Submission ID 118472
| Issue/Objective | With the recent decline in foreign aid, there are increasing fears of a collapse of health systems in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The threat is particularly ominous in Africa, where foreign aid constitutes about half of the health budget. Innovative, local solutions to do more with less through evidence-based implementation research are required. African-led research has many challenges: few well-trained researchers, lack of critical mass, poor research infrastructure, and limited pathways for those pursuing a research career. MicroResearch (MR) seeks to meet these challenges in Africa and in Asia. Since 2008, MR has approved over 100 research projects, with many leading to tangible outcomes in the local communities and health systems. MR encourages workshop sites to secure local or third-party support for funding the project grants resulting from the workshops. Anecdotal data suggest it is becoming difficult to secure project funding, despite the relatively low cost. If funding is not available at the local site, MR is considered the backup funder. This evaluation looks at the source of MR project funding across ten African and Asian countries and where the gaps in funding are. |
|---|---|
| Methodology/Approach | Using data from low-income countries (LICs) and middle-income countries (MICs), this evaluation compares the sources of MR project funds ($1,500CAD) and whether they came from third-party donors, the local site institution, or MR. |
| Results | Of the 81 projects in LICs (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Malawi), none were funded by the local site, 42 (52%) were funded through third-party organizations, and 39 (48%) through MR. Comparatively, of the 38 projects in MICs (Kenya, Ethiopia, Nepal, Ghana, India, and Indonesia), 18 were funded by local partner sites (47%), 14 by third-party organizations (37%), and only 6 (16%) funded by MR. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | For MR to achieve its goal of sustainability, there needs to be an increase in both external funding and local site funding. We acknowledge the difficulties of this process and hope to encourage multinational NGOs to step up and help support research in LMICs. There is a need to invest in innovative, evidence-based solutions to overcome the reduction of foreign aid the health care systems are experiencing. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Kelly Hunter IWK Health Bob Bortolussi Dalhousie University Noni MacDonald Dalhousie University Tammy Lamb IWK Health |
