Call for proposals! Implementation research for the prevention and control of NCDs

Overview

The World Health Organization (WHO) Noncommunicable Disease Department and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research invite proposals for implementation research that addresses integrated service delivery for the prevention and management of NCDs in low- or middleincome countries (LMICs). This call is tailored to the needs of implementers in LMICs, to support their desire to conduct implementation research, to address implementation bottlenecks, and ultimately sustainably scale-up NCD care. The Principal Investigator (PI) must be a researcher based in a research institution in a LMIC. Priority will be given to countries engaged in existing capacity strengthening activities for NCD-related implementation research (Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Myanmar and Nepal). Other LMIC countries will be considered based on strength of proposal and funding opportunities.

This call is tailored to the needs of implementers in LMICs, to support their desire to conduct implementation research, to address implementation bottlenecks, and ultimately sustainably scale-up NCD care.

Scope: what areas are being considered?

Types of intervention:

• Implementation of multiple interventions or service packages for priority NCDs (such as WHO PEN or HEARTS package);
• Innovative (such as digital technology), municipal and communitybased solutions to address critical challenges and barriers of delivering NCD services;
• Strengthening health systems and primary health care to provide NCD services;
• Integrated services through people-centred primary health care approaches; Integration with other disease services (platform or programme) – such as mental health, HIV, TB, RMNCH, severe NCDs, or neglected tropic diseases – to maximize impact;
• Effective models of care, including evolution and changing strategy to meet new priorities of the population and improve the performance of the health system; and
• Projects targeting multiple sites/districts within one country, or including multiple countries.
  Project proposals should:
• Contain an element of equity and resilience tailored to the essential health care needs of a post-COVID-19 environment;
• Emphasize the engagement of research teams, service providers or clinical teams and local communities through implementation;
• Show potential of generating policy to transform or change of health care practice; and
• Include any technical assistance required to support the development of the research protocol or deliver the research project.

Timelines

The timeline for the activities for call for proposal is March 2023–March 2024. The eligible research teams from each country, once selected, have the option to receive mentoring and support through relevant partners in the WHO implementation research network.

Eligibility

The Principal Investigator (PI) must be a researcher based in a research institution in a low- or middle-income country. Priority will be given to countries engaged in existing capacity strengthening activities for NCDrelated implementation research (Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Myanmar, Nepal).

Other LMIC countries will be considered based on strength of proposal and funding opportunities. Teams must be gender balanced with women comprising at least 50% of the research team. Teams must have the ability to engage directly with and coproduce the research with national or subnational health policy-makers. Teams must, in their proposals, be able to demonstrate their plans for engaging with policy-makers.
Application process: Deadline: 30 November 2022, 23:59 CET

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