Increasing Effectiveness and Equity in Strengthening Health Research Capacity Using Data and Metrics: Recent Advances of the ESSENCE Mechanism

Background: ESSENCE on Health Research established a Working Group on Review of Investments in 2018 to improve coordination and collaboration among funders of health research capacity strengthening. Objective: Increase research on national health priorities, improve pandemic preparedness, and reduce the number of countries with very limited research capacity. Methods: Developed a basic set of metrics for national health research capacity using global data sources, assessed models of coordination and collaboration, conducted deep dives in eight countries, and summarized outcomes from a large virtual meeting of funders, researchers, and stakeholders. Findings and conclusions: Day 1 featured a keynote by the WHO Chief Scientist and updates on data and metrics for research capacity, critical for setting targets, road maps, and budgets. Day 2 focused on improving collaboration and coordination among funders and stakeholders, potential return on investment for health research, country-level coordination efforts, and examples of capacity strengthening from around the world. An intentional, data- and metric-driven approach emphasizing funder coordination, local leadership, equitable partnerships, and resource allocation can strengthen health systems in resource-poor countries and enhance global pandemic preparedness.

Peter H. Kilmarx, Thabi Maitin, Taghreed Adam, Garry Aslanyan, Michael Cheetham, Janelle Cruz, Martin Eigbike, Oumar Gaye, Catherine M. Jones, Linda Kupfer, John Lindo, Rhona Mijumbi, Jean B. Nachega, Jamie Bay Nishi, Irini Pantelidou, Malabika Sarker, Soumya Swaminathan