Addressing the need for an operational research framework for Africa

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Policy

Background:

• The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) supports 55 African member states in public health.
• Established in 2016/2017, Africa CDC aims to strengthen institutional capacity for disease detection and response.
• Africa requires a robust operational research (OR) framework to manage public health emergencies effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the necessity of an operational research (OR) framework for public health emergencies in Africa.
• To outline the development process for this crucial OR framework.
• To support the Africa CDC in enhancing research capabilities across member states.

Main Methods:

• Expert reviews were conducted to inform the framework's development.
• The process involved outlining institutional structures, procedures, and standards for OR.
• Methodologies and tools for context-specific OR were identified.

Main Results:

• The study highlights a critical need for a standardized OR framework in Africa.
• A process for developing the framework, tailored for public health emergencies, has been outlined.
• The framework aims to guide the initiation, design, and implementation of OR.

Conclusions:

• An operational research (OR) framework is essential for strengthening Africa's response to public health emergencies.
• The proposed framework will provide guidance on conducting context-specific research and utilizing evidence for policy.
• This initiative supports the Africa CDC's mandate to improve public health institutional capabilities across the continent.