizing research evidence in policy formulation is complex and needs further research

ZAMFOHR’s focus on the early stages of KT (database and website) is a key component of the use of research evidence in policy formation

For ZAMFOHR: to further develop the database and to produce policy briefs and systematic reviews on a regular basis and involving/targeting the three key stakeholders (researchers, policymakers, the community)

Research is not complete until it has been published

and used !