Improve research capacity in infectious disease to inform policy & control strategies (Burkina Faso)

The goal of our programme is to improve research capacity in infectious diseases and surveillance to reach and inform policy makers and improve current health practices and control strategies in Burkina Faso. The Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN) and ITM have a longstanding partnership that gradually moved from an initial phase of capacity strengthening, towards the current institutional collaboration with an emphasis on joint research and education. A second collaboration with Centre Muraz started during the previous program, targeting vulnerable populations with a focus on sexual and reproductive health. The program brings together the next areas of expertise: malaria, antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use, and sexual and reproductive health. Each component will work closely together according to the same common results. The strengthening of the transversal social sciences component at CRUN will allow us to include the socio-economic context. To reach policy and practice, we will work on the following specific results: First, platforms for surveillance of diseases and health seeking behaviour will be strengthened or developed to generate quality data. Second, research will be conducted and published using the findings generated from the platforms. Next, policy notes and workshops will be written and organized on a regular basis to involve the relevant stakeholders in the process. Fourthly, education and trainings will be developed to strengthen the core staff of the involved institutions. Lastly, synergies and networks will be exploited to mobilize staff and maximize the exchange of training, research and surveillance findings in a South-South context.