Meet the team

Webinar 8. Simulation Meeting: Presentation of Formative Evidence Brief for Policy (EBP)

Date:Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Objectives:

1. To present the draft formative EBPs among countries teams (peer review)
2. To propose outreach strategies for EBPs
3. To reflect on next steps (including potential for scale up)

A total of 39 participants from Bangladesh, Malawi, Nepal, and Uganda participated in the webinar, together with those from IVI-RADAAR and EVIPNet/WHO.

The preparatory work outlined in Webinar 7 was to:

To complete the formative EBP

Session 15: Presentation of Formative Evidence Brief for Policy

The final Webinar/Session focused on the Presentation of Formative EBP. Participants from Bangladesh, Malawi, Nepal, and Uganda presented their EBP, with a peer review, and feedback and comments from the EVIPNet/K2P team. The session finished with reflections on the next steps, including the potential for scale-up.

Wrap-up and closing

Webinar 7. Post-EBP uptake phase: Policy Dialogues, Visualization, and Role of Media

Date:Thursday, 10 November2022
Objectives:

1. To understand the key functions and features of a policy dialogue
2. To identify the types of stakeholders who can participate in a policy dialogue
3. To become familiarized with key dialogue facilitation tips
4. To enhance participant’s understanding of data visualization/role of media in policy-making
5. To draft an outreach strategy for EBP (including potential stakeholders to participate in a policy dialogue): Hands on work
6. To provide feedback on preparatory work

A total of 39 participants from Bangladesh, Malawi, Nepal, and Uganda participated in the webinar, together with those from IVI-RADAAR and EVIPNet/WHO.

The preparatory work outlined in Webinar 6 was to:

Identify implementation considerations for policy options
Select key relevant stakeholders for semi-structured interviews/litmus testing

Feedback from country teams on preparatory work/progress to date:

Uganda, Malawi, Nepal briefly shared progress and EVIPNet/K2P team commented on the progress.

Webinar Session 13: Organizing a policy dialogue presented by EVIPNet-K2P Center, focusing on how policy dialogues influence the use of evidence in health policy and decision-making including:

Considerations for conducting policy dialogues, i.e., does the dialogue address a high priority issue? Does it provide opportunities to discuss/address the issue, and considerations for implementation? Is there fair representation among those involved in/affected by future decisions related to the issue? Are follow-up activities undertaken to support action?
Preparation for policy dialogues, i.e., informed by pre-circulated evidence on the policy issue.
Stakeholder selection, i.e., degree of involvement in/knowledge about the issue and relevant solutions; ability to constructively engage in discussions; ability to take forward recommended actions within respective constituencies; and the importance of the dialogue facilitator’s role.
Dialogue summary, i.e., tools to outline the results of the discussions during the policy dialogue; and post-dialogue summaries.

Session 14: Data visualization and role of media in policy-making
Group or individual work with support from EVIPNet/K2P
The webinar ended with Group work based upon Session 14.

Wrap-up and closing

The final Webinar (#8) will be a Simulation Meeting: Presentation of Formative EBP, with the objective:

To present the draft formative EBPs among countries teams (peer review)
To propose outreach strategies for EBPs
To reflect on next steps (including potential for scale up)

Preparatory work (prior to Webinar 8): To complete the formative EBP

Presentation slides are available here

Webinar 6. Closing the loop: From Policy Options to Implementation Considerations

Date:Thursday, 27 October 2022
Objectives:

1. To identify the level(s) where there are potential barriers to (and counterstrategies for) the successful implementation of a policy option
2. To recognize the appropriate types of research evidence to inform implementation considerations
3. To search for evidence on implementation considerations- hands on work
4. To provide overview of EBP outline (and semi-structured interviews/litmus testing)
5. To provide feedback on preparatory work

A total of 42 participants from Bangladesh, Malawi, Nepal, and Uganda participated in the webinar, together with those from IVI-RADAAR and EVIPNet/WHO.

The preparatory work outlined in Webinar 5 was to:

Develop a search strategy for policy options
Identify 3-4 policy options to address the problem (and its causes) and prepare evidence tables for the selected options

Feedback from country teams on progress to date (10 minutes per team)
Uganda, Malawi, Nepal briefly shared progress and EVIPNet/K2P team commented on the progress.

Webinar 6 provided a ‘Refresher: from problem statement to policy options‘ on the content of Evidence-to-Policy Briefs (EBP) including the problem statement, options and elements, and implementation considerations; framing the problem, clarifying its underlying causes, the appropriate types of evidence to use in framing problems, and framing, developing, and expanding on the options/ elements to address the problem. The refresher session finished with ‘Case examples’.

The webinar then focused on

Session 11: Identifying Key Implementation Considerations Framing presented by EVIPNet-K2P Center. Session 11 included: approaches to policy implementation (i.e. ‘top-down’ and ‘Bottom-up’); identifying and addressing barriers to implementing policies; health system, and social and political constraints; and tips on developing the implementation considerations.

Session 12: Overview of EBP outline (and semi-structured interviews/litmus) including: the policy brief outline, e.g., identification of how the problem related to risk factors/disease, to a program or service, and/or to the current health system; viable policy or programmatic options to address the problem; and potential barriers that could influence implementation policy options. The session also covered: stake- holder selection framework for litmus testing, and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders.

The next steps for countries include:

To agree on preliminary timeline for the updated policy brief outlines
To coordinate with assigned team lead for each country team

Group or individual work with support from EVIPNet/K2P
The webinar ended with Group work – using the EBP template – based upon Sessions 11 and 12.

Presentation slides are available here

Webinar 5. Framing Viable Policy Options to Address a Problem: A Step-by-Step Guide

Date:Thursday, 15 September 2022
Objectives:

1. To identify a list of questions to consider when identifying options to address a problem
2. To understand how research evidence can help to respond to these questions
3. To become familiar with key variables to consider when developing (and expanding on) each policy option
4. To identify 3-4 policy options to address the problem (and its causes)
5. To provide feedback on preparatory work

A total of 51 participants from Bangladesh, Nepal, Uganda, and Malawi attended the webinar, together with those from IVI-RADAAR and EVIPNet/WHO.

The preparatory work outlined in Webinar 4 was to:

Frame the problem statement and underlying causes for your selected priority topic/area

The introduction to the webinar provided: an Overview of methodologies to measure antibiotic use, and the use of surveillance data; the link between AMR and use of antimicrobials; and the integrated national action needed on optimal use of antimicrobials, including through data, surveillance, and monitoring.

The webinar then focused on Session 10: Framing Viable Policy Options to Address a Problem: A Step-by-Step Guide presented by EVIPNet-K2P Center. Session 10 included: Content of EBPs (i.e. problem statement, options or elements, and implementation considerations); Developing options/elements to address the problem (i.e. policy options, and health system/governance/financial arrangements/delivery arrangements); Steps for developing options/elements to address the issue (literature review, thematic analysis, tailoring to the country issue/context, and selecting 3-4 options); and practical examples of AMR and underlying causes to policy options.

A Q&A session followed, with questions on the behavioural and economic dimensions of policy response and options; the specificity and feasibility of options; and appropriate types of research evidence for developing options.

The webinar ended with Group work – with support from EVIPNet/K2P and using the EBP template to:

Identify 3-4 policy options/elements to address the problem and its underlying causes
Presentation slides are available here

Webinar 4. Framing the Problem for EBPs: A Science and a Craft

Date:Thursday, 8 September 2022
Objectives:

1. To describe the key features of an evidence brief for policy (EBP)
2. To identify a list of guiding questions to consider when framing a problem
3. To recognize the different arrangement(s) for clarifying the underlying factors of the problem
4. To frame a problem statement for selected priority topic(s)
5. To provide feedback on preparatory work

A total of 57 participants from Bangladesh, Nepal, Uganda, and Malawi attended the webinar, together with those from IVI-RADAAR and EVIPNet/WHO.

Webinar 4 began with the ‘Feedback on preparatory work’ outlined in Webinar 3, which was to:

– Develop a search strategy for your selected priority topic
-Prepare an inventory of AMR-specific indicators in your country

Dr Fadi El-Jardali from the American University of Beirut updated participants on the progress of the four countries including: on the topics selected (Uganda on irrational antibiotic use; Nepal on AMR National Action Plan (NAP) implementation [adjudged to be more about the solution than the problem]; Malawi on the utilization of AMR evidence generated at facility/national level and translation into policy [also more about the solution than the problem]; and Bangladesh, which had not yet been reviewed. The review also included country search strategies. The feedback included questions from participants.

The webinar then focused on the next (of the 15) training sessions:

Session 9. Preparing the EBPs: clarifying and framing the problem including:

Knowledge Translation (KT). Which facilitates the process of translating research into policy and action; and KT products which allow evidence generated from systematic reviews – the basic units of KT – to be packaged in a user-friendly format, written in clear language, and with key messages to increase the likelihood of adoption by policy-makers, and resonance among different target audiences. The use of systematic reviews enable policy-makers to scan large bodies of research evidence to address key features of any policy issue of interest.
Evidence briefs for policy (EBP) or simply ‘policy briefs’, the most widely used KT product. Which bring together: global research evidence (from systematic reviews), local evidence (from primary studies, reports, indicators), context-specific knowledge (key informant interviews with targeted policy-makers/stakeholders) to inform deliberations on health policies/programmes.

The content of EBPs comprise:
– Problem statement: A policy problem that summarizes the best available evidence to clarify the size and nature of the problem and its underlying causes.

– Options or elements: Three or more viable policy and programmatic options described.

– Implementation considerations: Potential barriers to implementing the options/elements and strategies for addressing those.
The EBP does not provide recommendations for action.

The remainder of Webinar 4 featured the Group work exercise facilitated by Racha Fadlallah from K2P Lebanon (and support from EVIPNet). The group work comprised four groups – one for each country (including representatives from WHO country offices, and observers from EVIP/RADAAR) – with the aim:

Frame a problem statement for selected priority topic
Refer to the evidence brief for policy template
Develop a Problem (problem statement) and the underlying causes of the problem section

A template was provided by EVIP facilitators (based on the presentation from Session 9) with sections for completion by country groups.

Presentation slides are available here

Webinar 3. Harnessing Best Available Research Evidence for EBPs: What, Where and How?

Date:Thursday, 25 August 2022
Objectives:

To understand the ABCs of searching the literature
To recognize what type of evidence to search for when preparing EBP
To identify key databases to search for research evidence (with a focus on systematic reviews)
To appraise the quality of included systematic reviews
To document the search strategy
To develop a search strategy and search key databases for systematic reviews – Hands on work
To provide feedback on preparatory work

A total of 59 participants from Bangladesh, Nepal, Uganda, and Malawi attended the webinar, together with those from IVI-RADAAR and EVIPNet/WHO.

Webinar 3 began with the ‘Feedback on preparatory work’ outlined in Webinar 2, which was to:

Complete the mapping of the policy and political context and key stakeholders related to AMR
Select a priority topic/area related to AMR in your country

Fadi El-Jardali from the American University in Beirut updated participants on the progress of the four countries and provided further guidance for countries on completing these two crucial stages. Malawi was used as an example applicable to other countries, in terms of structuring thinking in relation to identifying the issue, the political context, what has already been done in terms of AMR, what is missing and why, and stakeholder mapping. Country participants summarised their experiences. The feedback ended with a discussion on the priority areas of focus for the Evidence Brief for Policy (EBP), with updates from countries.

Following feedback reporting, the webinar focused on the next two (of 15) training sessions:

Session 7. Designing search strategies to identify and access research evidence on priority topics including: the importance of effective searches (6,500 medical articles published daily); the use of ‘Boolean Operators (e.g., And, Or, Not); identification of search terms; building a search strategy, including formulating the question/issue, choosing appropriate databases, dividing the question/issue into 2 or 3 concepts, generating search terms for each concept, and combining concepts – and search terms within concepts – using Boolean operators; and validating/documenting the search.

An example of a ‘search’ template was presented, and which participants would complete in the group work at the end of the webinar. The template included: the Problem/Issue being addressed, the Options, the Concepts, the Search terms for each concept, and Combining concepts using Boolean operators

The importance of collecting the best available evidence for EBPs was stressed: local evidence and global research evidence from systematic reviews. Guidance was provided on where to search for such information, including local and national databases, websites of relevant organisations, search engines, ‘grey’ literature, and systematic reviews.

Session 8: Understanding the role of systematic reviews in influencing policy decisions including: the Concept of a systematic review; key databases to search – and how to search – for reviews (e.g., Health Systems Evidence, Cochrane, PubMed); a live demonstration of a search on Health Systems Evidence and PubMed databases; and assessing the quality of reviews (e.g., using AMSTAR).

The remainder of Webinar 3 featured the Group work exercise facilitated by Racha Fadlallah and
Lama Bou Karroum from K2P Lebanon (with support from EVIPNet). The group work was comprised of four groups
– one for each country (including representatives from WHO country offices, with observers from EVIP/RADAAR) – with the aim: To develop a search strategy and search key databases for systematic reviews.

A template was provided by EVIP facilitators (based on the presentation from Session 7) with sections for completion by country groups as follows: the Topic/Issue being addressed, the Concepts, the Search terms for each concept, Combining concepts using Boolean operators, and the Databases searched.

Presentation slides are available here

Webinar 2. Mapping of Policy/Political Context and Key Stakeholders

Date:Thursday, 18 August 2022
Objectives:

To highlight the importance of understanding the political and health system to enable the design of a proper policy response
To outline the key areas to keep in mind when mapping the policy and political context
To specify the key role categories for stakeholder mapping
To map policy/political context and key stakeholders related to AMR- Hands on work
To provide feedback on preparatory work

A total of 65 participants from Bangladesh, Nepal, Uganda, and Malawi attended the webinar, together with those from IVI-RADAAR and WHO.

After a brief introduction, Webinar 2 began with ‘Feedback on preparatory work’ outlined in Webinar 1:

To form Evidence Briefs for Policy (EBP) core team (with assigned roles/tasks)
To identify relevant stakeholders involved in or affected by AMR in your country

The EBP Team is responsible for developing the EBP and conducting key informant interviews (KIIs), hence an appropriate mixture of expertise is key to a successful team, including members with experience in: methods of writing an EBP; administration; evidence search, appraisal and synthesis; technical expertise on the topic being addressed in the EBP; and communication. Each country must also appoint an EBP steering committee to support the EBP development process, comprising: 4-6 multisectoral, multidisciplinary and high-level stakeholders from government/policy-makers/researchers knowledgeable in the topic and able to contribute to the development of the EBP for AMR.

Each of the four countries reported briefly on the steps taken to form the Core Team, Steering Committee, and in identifying AMR stakeholders (some countries had also informed RADAAR/EVIP prior to the Webinar via email).

Following reporting, the Webinar focused on the next two (of 15) training sessions:

Session 5. Understanding the political and health system and outlining key areas to keep in mind when mapping the policy and political context including: the importance of context-specific and actionable evidence, in particular the political/policy context (e.g., characteristics of government structures, civil service – and interests of – policy-making stakeholders, societal values and external factors, such as social and economic); and health system context (e.g., evidence on health system inputs, processes, and outputs and the analysis of how they combine to produce outcomes, such as – the WHO defined – service delivery, health workforce, information, medical technologies, finance, and leadership/governance).

Session 6:Stakeholder mapping including: on stakeholder interests, i.e., concerns over how a policy may impact them; their positions, i.e., degree of agreement or disagreement with the policy; and their power, i.e., capacity to influence policy. The steps in stakeholder mapping include: defining the goal and implications of the proposed policy change; listing interest groups involved in the issue; categorizing stakeholders according to their influence and power over, and level of interest in the issue; determining a strategy to engage relevant stakeholders; conducting KIIs; and presenting stakeholder analysis.

Stakeholders identified include: decision-/policy-makers (e.g., ministries, government agencies, parliamentarians, municipalities); influencers (e.g., NGOs/CSOs, religious leaders, media, private sector); and the public (e.g., those affected by AMR).

A case example from Ghana was presented to highlight the steps in stakeholder mapping.

Webinar 2 concluded with a Group work exercise (with support from EVIPNet/K2P)
Group work was comprised of four groups – one for each country (including representatives from WHO country offices) – with the aim of:

Mapping of the Political/Policy context
AMR Stakeholder Mapping

A template was provided by facilitators with nine questions to capture the above details including: the issue; progress made in addressing the issue; previous related policies/laws/regulations; whether the issue is on the government agenda; windows of opportunity; requirements to reach the policy objective; how laws/regulations are implemented to this purpose; stakeholders involved; and the power interplay among/between stakeholders. The questions provided background information to enable completion of full ‘Stakeholder Mapping’ template (including stakeholder, description, name, power, interest).

Presentation slides are available here

Webinar 1. Overview of Policy-making Process and Role of Evidence in Health Policy-making

Date:Thursday, 11 August 2022
Objectives:

Acquaint participants with the EVIPNet approach of translating evidence to policy
Introduce attendees to the policy-making process/role of evidence in health policy-making
Raise participants’ awareness of efforts to link research to policy
Share success stories of EVIPNet Member Countries related to development of EBPs on AMR

A total of 88 participants from Bangladesh, Nepal, Uganda, and Malawi attended the webinar, together with those from IVI-RADAAR and WHO.

After an introduction to evidence-informed policy-making (EIP) and EVIPNet, Webinar 1 included the first four (of 15) training sessions:

Session 1. Brief overview of the policy-making process including: promoting the use of research evidence in policy-making to improve health systems; increasing country capacity in/institutionalising knowledge translation (KT); approaches to increase research utilization; developing evidence briefs to inform health policy deliberations, and assess the impacts of policy options; and the evidence-action cycle, including priority-setting, evidence, convening deliberative dialogue, and policy implementation.

Presentation slides are available here

Session 2: Understanding role of evidence in policy-making process and efforts to support use of evidence in policy-making including: policy process overview; major public policy theories/frameworks; stages in public policy making, i.e., definition, agenda setting, and policy instruments/implementation/ evaluation; importance of robust research/data/evidence, as well as KT tools/strategies; and enhancing awareness/capacity of, and engaging policy-makers/stakeholders early, and sustaining engagement.

Presentation slides are available here

Session 3: Knowledge generation and knowledge translation as a spectrum: evidence on establishing and/or strengthening national health research system using a systems approach and the need of cross evidence ecosystem collaboration including: the National health research system (NHRS); WHO guides/ tools; key workstreams of the evidence ecosystem, i.e., partnering for complementary support in decision-making; HO workstreams, i.e., data analytics, guidelines, health technology assessment (HTA), evidence-informed policy-making supports, modelling, and behavioral research; and the evidence ecosystem framework and policy/action cycle.

Presentation slides are available here

Session 4: Learning from success stories of EVIPNet Member Countries: development of evidence briefs for policy on AMR including: Slovenia case study on ‘Translating AMR data and evidence into effective policies (EBP development); driving factors, challenges, and lessons learned; importance of a multi-level/sectoral approach; the need to integrate local evidence; the crucial role of Ministries of Health to put options on the political agenda (and sufficient capacity within the MoH and NIPH).

Presentation slides are available here

Prerana Prajulee

Email Prerana.Parajulee@ivi.int

Prerana is a public health expert, who has been leading health economics research component in various projects at IVI including technical support to RADAAR. She is part of RADAAR core team and has been closely involved from early phase of project planning, implementation, and execution. She has overseen activities pertaining to ethical reviews and approval, is leading communications with external and internal AMR stakeholders, and is providing technical support during report preparation for RADAAR related activities.

Giyoung Paing

Email Giyoung.paing@ivi.int

Giyoung is a Workshops and Webinars Coordinator for the RADAAR project with a wide range of experience in communications. At IVI, she is responsible for communications and event management, including developing materials to support and promote RADAAR’s work, managing digital channels and coordinating events. Previously, she worked as Culture and Information Officer at the Embassy of Sweden to the Republic of Korea. She holds a BA in Communications from Sogang University.

Jinhui Hong

Email Jinhui.Hong@ivi.int

Jinhui is a Project Manager with extensive experiences working in infectious disease programs for low-and middle-income countries including North Korea. At IVI, she is responsible for managing RADAAR project bringing insight to ensure the project is smoothly implemented with an effective approach and efficient process.

Before IVI, she has worked for various organizations ranging from research institution, NGOs to government aid agency working on infectious disease in global health settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Yonsei University.

Holy Akwar

EmailHoly.Akwar@ivi.int

Holy is a Research Scientist and the One Health Lead on the RADAAR project. He has more than 15 years of experience working as an infectious disease epidemiologist within the Canadian health portfolio and Low and Middle-Income countries in Africa and Asia. His work involved infection prevention and control and developing and implementing surveillance systems. At FAO, he worked on evaluation of epidemiology capacity of LMICs and capacity development in applied veterinary epidemiology for front-line professionals.

Holy holds a DVM from Ahmadu Bello University and PhD in Epidemiology from University of Guelph, specialized in Antimicrobial Resistance at the animal-human-environment interface. He holds the Canadian Risk Management designation and a member of the American College of Epidemiology.

Satyajit Sarkar

EmailSatyajit.Sarkar@ivi.int

Satyajit is the Principal Investigator and the Policy & Advocacy Lead for the RADAAR Project. He comes with nearly 30 years of hands-on experience in strategy development and implementation of large-scale socio-behavioral change, risk communication, and policy advocacy initiatives, including in conflict and complex emergency settings. He has previously worked with WHO, FAO, and UNICEF on several flagship and large-scale initiatives such as Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness/Outbreak Response; HPV vaccine introduction; Cholera outbreak response; Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR); International Health Regulations (IHR); the H1N1 Pandemic and Avian Influenza prevention and control campaigns; the Stop TB campaign and the Global Polio Eradication initiative. Satyajit holds a Master’s in Risk Analysis from King’s College, London, and another Master’s in Television and Video for Development from the University of Reading, UK.

Chaelin Kim

Email Chaelin.kim@ivi.int

Chaelin Kim is a research assistant at the International Vaccine Institute’s Policy and Economic Research Department. In the academic year 2019-2020, she received her MSc in health policy planning and financing from LSE and LSHTM. She studied theology and political science before obtaining her master’s degree. She is assisting the RADAAR team with literature research, bottleneck analysis, policy advocacy guidance development, and the delivery of numerous RADAAR meetings, seminars, and webinars as a member of the team.

Hwayoung Kim

Email Hwayoung.Kim@ivi.int

Hwayoung is a Project Administrator in Epidemiology, Public Health, Impact (EPIC) Unit at IVI. Within RADAAR team, she is supporting administrative aspects of the project.

Before joining IVI, she had worked as a Program Coordinator at the Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, in charge of operating an international master’s degree program for health professionals from developing countries (as an ODA project funded by the Korean government through KOICA). She has an educational background in Public Health (MPH) and Political Science and Diplomacy (BA).

Anthony Burnett

Email Anthony.Burnett@ivi.int

Anthony is a consultant on the RADAAR project, focused on AMR policy, advocacy and communication. He has 20 years of professional experience in the humanitarian and development sector, including strategic programming planning, policy and advocacy, and risk analysis and assessment.

Anthony has worked as a consultant/staff member for UNICEF, WHO, and FAO, focused upon risk, infectious diseases, and emergencies; including in south-east/south/central Asia, southern/north Africa, and eastern Europe. His experience is complemented through academic study, including: MSc in Risk Assessment from King’s College, University of London, focused on risk analysis/risk management/risk communication, with a dissertation on health and disease risk; and MA in Film, Television and Communication Production from University of Westminster, London.

Meet the team

Meet The Team

Satyajit Sarkar

Holy Akwar

Satyajit Sarkar

Holy Akwar

Jinhui Hong

Giyoung Paing

Jinhui Hong

Giyoung Paing

Prerana Parajulee

Chaelin Kim

Prerana Parajulee

Chaelin Kim

Hwayoung Kim

Anthony Burnett

Hwayoung Kim

Anthony Burnett

Social Media

Webinar 8. Simulation Meeting: Presentation of Formative Evidence Brief for Policy (EBP)

Webinar 7. Post-EBP uptake phase: Policy Dialogues, Visualization, and Role of Media

Webinar 6. Closing the loop: From Policy Options to Implementation Considerations

Webinar 5. Framing Viable Policy Options to Address a Problem: A Step-by-Step Guide

Webinar 4. Framing the Problem for EBPs: A Science and a Craft

Webinar 3. Harnessing Best Available Research Evidence for EBPs: What, Where and How?

Webinar 2. Mapping of Policy/Political Context and Key Stakeholders

Webinar 1. Overview of Policy-making Process and Role of Evidence in Health Policy-making

Prerana Prajulee

Giyoung Paing

Jinhui Hong

Holy Akwar

Satyajit Sarkar

Chaelin Kim

Hwayoung Kim

Anthony Burnett