NIMR Director General, Mwele Malecela speaks to the media during the R4HA study visit

Representatives from across Africa came together in Dar es Salaam in November to hear exactly how their Tanzanian hosts had taken steps to strengthen their research and innovation systems.

The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) and Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA) were all on hand to give an insight into practical approaches that could be adopted elsewhere, as well as exploring issues such as research priorities, national research agendas, management information systems, communication, policy development and monitoring and evaluation through group discussions. To give an added dimension to the programme, partners of the R4HA programme – Mozambique, Senegal and the NEPAD Agency – and of the West Africa programme – Liberia and WAHO (West African Health Organisation) – provided case studies of their own experiences.

Creating an opportunity for countries to share experiences and work together is at the heart of COHRED’s R4HA and West Africa programmes, currently supporting a total of seven countries. The programmes encourage regional organisations, country representatives and technical agencies to combine their competencies to strengthen national research systems for health.

To read more about the Tanzanian Study Visit, please click on the links below.

Report

Strengthening Research and Innovation Systems for Health and Development in Africa: Report from a Tanzania knowledge sharing workshop.

Media coverage

Call to make public research findings, Tanzania Daily News, 9 Nov 2012

Tanzania: NIMR underscores quality research, Tanzania Daily News, 5 Nov 2012

(Audio clip in Swahili) Research and Innovation for health in Tanzania…Africa…, Clouds FM, 5 Nov 2012

Photos

Click here to see a selection of the photos from the study visit

Presentations

Overview to the Programme – Strengthening Research & Innovation Systems for Health and Development in Africa, Kathy Douglas, COHRED

Strategies for aligning national priorities with funding – stimulant for discussion, Luke Bawo, MOHSW, Liberia

Research for Health in Liberia, Luke Bawo, MOHSW, Liberia

NIMR: A legacy of health research in Tanzania, 1980-2012. Mwele Malecela, NIMR

RHInnO and HRWeb: Customized management and global sharing of research for health information, Boitumelo-Mokgatla Moipolai COHRED

From Research to Action: Communicating more effectively with decision makers in Tanzania, Leonard Mboera, NIMR

M&E for Research for Health, Emanuel Souvairan, COHRED

Research for Health Africa Initiative. A partnership of the NEPAD Agency, COHRED, WAHO and African Institutions

Research to action: communicating more effectively with decision makers and policymakers, Andrew Kanyegirire, COHRED

Regional approach to Research for Health Systems Strengthening using innovative partnerships, Jude Aidam, WAHO

Closing Session – Strengthening Research and Innovation Systems for Health and Development in Africa, Kathy Douglas, COHRED