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Review
. 2023 Mar 27;21(1):24.
doi: 10.1186/s12961-023-00972-0.

A framework for sustainable capacity-building for collaborative North-South translational health research and training in a resource-constrained setting

Charles C Maponga  1 , Alison T Mhazo  2 , Gene D Morse  3
Affiliations
Review

A framework for sustainable capacity-building for collaborative North-South translational health research and training in a resource-constrained setting

Charles C Maponga et al. Health Res Policy Syst. .

Abstract

Introduction: Success with highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in developing countries has been attributed to collaborative North-South resource-sharing and capacity-building. Academic research and training programmes have contributed towards policy entrepreneurship in a manner that influenced capacity-building within health systems. However, the documented capacity-building frameworks rarely elucidate how such programmes can be designed and implemented efficiently and sustainably.

Method: We implemented the University of Zimbabwe (UZ)-State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) collaborative HIV clinical pharmacology capacity-building programme in Zimbabwe in 1998. We intuitively operationalized the programme around a mnemonic acronym, "RSTUVW", which spells out a supportive framework consisting of "room (space), skills, tools (equipment)", underpinned by a set of core values, "understanding, voice (clout) and will". Subsequent to our two decades of successful collaborative experience, we tested the general validity and applicability of the framework within a prospective programme aimed at expanding the role of health professionals.

Results and conclusion: Based on this collaborative North-South research and training capacity-building programme which has been positively validated in Zimbabwe, we propose this novel mnemonic acronym-based framework as an extra tool to guide sustainable capacity-building through collaborative North-South implementation research. Its extended use could also include assessment and evaluation of health systems within resource-constrained settings.

Keywords: Capacity-building; Mnemonic acronym; North–South research collaboration; Policy entrepreneurship.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Academic-public–private partnership for HIV pharmacotherapy capacity-building in Zimbabwe
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
RSTUVW framework for sustainable capacity-building for translational North–South health research collaborations in resource-constrained settings
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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