On August 19th, 2025, four selected research teams commenced a Residential Training on Conducting Systematic Reviews with promising research topics in hand, and by August 22nd, emerged with drafted and registered systematic review protocols. The workshop was part of the Sustaining the African Health Initiative Community of Practice (AHI CoP) project, funded by the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF). The project aims to cultivate a vibrant community of practice of implementation researchers across Africa.
Led by Dr. Caesar Agula and Dr. Samuel Amon, the four-day intensive program provided participants with a comprehensive overview of systematic review methodology, hands-on guidance in protocol development, and a collaborative environment for peer learning. The participants comprised researchers from the University of Ghana, University of Health and Allied Sciences, and Ensign Global University.
Following the training, participants expressed gratitude to the organising team for the knowledge imparted and their interest in contributing to the community of practice. Their sentiments can be summarised by feedback from one of the participants who stated, “Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this workshop. I look forward to contributing to the growth of the community of Practice and other future events.”
By the end of the workshop, each team had produced a complete draft protocol ready to be submitted for publication after final review and revisions. These drafts are poised to make meaningful contributions to health system strengthening in the thematic areas; capacity building and primary health outcomes, climate change and the health system, data quality and community-based participatory health systems interventions and reflect the growing capacity of African researchers to lead rigorous and impactful implementation science.
Beyond enhancing technical skills, the workshop underscored the importance of community, mentorship, and collaborative learning. The participants unanimously committed to submitting their completed systematic reviews to peer-reviewed journals within six months.
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