The Zambia Forum for Health Research (ZAMFOHR) aims to improve the health quality of Zambians by ensuring that health research evidence forms the basis for the policy and practice that drives the healthcare system. The majority of health research that is being carried out in Zambia is inaccessible, but ZAMFOHR intends to transform this crisis.

 

The ZAMFOHR is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to fostering the development of scientifically and ethically-sound health research.  ZAMFOHR harvests the research results for application in policy formulation, programme implementation and clinical practice. The Forum aspires to serve the government ministries, such as the Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders in the health sector by synthesizing current research and presenting it in a form that facilitates evidence-based decision-making.  As well, it aspires to serve the research community by improving access to scientific literature and ongoing work that is being undertaken by colleagues.  In this way, ZAMFOHR endeavours to contribute to building capacity to produce, manage, translate and use research. It also hopes to be able to assist in priority setting and harmonizing research in the country.

 

The vision of ZAMFOHR is: an environment in which health research evidence forms the basis for policy and practice, leading to improved health. Its mission is: to contribute to the improvement of the health status of the Zambian population through coordinated and responsive health research and evidence. It seeks to position itself as the leading agent for promoting research-to-action in Zambia through knowledge translation, guided by the basic principles of equity and ethical practice in healthcare and health research.

 

Focus Area	Specific Activities
Harvest, filter, synthesis of research	Gather and synthesize research and evidence to provide clarity and a critical appraisal of “hot”topics/policy issues; facilitate identification of relevant topics and knowledge gaps
communication and dissemination of research	Repackage research information into accessible formats for policymakers and civil society through newsletters, e-bulletins, ZAMFOHR journal; bring experts and practitioners together to share questions and knowledge
Capacity building: to connect research with research-users	Train academia on: policy process, presentation skills, interview skills, how to preform systematic reviews, synthesis skills
Create databases and directories of reference information	Perform systematic reviews of health research; directories of health researchinstitutions, contact information for health academia, media institutions
Capacity building: research facilitation	Train researchers on proposal writing, funding sources; provide mentoring opportunities; provide links with international research institutions, fellowship programmes; Research on current mechanisms for knowledge translation