To help develop leadership in implementation science in low- and middle-income countries, TDR has launched a new fellowship programme, which was discussed during a session at the Eighth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research last month.
The symposium, held in Nagasaki, Japan, featured a satellite session on "Institutionalization of implementation science: urgent need for a paradigm shift for local and global health solutions." This session highlighted the critical role of implementation science in building sustainable health systems and introduced TDR's new Implementation Science Leadership Programme for Public Health Impact.
Participants in the satellite session. Credit: Dr Shalini Ahuja
The session, moderated by Professor Kunle Alonge from the Sparkman Centre for Global Health at the University of Alabama, brought together experts to discuss the importance of implementation science and its application in real-world settings. The new fellowship programme aims to equip researchers and public health practitioners in low- and middle-income countries with the leadership skills needed to resolve implementation challenges and promote the application of research findings in policy and practice.
Dr Mahnaz Vahedi, a scientist at TDR, explained the motivation behind the programme, emphasizing the need for a cadre of leaders proficient in implementation research (IR). "Despite the growing importance of IR, there are still few institutions in low- and middle-income countries that offer comprehensive training in this field," Dr Vahedi noted. "Our goal is to fill this gap and enhance the overall effectiveness and quality of health interventions."
The programme will be hosted by Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia and the University of Ghana, with fellows beginning their studies in January 2025. This initiative builds on TDR's previous efforts, which have provided scholarships for Master of Public Health programs with an IR concentration since 2015. More than 500 grantees (with 50% women) across seven universities in low- and middle-income countries have benefited from these scholarships, creating a critical mass of researchers and implementers equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills in IR.
Professor Alonge highlighted the unique features of the programme, including its South-South-North partnership model. "This approach ensures that the programme is contextually relevant and leverages the strengths of institutions in both the Global South and North," he said. "By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, we can better address the complex challenges faced by health systems in low- and middle-income countries."
The session also featured insights from Professor Fadi El-Jardali of the American University of Beirut, who discussed the pathways to sustainable impact for the leadership programme. He emphasized the importance of adapting to volatile political and economic contexts and the need for continuous support and capacity building.
TDR's Leadership Programme on Implementation Science aims to make a significant contribution to efforts to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries. By developing a new generation of leaders promoting implementation science, the programme aims to enhance the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based interventions, ultimately improving public health outcomes.
For more information, please contact, Dr Mahnaz Vahedi.