The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) - World Health Organization (WHO) are developing a country-focused program to support the implementation of technical cooperation projects in the region.
The objective of this initiative is to facilitate improvements in program implementation through implementation research that is embedded within existing processes in Latin America and the Caribbean. These are country-focused proposals and are not conventional 'research studies'.
What is iPIER
"Improving Program Implementation through Embedded Research (iPIER) is an initiative aimed at facilitating the implementation of effective health interventions through the use of research that is conducted as a part of the implementation process. iPIER is currently being carried out by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research in collaboration with three WHO Regional Offices. PAHO is first of three WHO Regional Offices where the program is been implemented" (from the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research).
The iPIER Model
"The iPIER model places implementers, such as policy-makers, district health officers, programme managers, and front-line health workers, at the centre of the research process. Implementers play a leadership role in the research endeavour and will work with academic partners to apply systematic methods of inquiry to understand barriers in health systems that obstruct implementation as well as to identify solutions to these barriers. In this way, implementation research can be used as a tool to improve policy and programmatic decision-making processes related to the scale up of effective health interventions. iPIER does not intend to "transform" implementers into researchers, but rather works to ensure that implementation research activities reflect the needs and priorities of decision-makers while strengthening the capacity of the system to respond to implementation challenges" (from the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research).
Publications and Resources
WHO Strategy on Health Policy and Systems Research
The WHO Strategy on Health Policy and Systems Research, Changing Mindsets advocates for greater generation and use of research evidence in health policy and builds a case for further investment in this critical area of research. The World Health Organization took the lead in developing this strategy based on robust science while also drawing on the experience and wisdom of multiple stakeholders in a transparent, inclusive and participatory manner.
Research for universal health coverage: World health report 2013
The World health report: research for universal health coverage focuses on the importance of research in advancing progress towards universal health coverage. In addition, it identifies the benefits of increased investment in health research by low- and middle-income countries using case studies from around the world, and proposes ways to further strengthen this type of research.
Implementation Research in Health: A Practical Guide
Implementation Research in Health: A Practical Guide was created with the aim of boosting implementation research capacity, particularly in LMICs. Intended for newcomers to the field, those already conducting implementation research, and those with responsibility for designing and implementing programmes and policies, the guide provides an introduction to basic implementation research concepts and language, briefly outlines what it involves, and describes the many exciting opportunities that it presents.