The ability of national research systems to generate, manage and utilise research is essential in equipping communities and nations to address local and regional priorities and challenges.1 Yet, in much of the world, competition for state resources and a degree of distance between policymakers and academics prevent national research systems from flourishing. Infrastructure, job opportunities, skills levels and public perceptions about the value of research have all been affected.
At the same time, the world’s leading research institutions and international funders acknowledge that working across national and regional barriers advances the quality, validity and uptake of new research. Consequently, many multinational research consortia and collaborations are funded with two core goals: the first is to carry out excellent research and contribute to knowledge production; the second is to strengthen and support research systems across the globe through research capacity strengthening (RCS).
This Quick Guide is an attempt by the authors and a group of international advisors and reviewers from different research disciplines to consolidate and share the current evidence on best practice in RCS. Our aim is to provide practical suggestions for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating RCS activities, projects and programmes that:
- have lasting impact;
- are owned by research teams and their institutions; and
- affirm the principles of equity, integrity and inclusivity.
Of course, the delivery of high-quality research usually requires a multi-disciplinary team of professionals that includes administrative and technical staff. The RCS approaches we describe aim to create a positive, inclusive and equitable research culture and working environment, thereby fostering the participation and wellbeing of all team members.
Recognising that the scale of RCS initiatives can vary and occur in very different contexts, our main focus is on RCS activities that are nested within wider research programmes or projects, as opposed to stand-alone projects. The document is therefore likely to be most useful for principal investigators, team leaders and research managers tasked with strengthening research capacity within a broader project or programme.