The Ethiopian initiative to build sustainable capacity for operational research: overview and lessons learned.

Setting: Programme-based operational research is instrumental for the enhancement of tuberculosis (TB) control. In 2012, the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health launched an initiative for capacity building in operational research (OR). Objective: To develop sustainable capacity for OR in Ethiopia in a multiyear initiative. Design: The initiative was developed in collaboration with regional, national and international experts. Teams representing regions in Ethiopia conducted OR addressing national and regional priorities. To make use of local expertise and increase sustainability, a domestic mentor training programme was included. Existing capacity was enhanced through a competitive grant scheme providing TB researchers with financial and technical support. The Ethiopian Tuberculosis Research Advisory Committee was also supported in its functions. Regional ethics review bodies were strengthened or established where they did not exist. Results: Fifty-two people were trained and conducted 13 OR projects, of which six have been published to date. In addition, eight protocols were supported through grants. Ethics review bodies were strengthened in all regions. Conclusion: The initiative trained participants from all regions and succeeded in the completion of all stages of the OR process. The success of the programme can be attributed to the team approach, ‘learning while doing’, integrated mentorship programme and strong national ownership.