GEH Montebello Retreat February 2005 Establishing Knowledge Translation Platforms The Zambian Experience by Joseph M. Kasonde, MD, Executive Director of ZAMFOHR Emily Di Sante, MA, Research Associate Zambia Forum for Health Research, Lusaka, Zambia Presented at The AHPSR/IDRC Conference: From Mexico to Mali: Taking Stock of Achievements in Health Policy and Systems Research Nyon, Switzerland, May 2008

In order to facilitate the uptake of research findings it is important to bridge the gap between producers and users of research (particularly policy makers). Report of the Task Force on Health Systems Research, March 2005, pg. 11.

Health Policy Environment Strategic Options for Knowledge Translation Zambia Forum for Health Research Lessons Learned and the Way Forward

National Health Research Policy National Health Research Conference 2007 Human Resources for Health Research Conference, June 2007 Human Resources for Health Research Workshop, February 2008

Fig. 2 Models for linking research to action Lavis, Lomas, Hamid, et al. Assessing country-level efforts to link research to action. Bulletin of the WHO. August p Producers or Purveyors of Research Research Users Producers or Purveyors of Research Research Users Producers or Purveyors of Research One group of research users Producers of Purveyors of Research Research Users Knowledge Translation Platforms Model A: Push efforts by producers or purveyors Model B: User pull efforts Model C: Exchange efforts Model D: Integrated efforts

The Zambia Forum for Health Research Strengthening the Capacity to Undertake and Utilize Research and Evidence in Health Policy and Practice

Vision: an environment in which health research evidence forms the basis for policy and practice, leading to improved health. Mission: to contribute to the improvement of the health status of the Zambian population through coordinated and responsive health research and evidence. Vision and Mission

Facilitating the Flow of Knowledge

ZAMFOHR Objectives With a focus on KM and KT, ZAMFOHR will: Harvest existing research - published and grey Create a Database of Zambian research/ers Identify needs, priorities of both researchers and research-users Communicate results to decision-makers Link, network, broker Offer training courses: systematic reviews, policy briefs and other knowledge translation techniques

Towards a Knowledge Translation Institute manage translate harvest identify train package link broker

Adding Value to Existing Initiatives ZAMFOHR MoH Providers Institutes Private Sector Universities FBOs CPs Civil Society Researchers Media

KT is the most urgent task for researchers and policymakers The process of utilizing research evidence in policy formulation is complex and needs further research ZAMFOHRs focus on the early stages of KT (database and website) is a key component of the use of research evidence in policy formation

For ZAMFOHR: to further develop the database and to produce policy briefs and systematic reviews on a regular basis and involving/targeting the three key stakeholders (researchers, policymakers, the community)

Research is not complete until it has been published and used !