Immpact is the international research Initiative for Maternal

Mortality Programme Assessment

Sept 2002- to date

Goal: to improve the evidence-base for decision-makers on strategies to reduce maternal & newborn mortality

• 7 partner research institutions in North and South (grant holder and co-ordinating centre at University of Aberdeen)

• At height of field activity, 250 people employed, mostly in 3 low income countries. Max staff at UoA 50.

• Funded by DFID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID

• Total award 2002-2008: £20m – largest single award ever made to University of Aberdeen

III. Dissemination & communication

IV. Facilitating uptake of research outputs

II. Main outputs:• New tools;• Evidence from complex evaluations in 3 main countries (+ 5);• Strengthened research capacity;• Technical advisory arm (Ipact).

Project cycle 2002-2008+

I. Aim: strengthen the evidence-base on mortality reduction strategies

Crucial GRIPP step

Research priority-setting

Knowledge-generation & dissemination

Evidencetranslation

Policy-making processes

Source: Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research. 2007.

GRIPP: Getting research into policy and practice

Who should do translation of research evidence?

Knowledge brokers work at the interface between research organizations and their target audiences.

http://www.research-transfer.org

Knowledge brokers aim to provide evidence that is accessible, timely, credible and trusted, and packaged in user-friendly format, relevant to the local context.

“The role of the scientist is to use research to ascertain the effectiveness of innovative policies

and programs.

This is in contrast to {their} role as advisor in which the scientist can indulge in over-advocacy ...”.

Donald T Campbell 1988 The experimenting society.

7

Researchers are from Venus.

Policy makers are from Mars.

Different worlds, different “communities”

Media

Advocates, civil society, NGOs, parliamentarians

Research institutions

Think tanks

Funding bodies

Government bodies

Stakeholders for research evidence are diverse

•120 journal publications; 3 special journal supplements; 1 book; •1 international conference; 3 national conferences; •12 policy briefs; • 3 websites (+open access to data); •1 toolkit of measurement instruments; • 5 PhDs; 7 masters degrees; • Country reports in English, French & Bahasa; • CD-based interactive inventory of materials;• 45 presentations or posters at international conferences.• short course on monitoring and evaluation (Ipact);

Conventional research outputs:

Viral film: Birth & Deathwww.whiteribbonalliance.org

“Four births and a funeral”(or children sitting

on their mother’s grave)

WHO, 2004

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

“Quality facility deliveries”

“Ensuring that the care received is good quality will enable substantial additional benefits to be reaped in terms of fewer deaths to mothers& babies.” (p.50)

“Free quality services for women and children at the point of use …..” (p.53)

“Strong evaluation techniques.. ..to measure progress in implementing quality MNCH services and costs, as well as … lives saved.” (p.54)

Launched 22nd Sept 2010

University of Aberdeen – one of only 14 academic institutions invited by Ban Ki Moon to publically endorse new Global Strategy

In the next 20 years, India is projected to become the most populous nation in the world

India currently contributes a fifth of the global total of maternal deaths

Immpact recently invited to support the GOI in design & implementation of a Road Map to improve quality of delivery care in institutions

Creating an enabling environment for GRIPP

• Start from perspective of decision-makers/end-users

• Ensure continuity of linkages & exchange

• Promote multiple pathways to GRIPP & form strategic alliances

• Capitalise on personal contacts, trust & credibility

• Timely findings (planning or budget cycles; reforms)

• Communicate effectively (filtered/amplified evidence; tailored messaging)