Key components and their relevance to the HPSR
| Element | Description | Sample activities: linked to HSG activities | Application example: HSG/AHPSR women’s mentorship for publication |
| Goal | Ultimate ambition being aimed for | Strengthening of health policy and systems research | Support earlier career women in their track record of publications |
| Individual capacity | Individual skills and expertise | Methodological skills, evidence-informed decision-making, advocacy, networking | Publication skills development |
| Organisational capacity | Organisational systems and processes | Quality assurance for educational programmes, advocacy of member organisations | This is limited, with a clear potential to embed within organisational context (eg, within workplans and workloads, and staff support and line management) in the future |
| Network capacity | Collective network capacity | Collective capacity of thematic working groups, regional expansion | Establishing community of practice involving mentors and mentees |
| Values | Core beliefs which shape behaviour and subsequent practices | Transparency, diversity, equity, inclusiveness and accountability | Diversity, inclusion, transparency, equity, accountability |
| Principles | Key approaches and strategies which inform implementation | Context-specificity, equitable ownership and drive, flexibility and sustainability | Context-specificity, equitable ownership, flexibility |
| Intended audiences | Main beneficiaries from capacity strengthening | Researchers, policymakers, advocates, educators | Earlier career female researchers |
| Key competencies | Specific capacity attributes across individual, organisational and network levels | Conducting rigorous research, effective communication, agenda-setting, robust governance, equitable partnerships | Planning and writing manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal |
| Assessments of assets and needs | Evaluation of available capacity strengths and needs | Capacity survey and on-going consultations | Mentees: availability of research material, willingness and commitment to participate Mentors: availability and competence, matched research interests and In addition to individual level, future assessments can usefully capture organisational level indicators |
| Strengthening and unleashing | Process of synergistic capacity strengthening across three levels, which includes recognition and leveraging of available assets | Webinars, skills-building and networking across audiences at global symposia and TWGs, resource repositories, developing shared understandings | Initial induction, followed by regular virtual meetings and reviews of drafts and a face-to-face event involving at Global Symposium for Health Systems Research |
AHPSR, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research ; HPSR, health policy and systems research; TWG, Thematic Working Group.