Over the past decade The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has funded top researchers at universities and institutes internationally to conduct cutting-edge research in the international arena and to stimulate research talent. Recently, NWO has funded eight research coalitions in Africa to generate much needed evidence around health systems in Africa.

To maximize the impact of the research evidence generated on health systems policy and practice in low and middle income countries (LMICs), Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) won a grant   to establish, foster and facilitate a health systems related Knowledge Translation Network (KTNET) composed of the eight NWO funded coalitions.

The objectives of KTNET Africa include:

• To host a shared platform for knowledge translation (KT) across the eight coalition
• To build KT capacity among the eight coalitions and relevant stakeholders.
• To support KT activities across the network by providing technical support and competitive KT targeted small grants.
• To assess /evaluate the KT effects across the network so as to identify and document best practices.

Project/Study Design & Setting
The project supports eight coalitions across 8 Sub-Saharan African countries including: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana and Senegal. These coalitions are implementing health systems related research projects categorized under four thematic areas:

• Service delivery (maternal newborn and child health),
• Health financing (community based health insurance initiatives),
• Medical supplies and technologies (laboratories) and
• Governance (accountability and community initiatives).

Results

• Supporting the development of knowledge translation work plans by partners
• Conducting stakeholder analyses across all member coalitions. Supporting coalition partners to disseminate their research findings
• Providing training for researchers and their stakeholders in KT and research communication.
• Development of online platforms including a website and social media platforms to promote networking and knowledge sharing

Publications
Ekirapa-Kiracho, E., Walugembe, D. R., Tetui, M., Kisakye, A. N., Rutebemberwa, E., Sengooba, F., … Kiwanuka, S. N. (2014). Evaluation of a health systems knowledge translation network for Africa (KTNET): a study protocol. Implementation Science : IS, 9(1), 170.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Suzanne Kiwanuka
Funder/s:

• Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)

Collaborating Institutions

• MEPR-Rwanda, SOCIALAB- Senegal,
• INSP-IMHS-DR Congo & Burundi,
• MHSAR- South Africa & Rwanda,
• Accelerate-Ghana,
• CBHI- Ethiopia,
• CoHeiSion –Ghana,
• CoHeRe –Uganda

Contact Emails: skiwanuka@musph.ac.ug, dwalugembe@musph.ac.ug , akisakye@musph.ac.ug or

visit: http://www.ktnetafrica.net