Table 1 Summary of methods

1. Development of steering committee and agreement on methodological approach

To guide methodological development

Members from the core steering committee discussed methodological development during two workshops in London

Full day on June 4 and July 17, 2014

2. Consultation on research needs a) Online survey b) Group session at the Health Systems Global Symposium

To identify health system research needs among a global sample

A purposefully selected sample of global and national stakeholders was invited to complete the survey Panellists and attendees of the Symposium session were invited to discuss health system research needs within the group

15-minute survey was open for 2 weeks in October 2014 45-minute session was held on September 30, 2014

3. Refining and short-listing research needs

To refine and short-list identified research needs

Anonymised survey results were discussed in terms of relevance and importance among the steering committee and members of ReBUILD Consortium in online group discussions, using a Delphi technique

Discussions were open for 4 weeks in December 2014

4. Reaching consensus on research agenda

To present, discuss and create consensus on the research agenda

All participants and relevant stakeholders were invited to participate in a webinar during which survey results and an initial short-list of research needs were discussed Those not able to make the webinar were asked to provide feedback via the Health Systems in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States LinkedIn group

1-hour Webinar on May 27, 2015 LinkedIn feedback open from May to August 2015

5. Developing more specific research questions

To finalise the research agenda

Purposefully invited participants were asked to critically appraise study results and develop research questions based on identified research needs at an ‘expert workshop’ in London

2-hour discussion on September 2, 2015