Skal NGO’er forske? Kan forskere samarbejde med NGO’er? Netværket for Sundhed og Udvikling

1. Engaging civil society organisations in research for health ...a Danish perspective Skal NGO’er forske? Kan forskere samarbejde med NGO’er? Netværket for Sundhed og Udvikling Center for Sundhed og Samfund Københavns Universitet Paul Bloch Steno Health Promotion Center Steno Diabetes Center 26 September 2012

2. What is ...research for health? Research which will lead to the improvement of health Health research which emphasises the relationship between health and social, cultural, economic, political, legal, agricultural and environmental factors ...not just an academic issue ...not just a health sector concern ...not just a public sector responsibility

3. What is research for health? What good does it do to treat people’s illnesses … …and then send them back to the conditions that made them sick? Quote: Rene Loewenson, EQUINET, 2010

4. What is research for health? The goal of research for health is better health for all. Reaching this goal is possible with the involvement of stakeholders in health that represent the rich spectrum of sectors and disciplines … including civil society organisations. A stronger voice of CSO’s is needed

5. An international response launched in Denmark Copenhagen, 23-24 October 2008

6. Who participated in the workshop? • Brazil: ANIS, Instituto de Bioética, DireitosHumanos e Gênero • Denmark: DBL - Centre for Health Research and Development • Gambia: CIAM - Public Health Research and Development Centre • India: Centre for Public Health and Equity, SOCHARA • India: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) • Kenya: International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRHK) • Kenya: Project Africa • Pakistan: Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University • Switzerland: Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) • Tunisia: L’AssociationTunisienne de Promotion de la Recherche en Santé • UK: Wellcome Trust • USA: Research!America

7. What came out of the workshop? A call for civil society engagement in research for health ... suggesting roles and strategies for engaging CSO’s in research for health ... an input to the Global Ministerial Forum on Research for Health

8. Presenting the CSO call in Bamako Global Ministerial Forum on Research for Health, Bamako, Mali, November 2008

9. What was the outcome of the conference? The Bamako Call to Action on Research for Health ”The nature of research and innovation for health improvement, espacially in the context of the United Nations Millenium Development Goals, is not sufficiently inter-disciplinary and inter-sectoral; there is a need to mobilize all relevant sectors (public, private, civil society) to work together in effective and equitable partnerships to find needed solutions” (Item 5) ”We call to action by all partners and stakeholders to ensure civil society and community participation in the entire research process, from priority setting to implementation and evaluation of policies, programmes, and interventuions; and to support civil society in advocacy to key decision-makers, including politicians, for increased investment in and commitment to research for health” (Item 15)

10. What was the outcome of the conference? The Communiqué ”Research for health requires engagement by all stakeholders including researchers, policy-makers, civil society, community representatives and the private sector. Civil society organizations (CSOs) can and must play a stronger role in decisions on research for health, including involvement in priority setting, peer-review, research conduct and the evaluation of outcomes for health action, while policy-makers need to encourage and respect such participation. Development partners must also help build the capacity of CSOs to conduct their own research in order to fill gaps through community-based participatory research and other inclusive approaches that prioritize health equity as their outcome” (Item 15)

11. In need of a Danish network? Overall objective To strengthen the engagement of Danish civil society organizations in knowledge-based health development in low-income countries

12. In need of a Danish network? • Specific objectives • To promote communication and advocacy for increased CSO engagement in research for health and knowledge-based decision-making • To promote public recognition of the importance of knowledge in decision-making processes in health development • To promote the translation of public health needs and demands into knowledge-based health policies and strategies • To promote the strengthening of the collaboration between academia and CSOs on research for health and knowledge management

13. Why civil society in research for health? Can promote and advocate for knowledge-based health development to national authorities Can drive, participate in and conduct research that embraces health in its broadest sense, including the determinants of health and health-related inequities Can hold politicians, researchers and donors accountable for the commitments they make towards research for health Can increase the skills and capacity of local actors, enabling them to respond effectively to national and international priorities and demands Can contribute to national health research agenda setting and prioritization with emphasis on promoting social justice Can provide missing viewpoints and cultural perspectives to the identification, planning and implementation of research activities Can translate research for health into action for health Can disseminate research findings to a wide audience of stakeholders including the public

14. Benefits to the research community? • CSOs have easier access to local populations and communties • CSOs have a better understanding of the socio-cultural context in local communities • CSOs have a better understanding of local needs, priorities and demands • CSOs have a better understanding of politicial agendas in South • Collaboration will increased the relevance of research

15. Any interest among Danish NGO’s? Assessment of interests Experiences and interests in research for health among Danish NGO’s working with health in low and middle income countries

16. Any interest among Danish NGO’s? • It is not straightforward to establish a picture of the NGOs involved in health since no mechanism for tracing NGOs in this sector exists in Denmark • 107 Danish NGO’s were asked by questionnaire if they are engaged in health in low and middle income countries • 35 NGO’s responded • 27 confirmed their engagement in health • There is huge diversity in size and focus among the NGO’s that are engaged in health • Most common focus areas: HIV/AIDS, SRHR, primary prevention and health care

17. Any interest among Danish NGO’s? NGO’s expressing an interest in participating in deliberations regarding a possible future Danish platform for strengthening civil society engagement in research for health: ADRA Denmark Fontana Art of Living Hjerteforeningen Børnefonden Medicins Sans Frontieres Cross Cultures PUGAD Danske Handicap Organisationer Save the Children DanChurchAid Sex & Samfund Danish Red Cross

18. What is Danida’s perspective? Danida guidance note on health and development ... including research for health

19. Danida’s guidance note on research for health Address the priority health problems of poor people Invest in policy processes Building sustainable research systems Invest in capacity development Ensure good governance in research for health

20. Danida’s guidance note on research for health Address the priority health problems of poor people Danida supports: 1. Basic research in priority public health problems. 2. Operational research for health with a focus on the underlying causes of ill health and inequity, e.g. social and environmental determinants of health as well as research into interventions, health systems and health policies. The primary research focus is on poverty reduction and equity.

21. Danida’s guidance note on research for health • Invest in policy processes • Danida contributes to: • 1. The promotion of a more coordinated and aligned global support to institutions working in research for health. • 2. The application of the guidelines of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness in research for health. • The promotion of investments in research for health by Global Health Partnerships through NHRS. • Denmark is involved in global agenda setting on research for health both through bilateral, multilateral and NGO support.

22. Danida’s guidance note on research for health Building sustainable research systems Danida supports: 1. Capacity development of individuals, organisations, institutions and systems in the Danida partner countries with emphasis on linkages to and dialogue with Danish institutions. 2. Development of national health research systems, institutions and capacities. 3. Bridging the know-do gap aiming at bringing research results into practice.

23. Danida’s guidance note on research for health • Invest in capacity development • Danida supports: • Investments in knowledge management through stimulating the generation, access to, translation, dissemination, sharing and usage of knowledge. • Ensuring good communication between researchers, policy makers and civil society, both in partner countries and in Denmark is important

24. Danida’s guidance note on research for health Ensure good governance in research for health Danida contributes to: 1. Promoting good governance, good practice and public participation in research for health. 2. Promoting gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights in research for health. Good governance in research for health promotes easy access to research information, sets norms and standards and promotes accountable structures and systems. It includes civil society in research agenda setting, implementation, data dissemination and utilisation and monitoring and evaluation.