RESEARCH CAPACITY STRENGTHNEING
WHAT IS RESEARCH CAPACITY?
Research capacity is the ability to:
- Define problems
- Identify solutions to key problems
- Set research objectives and priorities
- Conduct sound scientific research to inform decision-making
- Use research knowledge to design effective policies and programs that address existing problems
- Build sustainable research institutions
This definition of research capacity encompasses capacity at the levels of individuals, research groups, institutions and countries.
WHAT IS RESEARCH CAPACITY STRENGTHENING (RCS)?
Research capacity strengthening is the process by which individuals, institutions and societies develop skills and abilities – both individually and collectively, to perform research effectively, efficiently and in a sustainable manner.
There are various approaches to research capacity strengthening, including improving the capacity of individual researchers through training courses, developing leadership skills and supporting researcher collaborations.
WHY IS RCS IMPORTANT FOR AFRICA?
RCS is one of the most powerful, cost-effective, and sustainable means of advancing development in Africa. With improved capacity for research, African countries will be able to set research priorities for their nations and build the local evidence base required to inform decision-making.
Though research efforts in Africa may have bloomed in recent years, African countries are still under-represented in global research efforts – at both the researcher and institutional level. The conditions of doing research in Africa are severely compromised, and the number of sites and researchers in Africa that meet international good practice standards are limited.