DESCRIPTION

Implementation research (IR) is the scientific study of barriers to and methods of promoting the systematic application of research findings in practice, including in public policies. IR explores the challenges that are faced when generalizing research findings "in the real world", such as in the fields of health care. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines it as a form of research which "addresses implementation bottlenecks, identifies optimal approaches for a particular setting, and promotes the uptake of research findings: ultimately, it leads to improved health care and its delivery." (WHO, 2017).

Since 2015, Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT) is a Regional Training Center (RTC) for Health Research supported by Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) for the Eastern Mediterranen Region (EMR). As such, it has a mandate to improve research capacity skills of researchers in the region.   After the three first courses held in 2015, 2017 and 2018 with participants from six, eight and five countries respectively, RTC-IPT-EMR announces a call for participants for the 4^rd Regional Course on Implementation Research. This new edition will take place in Hammamet (Tunisia) from the 1^st to 4^th October 2019.   This training course will be based on the French version Toolkit that was developed by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) to strengthen implementation research (IR) capacities of individuals and institutions in low-and middle-income countries. This course will introduce participants to the concept of IR, tools and materials relevant to IR and facilitate the development of IR proposals applied to Infectious Diseases' Programs.

COURSE CONTENT

The training will be delivered through lectures, plenary discussion, group discussion and problem analysis through the following modules:

·         Introduction to IR
·         Contextualizing IR issues
·         Developing an implementation research proposal.
·         Planning to execute implementation research.
·         Analyzing implementation research data.
·         Dissemination of Results and Research Findings.
·         Monitoring and Evaluation

PARTICIPANTS

Target participants: Up to 20 who are involved in Research activities applied to ‘Infectious Diseases' programs will be selected, including Public Health professionals, researchers, academics, program managers, health administrators etc..from the regional francophone communities: Maghreb and French- speaking Africa.
Participants are expected to bring their proposal of the study they plan to implement. Each project has to be proposed by two persons from the same team, and for each selected project, two researchers will be able to participate in this training (PI, Co-PI,....)

ELIGIBILITY

1.    Only applicants from WHO-EMR regional francophone communities working in an institution within their region are eligible. 2.    Participants are those who are (or will be) involved in Infectious Diseases' programs (IDPs), aiming to improve control of infectious diseases through IR, and recommended by their own institution. Upon selection, applicants have to bring their own IR proposal on IDPs they plan to implement. Health Research proposals are not eligible.

APPLICATION REQUIRMENT

1/Complete application form (attached) including the description of the proposed research. Please note that the description of proposed research section is important for the final selection of participants and that all proposed project proposals have to be on IR applied to IDPs. 2/Full CV 3/Motivation letter indicating why the applicant is applying for the training and how her/his participation in the course will advance the progression of the proposed project. 4/Recommendation letter certifying the competency of the applicant and how attending this course will help her/him to progress the proposed project. 5/Scanned copy of the first page of the passport (for international participants*) All documents must be complete and have to be sent to: rtc.ipt@pasteur.utm.tn

SELECTION CRITERIA

Participants will be selected according to their motivation letter, pertinence of their IR outlines and the provided recommendation letter.

SCHOLARSHIP

Expenses (except visa fees) for all selected participants will be supported by the organizers. Covered expenses include travel ticket (economic fare), Airport-Venue transfers, accommodation and subsistence for the whole course duration. All other personal costs will not be covered by the organizers.

*Important:

All selected participants must check before traveling if they need a Visa to enter Tunisia. Participants should obtain (at their own charge) visas to enter TUNISIA, before travelling. In order to let organizers book the airline tickets, facilitate procedures for the entry in Tunisia and accelerate the visa procedure in coordination with the Tunisian Consular Services in their respective country/region, the participants have to fill the visa application file (that will be sent by the organizers upon selection).

Deadline of application: July 24, 2019

FOR ANY INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Wafa Kammoun, PhD Project Manager
Regional Training Center (RTC)
supported by WHO-TDR for East Mediterranean region (EMR) £
Coordinator of the Biomedical Ethics Committee
Institut Pasteur de Tunis
Email: kammoun.wafa@gmail.com
Whats App: (+216) 99 50 99 83 Tel: (+216) 99 50 99 83
Adresse: 13, Place Pasteur - B.P. 74 1002 TUNIS - BELVÉDÈRE
Site Internet: http://www.ipt.pasteur.tn/rtc/