Interview study exploring how global health partnership principles are enacted and recommendations for practice

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Health Systems Strengthening
• International Collaboration

Background:

• Global health partnerships are vital but challenging to establish and maintain.
• Existing research on partnership principles often lacks perspectives from low- and middle-income countries.
• The Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) developed Principles of Partnership to improve health collaborations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the practical enactment of THET's nine Principles of Partnership.
• To gather insights from partners in low-, middle-, and high-income countries.
• To identify strategies for improving the quality and sustainability of global health partnerships.

Main Methods:

• Virtual interviews with 13 participants from 8 health partnerships.
• Purposeful sampling and appreciative inquiry approach.
• Deductive framework analysis of transcribed interviews.

Main Results:

• Identified practical strategies for effective partnerships, including project management and transparent communication.
• Highlighted the importance of managing expectations and sharing team expertise.
• Emphasized consulting behavioral science for partnership longevity and sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Partnership principles are interconnected and support equitable collaborations.
• Trust and open communication are foundational for sustainable and equal partnerships.
• Embedding behavioral scientists can enhance the quality and sustainability of health partnerships.