Liverpool Associates in Tropical Health (LATH), a consulting arm of LSTM, has been awarded a £10 million contract to manage a programme of work supporting a new Health Research Capacity Strengthening (HCRS) initiative in Malawi.
Led by the National Research Council of Malawi (NRCM), the initiative is a 5 year programme supported by the Wellcome Trust, the UK Department for International Development (DfiD) and the International Development Research Centre (Canada) and was developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health and the Government of Malawi.
The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity for the generation of new health research knowledge within Malawi and improve its use in evidence-based decision making, policy formulation and implementation. In collaboration with national stakeholders, it aims to:
- enhance institutional capacity for high quality multi-disciplinary health research;
- promote the use of research in national health policy and programmes;
- enhance dissemination of scientific knowledge in Malawi; and
- strengthen the regulation and coordination of the research environment in Malawi.
A consortium led by LATH and comprising the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Development Management Associates and Calcon will manage a programme of work in support of the initiative.
The consortium will source and manage expertise to develop the NRCM’s capacity to manage an enhanced and transparent grant-making process, providing management and financial oversight to strengthen NRCM to the point where external support is no longer required.
Malawi Programme Coordinator Margret Caffrey commented: “Developing capacity and providing appropriate support to NRCM and its implementing partners will focus on empowerment and individual and organisational transformation.
“The strengthening and transfer of key management and strategic planning skills will enable NRCM to more effectively coordinate and manage all health research activities in Malawi. Training and development will be aligned with organisational and institutional realities to ensure that skills and learning are effectively transferred and have the intended impact and results.”
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For further information, please contact:
Alan Hughes, Communications Manager
Office: +44 (0)151 705 3308
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About Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM)
As a centre of excellence, LSTM, through the creation of effective links with governments, organisations and institutions and by responding to the health needs of communities, aims to promote improved health, particularly for people of the less developed countries in the tropics and sub-tropics by:
- providing and promoting high quality education and training;
- conducting first-class research and disseminating the result of that research;
- developing systems and technologies for health care and assisting in their transfer and management;
- providing appropriate consultancy services; in fulfilling this mission also provides a clinical service of acknowledged excellence.
About Liverpool Associates in Tropical Health (LATH)
LSTM established LATH in 1986, as an independent company to help it respond more effectively and efficiently to the increasing demand for international development assistance. As LSTM’s consulting arm, LATH is a gateway to internationally recognised research, channelling this expertise into influencing policy and transforming practice. Our unique partnership with LSTM is fundamental to our work. Together we aim to deliver sustainable improvements to health systems in developing countries. Our work directly contributes to meeting the Millennium Development Goals for reducing poverty and inequalities in the developing world. This includes reversing the spread of endemic diseases, cutting infant mortality and improving maternal health.
LATH transfers its financial surplus annually to the LSTM through a tax-free covenant, which is invested in further developing LSTM’s pioneering work in tropical medicine and international health.