Table 2.

Recommendations for health research capacity strengthening program design and implementation

Level	Recommendations	Sources
Interpersonal management in HRCS	Articulation and reconciliation of vision between HRCS partners	Brown and Gaventa 2010; Airhihenbuwa 2011; Oni et al. 2011
	Reciprocal learning and respect between HRCS partners	Nchinda 2002; Reddy et al. 2002; Chandiwana and Ornbjerg 2003;Airhihenbuwa 2011
	Collective decision-making at all stages of the HRCS and research processes	Reddy et al. 2002; Airhihenbuwa 2011
	Trust evidenced through action, including funds management processes	Reddy et al. 2002; Airhihenbuwa 2011
	Drafting of formal memorandums of understanding, such as authorship agreements	Airhihenbuwa 2011
HRCS programme management	Undertaking a collaborative initial systematic needs assessment	Nchinda 2002; Bates et al. 2006
	Confirmation of formal support by authorities of HRCS partnering institutions; provision of in-kind support from Southern institution	Reddy et al. 2002
	Establishment of advisory committees for involvement of policymakers & other stakeholders at all stages of HRCS & research	Nchinda 2002; Goto 2010; Oni et al. 2011
	Applied training (ex. establish a small research grant and provide training at each stage from proposal development through data analysis for funded research teams); Provision of training in proposal development, in addition to theory and methods.	Andruchow 2005
	Protection of researchers from overburden of administrative tasks	Chandiwana and Ornbjerg 2003
	Incorporation of former trainees as mentors in long-term programmes to increase program ownership and sustainability	Goto 2010
	Flexibility and adaptation	Chandiwana and Ornbjerg 2003
	Systematic evaluation (process and outcome)	Nchinda 2002; Goto 2010
	HRCS initiatives should be designed as long-term endeavours	Chandiwana and Ornbjerg 2003
Institutional reforms	Advocacy for the development of a research infrastructure, including administrative mentoring	Trostle 1992; Chandiwana and Ornbjerg 2003; Andruchow 2005; Lansang and Dennis 2004
	Facilitation of institutional dialogue in support of a revision of reward structures that would support research	Council on Health Research for Development 2012
	Development and implementation of targeted and innovative research dissemination strategies aimed at diverse stakeholders	Trostle 1992; Lairumbi 2008; Lazarus et al. 2010
	Creation of departmental mentorship programmes and outside partnerships, networks and regional systems of collaboration; intellectual match-making across communities	White 2008; Brown and Gaventa 2010; Airhihenbuwa 2011
Macro-level reforms	Advocacy in support the revision of international funding agencies’ policies relevant to HRCS grants to enable more equitable partnerships	Authors’ observation
	Advocacy in support of the development of competitive grant funding at the national level in the Southern context and increased budget allocation for research	Andruchow 2005; Ochola 2009; Whitworth 2010; Zumla et al. 2010
	Advocacy for a revision of legislative frameworks to better support research	Whitworth 2010