Training Health Researchers into Vocational
Excellence (THRiVE)
Opportunity to Enhance Institution Research
Management and administration
ASSOCIATION RESEARCH ADMINISTRATORS IN AFRICA
November 4th 2010, Munyonyo
Achilles Katamba
On behalf of
Dr. Saidi Kapiga
Deputy Director, THRiVE
STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATION
Brief description of THRiVE
 Strengthening partnerships &
networking
 Institutional strengthening
 How do we enhance Research
Management and Administration

THRIVE: PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS
Country
Uganda
Tanzania
Rwanda
Institutions
Makerere
Univ.
KCMC
NUR
Kenya
LSHTM
Gulu Univ.
UVRI
UK
Cambridge
Univ.
NIMR
ICIPE
Goal
Empower East African academic institutions
for effective participation in the march of
science.
FOCUS AND SCOPE OF THRIVE
Objectives

Develop and sustain a consortium functioning as a strong
network

Contribute to empowering institutions to build a critical mass
of well trained research scientists capable of winning
competitive national and international grants

Augment the development of a conducive institutional
environment for research and research training

Support systems for improved governance/management
of research activities
THRiVE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
Programme Steering Committee
Advisory
Board
Executive Directorate
Institutional Implementation
Committees: Cambridge, LSHTM,
Mak, KCMC, Gulu, NUR, NIMR,
UVRI, ICIPE
Education and Small
Grants Committee
PhD/Post Doctoral
Training Committee
Finance Committee
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS
AND NETWORKING WITHIN THRiVE






Public understanding of science – Cambridge,
Makerere, ICIPE
DTM&H (Makerere, KCMC, UVRI, LSHTM, Univ of
Washington & Johns Hopkins)
Medical education Partnership: Makerere, Gulu,
Mbarara, UVRI/MRC,... KCMC but not NUR
Carried out needs assessment for short courses e.g.
Scientific Writing workshops
Enhanced south to south collaboration
Website facilitating communication among partners
STRENGTHENING EXTERNAL
PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKING
With other Networks/Institutions outside THRiVE
 Association of Research Administrators (ARAA): 3-5
Nov 2010 Kampala, Uganda, Theme: Institutionalizing
Research Administration in Africa
 Initiative for Strengthening Research Capacity in Africa
(ISHReCA )
 MUII (Makerere-UVRI Infection and Immunity) Project
 Public understanding of science - British Institute of EA
 Other WT Consortia
 Emerging NIH-MEPI network
HHS AGENCIES PARTNER WITH PEPFAR TO
TRANSFORM AFRICAN MEDICAL EDUCATION
A dozen countries to benefit from $130 million investment over 5
years to strengthen medical training and research capacity
The U.S Department of HHS is partnering with PEPFAR with a plan to
transform African medical education & dramatically increase the
number of health care workers.
MEPI grants are being awarded directly to African institutions
working in partnership with U.S. medical schools & universities.
“We must dramatically transform African medical education to
increase the number of qualified care providers available & develop
the scientific expertise needed for research & innovation,” Eric Goosby
STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL
SYSTEMS







Upgrading laboratory infrastructure
Support for upgrade and enhance access to IT
Staff development through Masters/PhDs/Postdocs
Cross appointments: between Research Institutes and
Universities
Strengthening research management systems
Strengthening systems for ethical review & oversight
NIMR (Moshi) collaborating with KCMC to develop
plans for strengthening Masters training at KCMC
THE THRiVE APPROACH TO
BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEMS





Requires linkage and collaboration with central
institutional administration
Avoiding unnecessary duplication, parallel structures
and competition with other partners
Institutional Implementation Committees to meet
regularly and chart out a path for institutional
strengthening
Need for long term commitment and focus
Good examples needed
How do we enhance Research
Management and Administration

In order to enhance capacity for research management
and administration three is need to develop a shared
understanding of what research management and
administration entails and challenges that research
administrators and managers experience, thus
deterring achievement of maximum performance in
their day to day work
How do we enhance Research
Management and Administration

The ARAA meeting offers an opportunity to explore
and document opportunities and challenges that
affect research management and administration
and more importantly contribute to the long and
drawn-out process of enhancing capacity and
research outputs
How to enhance Research
Management and Administration

Some of the areas of consideration should include
developing and implementation of governance tools
like
 Research
strategic and operational plans
 Resource
mobilization plan specifically targeted to
improve research management and administration
 Administrative
and financial procedures manuals
How do we enhance Research
Management and Administration
 Guidelines
for accreditation and evaluation of research
units
 Information and knowledge management including
proper documentation and record keeping
 Research
policies including those of intellectual
property
 Codes of ethics and regulatory processes
 Human resource support and career development
Conclusion

There is need to enhance professionalization and
institutionalization of research governance and
management as a mean of enhancing institutional
and national innovation systems to meet the
challenges posed by changing contexts and new
requirements for research
THE FUTURE: AIM HIGH AND FAR
17