1. Proposed Process for Development of a Health Research Agenda in Kenya Dr. Charles M. Nzioka, Head, DHR&D Ministry of Health 21 st June 2014

2. Introduction For a long time, health research in Kenya has been perceived to be a domain exclusively for Universities and Research institutions, without any tangible contributions from the Ministry of Health. More worse is the believe that when research is being done in Kenya, by Kenyans but on behalf of external funders, the grave perception is that the published findings are going to be used in decision making and practice in the health sector This practice has resulted in a lot of research conducted NOT being demand driven, thus lacking the element of consultations/ownership by range of users that may use the findings. The KHP 2013-2030 places a lot of emphasis on research to generate evidence for use in policy decision making, programmatic planning & Practice.

3. Problem statement  Poor health indicators: Health policies have not been based on research evidence thus implementation of various interventions in health have been weak to reverse the health indicators  Weak coordination mechanism: between the researchers/research institutions and MOH to document the results & package them for utilization by Users(policy makers, programme managers)  No National Health Research Agenda: Until the recent National broad agenda developed by NACOSTI, and was not participatory enough.  Funding : Can only be based on work plans which are influenced by a credibly established health research agenda, which currently does not exist.

4. Justification  Various ongoing and published researches by various research institutions and individuals are foreign driven, notably by external donors and may not focus on Ministry of Health(National/County) concerns, and may not address the Kenyan health sector pressing basic health issues  Hence the need to have an all inclusive and participatory research agenda for health to guide researchers and research institutions on Kenya health research priorities  Research targeted on Kenya’s health Research priorities will provide the right evidence, innovate interventions to improve the implementation of health services in the country, and consequently improve the worse indicators especially those on child, neonatal and maternal health among others

5. The Process ( 4 steps) 1.Share the concept - developing health research agenda. - R4HP workshop - key stakeholders on 24 th July 2014. - Get inputs from the health stakeholders on the following areas: Is there a need for the development of a ‘formal’ and or ‘managed’ national health research policy framework? If YES, then in what format? What are some of the research-for-health governance and management challenges that need to be addressed when developing the national health research policy framework in Kenya? Is there a need to develop the national research-for-health priorities/or agenda for Kenya?

6. Process cont.. What will guide the development of national health research agenda :  The KHP six (6) policy objectives?  The KHP 7 investment areas (Based on WHO 6 Health systems building blocks/pillars  Priorities within the National research agenda under NACOSTI?  Any others?

7. Process cont… What methodology/approaches will be used to achieve rapid but credible research agenda for health in Kenya?  Review - existing in the Programmes, Divisions, Units, Universities, Research organisations (KEMRI, etc), Communities?  Get professional views from counties, organizations, Ministry of Health(National/Counties), FGDs?  Holding consultative workshops with key stakeholders? (Policy makers, Health professionals, Patients and the general public, Industry, and Researchers)

8. Process cont.. 2. Formation of a National Technical Working Group to develop the National health agenda. Focused on the following: Overall objectives of TWG Roles and responsibilities (TOR) Proposed membership Time -activity plan

9. Process cont… 3. Adoption of the national health research agenda through a National Health Research Convention 4. Launching/dissemination of the national health research agenda by the Cabinet Secretary, MOH - Research for Health policy Framework - Research for health priorities

10. Questions and answers

11. T h a n k Y o u