Table 3 Capacity development plans

1. Increase in sector WASH capacity

Outcome

Build research capacity in the WASH sector in Zambia

Build research capacity in the WASH sector in Kenya

Build research capacity in the WASH sector in Tanzania

Build research capacity in the WASH sector in Malawi

Input

1. SHARE scholar award supports field research for two Master’s students at the University of Zambia on a WASH-related subject

2. Funding to stimulate innovative WASH designs among engineering students

1. SHARE scholar award supports four grants for Masters students at GLUK to conduct WASH research

2. One PhD student to conduct research on community health volunteers and food hygiene practices

1. Host training on WASH research methods and scientific advances

1. Creation and delivery of six training courses:

- Rigorous research and use of data

- Data management and analysis

- Monitoring and evaluation

- Geographic information systems and remote sensing

- Financial management of research grants

- Use of RANAS model in WASH

2. Increase in contribution to scientific evidence

Outcome

CIDRZ junior staff develop scientific writing skills

Graduate students, middle level managers and policy-makers build capacity in scientific writing

Postgraduate students undertake specific WASH research

Postgraduate students undertake specific WASH research and develop skills for scientific writing

Input

1. Host writing skills course

2. CIDRZ staff attend writing skills course

1. PhD student attended CIDRZ writing skills course

2. Organise workshop and symposiums on WASH

3. One publication by a Master’s student

4. One publication by a PhD student

1. Funding of small research projects for MSc or PhD (×2) students

2. Individual attends CIDRZ writing skills course

1. Financial support to PhD students whose research is aligned with the SHARE II Malawi protocol

2. Workshops related to publication development

3. Three grants (13 in total including those from National Budget) for Master’s students in WASH-related studies

4. Individual attended CIDRZ writing skills course

3. Increase in dissemination and use of evidence

Outcome

CIDRZ has an active Research into Use platform

GLUK disseminates research and evidence at national and international events

MITU disseminates research and evidence at national and international events

MEIRU increase sharing of knowledge in the sector

Input

Proactive scoping of key stakeholders nationally and scheduled engagement

Dissemination of research through local and international events

1. Dissemination of research through local and national stakeholder meetings

2. Participating in international conferences (World Water Forum, Stockholm, WEDC, UNC), International Conference of Urban Health

1. Participation in international conferences (41st WEDC International Conference, Nakuru, Kenya; UNC Water and Health Conference 2018, North Carolina, USA)

Dissemination of research through national stakeholder meetings

1. Support for the Water and Environmental Sanitation Network for Malawi to establish a working group for research and knowledge exchange, update website to support research dissemination and development of a repository, development and delivery of podcasts, and establishment of a database for WASH research

2. Prepared and hosted two national symposia (World Toilet Day 2017 and Global Hand Washing Day 2018) as knowledge-sharing events for researchers, practitioners and policy-makers

3. Provide funding for travel and advocacy

4. Increase in clinical/technical or administrative skills within the institution

Outcome

Improve technical skills within CIDRZ

Improve skills within GLUK

Increase skills within MITU

Increase skills within WASHTED

Input

1. Funding for an individual to attend a placement with a high-quality grant management institution

2. Support for short-term training in ODK programming for two CIDRZ Data Managers

3. Partial support for two laboratory Research Fellows to learn specific skills in South Africa

1. Funding of workshops in biostatistics, and manuscript writing

2. Financial support for training in research ethics, ODK and data management, facilitated by KEMRI

3. Support for qualitative data analysis training by KEMRI

4. Support for WASH behaviour change approaches by the team from LSHTM

5. Laboratory skills by the team from University of Iowa

6. One staff member to receive short training in research office management

7. One staff member to receive short training in grant financial management

1. Funding for research coordinator to attend two MSc modules at LSHTM

2. Admin team develop skills

1. Developed and launched WASHTED strategic plan with support from SHARE management team

2. Supported the development and management of lunch time seminars accessible to all personnel within UNIMA

3. SHARE management team provided administrative and financial training during visits to Malawi

4. SHARE management team provided mentoring to WASHTED personnel

5. Improved access to technical and information technology software and tools

Outcome

Access to institutional licenses to enable scientific capacity development

Access to institutional licenses to enable scientific capacity development

N/A

N/A

Input

Purchase 10 EndNote licenses; 5 N-vivo licenses and five Stata licenses to be installed on institutional computers

Purchase of statistical analysis and reference management software and database