Call for Mentor Institute: Mainstreaming embedded Implementation Research in Country Immunization Programmes

One mentor institute will be based in each of the following three countries: Pakistan, Ghana and Mozambique. The mentor institutes will provide technical mentorship in implementation research to local research teams, and local organizational facilitation, convening of in-country stakeholders, and administration of all aspects of the initiative.

Objectives

• A consortium consisting of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (the Alliance)/WHO Science Division in a coordinating role, together with the WHO Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals (IVB) Department, WHO regional and country offices, and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance is launching the MAINSTREAM initiative with the following objectives:
  • Assess knowledge gaps and priorities regarding immunization coverage and equity based on policy-maker/implementer priorities, aligned with country research agenda development and implementation;
  • Enable the integration of learning through embedded implementation research into national immunization programmes;
  • Scale up learning through embedded implementation research on implementers’ priorities as part of regular country support;
  • Improve the use of evidence to guide policy development and implementation of programmes toward improving immunization coverage and equity.
• To help execute this initiative, the Alliance will identify, engage and strengthen an in-country academic/research institution as a mentor institute in collaboration with government and other in-country stakeholders. The mentor institute will:
  • support the government by organizing country-level stakeholder meetings to define the scope and priorities for embedded implementation research;
  • select multiple decision-maker-led country research teams;
  • facilitate and mentor research teams; and
  • organize protocol development and country dissemination workshops.

Funding Information

• The maximum amount of funding available from the Alliance will be US$ 204 000 over the period 1 February 2024 – 30 April 2025. No further funding will be provided by the Alliance within and beyond the project period.
• One priority-setting workshop with local stakeholders, one protocol development workshop for research teams, and one dissemination workshop should be included, as should the costs of monitoring the implementation of research grants. At least 70% of the total budget should be reserved for the grant awards to eight implementer-led research teams. No more than 15% of the total budget should be used for project management and staff salary costs.

Specific tasks of the Mentor Institute

• In collaboration with the Alliance, the government and in consultation with Gavi Senior Country Managers (SCMs) as appropriate, convene a priority-setting workshop with in-country stakeholders at the national and/or sub-national level to identify and prioritize key implementation barriers for the immunization programme and draw on these challenges to develop priority research questions for research grants. This includes arranging logistics and local travel, invitations, developing the agenda and facilitation, recording minutes and preparing reports of the workshop.
• Develop and issue a call for implementation research proposals from in-country stakeholders, based on the priorities identified, for teams led by in-country health system decision-makers. Arrange transparent review and selection of proposals for funding support.
• Make subgrants to the selected research teams for undertaking the research.
• In collaboration with government, convene a protocol development workshop to assist selected research teams in developing sound implementation research protocols. This includes arranging logistics and local travel, sending invitations, developing the agenda and facilitation, recording minutes and preparing reports of the workshop.
• Facilitate submission of research plans to local Institutional Review Boards and government ethics review committees, as needed, for ethical clearance.
• Provide technical assistance to research teams throughout the entire research process.
• Ensure quality assurance throughout the implementation research cycle – from protocol development to data collection and analysis, write up, dissemination and utilization of research findings.
• Monitor the implementation of research grants ensuring timely deliverables. Make regular progress reports to the Alliance Secretariat on process, outcomes, challenges and recommendations for improvements.
• Support research teams to translate research findings into a project report, recommendations, policy briefs and presentations.
• In collaboration with government, convene at least one dissemination workshop focused on utilization of the research findings by in-country stakeholders, including arranging logistics and local travel, invitations, developing the agenda and facilitation, recording minutes and preparing reports of the workshops.
• Edit and finalize article(s) for an academic journal including supporting preparation and submission of manuscript(s) by the grantees and convening a team of co-editors.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible to be considered as a mentor institute, the following criteria apply:
  • Geographically located in Pakistan, Ghana or Mozambique, respectively.
  • All sections of the proposal as well as maximum proposal length duly completed and considered.
  • Compliance with budget allocation specifications.
  • At least 50% of the named team members on the bid should be women.

For more information, visit Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research.