Stakeholder networks
The capacity strengthening stakeholders' forum
TDR is facilitating the creation of a capacity strengthening stakeholders' forum. TDR will coordinate its meeting (at least once a year) to promote advocacy and fundraising for empowerment in national and international capacity-building. This will help identify needs, synergies, processes and activities for capacity development in DECs.
Expert leadership network
Leadership networks involving research experts in identified fields, or on priority issues, will enhance individual and institutional leadership in international collaborations.
The expertise of each individual/network will be documented in an information exchange database, which in turn will be used by the mentorship programmes. New expert networks are being created and existing TDR networks enhanced.
Social scientist network
An expanded social scientists network has been created to build upon TDR's past investment in promoting health social science (HSS) training and the existing TDR-supported Partnership for Social Sciences for Malaria Control (PSSMCplus) network.
The PSSMCplus network involves social scientists as a reference group on health research-related social, economic, behavioural, and gender issues. This group helps to identify training needs and gaps relevant to building capacity for social sciences research, as a distinct undertaking, and as an element of specific disease control research efforts.
WHO regional small grant researchers (SGS) network
A new SGS researchers network centering on collaborations with the WHO Regional Offices, primarily in relation to their small grant schemes, initially in the:
- American Region (AMR)
- Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR)
- South-East Asia Region (SEAR)
- Western Pacific Region (WPR).
A network with the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) is also being pursued.
The goal is to more effectively disseminate research results to control programmes, and translate into policy and practice.
Information exchange
Inventories are being developed of the following activities and participating individuals, institutions and resources:
- TDR trainees, researchers, research institutions and networks in DECs
- TDR alumni and universities (offering PhD training and other short courses or workshops)
- expert networks for leadership
- recognized research laboratories
- recognized ethics committees
- national accredited laboratories
- past and present TDR supported research activities.
- The goal is to help research stakeholders:
- exploit opportunities for collaborations and strategic alliances
- develop a strategy for networking
- facilitate discussion on health research priorities and information exchange activities, methodological developments, theory and new research questions.