An evaluation of the ESSENCE collaboration of research funders has found important relationships established to help improve consistency in practices, and recommends further work to refine the mission and develop specific geographic and thematic areas.
ESSENCE on Health Research is an international collaboration between research funders, development agencies, philanthropists and multilateral initiatives. It aims to harmonize the way that research is funded to improve the impact of investments and enhance research capacity. The Secretariat has been hosted at TDR since its inception in 2008.
The members and invited guests discussed the evaluation at a meeting held 15 December in Stockholm as a satellite meeting to the Sida Science Day. The review found that ESSENCE is valued by its members and appears to contribute to consensus building and informal co-ordination amongst research funders. The ESSENCE best practice guidance documents have helped build a shared understanding and consensus among donors on elements of research capacity strengthening.
The evaluation also found, however, a lack of consensus on the mission and purpose of ESSENCE, and identified work to be done in being more thematically and geographically specific. It recommended evaluating the scale of the initiative and strengthening governance and implementation. Members agreed to do further work on addressing this gap starting in 2016.
New publications coming soon
At the meeting, participants also reviewed an updated version of the original 2011 Framework for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Research Capacity Strengthening. Changes include expanding on the principles of participation and alignment, local strengths and long-term commitment; adding more on impact; and a new principle to ensure equity. The new version is planned to be launched in February 2016.
The group also reviewed a new best practice document under development: Six Practices to Strengthen Evaluation in Global Health Research for Development (GHR4D). An early 2016 publication is anticipated.
For more information, contact Dr Garry Aslanyan