Table 1 Framework strategies by Uzochukwu et al. [2] and strategies identified in the synthesis work

S1: Policy-makers and stakeholders seeking evidence from researchers

Stakeholders request evidence on implementation/scaling up. The research is either funded by policy-makers and decision-makers or by an external agency. Thus, the strategy is about being responsive to opportunities created by policy-makers calling for evidence

S1: Stakeholders directly engaged with and sought evidence from researchers

In the research projects investigated, the funding scheme provided by the SNSF is common to all. Stakeholders, including policy-makers actively sought evidence from researchers, but did not initiate empirical research studies as suggested in the framework provided by Uzochuwku et al. [2]

S2: Involving stakeholders in designing objectives of a research project and throughout the research period

Stakeholders were involved in the designing of the research and throughout the project period. The research questions and objectives arose from these experiences of the MoH and involved stakeholders, such as the NHIS

S2: Stakeholders were involved in the design and throughout the implementation of the research project

According to S2 as described by Uzochukwu et al. [2], policy-makers initiated empirical research studies. Similarly, we found stakeholders involved in the design and implementation of r4d research projects from early on, but it was not the policy-makers themselves initiating the research studies

S3: Facilitating policy-maker–researcher engagement in optimizing ways of using research findings to influence policy and practice

This strategy focused on developing policy-maker capacity to use research evidence for policy-making by, for example, enhancing institutional capacity among senior and middle level health managers within the MoH to use research evidence to influence policy-making

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Among the participating r4d projects, we did not directly encounter this strategy of enhancing policy-makers’ capacity to use research evidence. However, in all the five r4d case studies studied, and hence as part of the three identified strategies, initiatives for strengthening research capacity were undertaken to train national researchers and strengthen the association with intstitutions directly involved

S4: Active dissemination of own research findings to relevant stakeholders and policy-makers

They key concepts of knowledge transfer were employed including research reports, peer reviewed papers, conference presentations and policy briefs

S3: Stakeholders engaged in participatory and transdisciplinary research approaches to co-produce knowledge and inform policy

According to S4 by Uzochukwu et al. [2], researchers in researcher-initiated empirical research studies actively disseminate their own findings

We did not encounter this strategy as such among the r4d case studies, as all of the participating resarchers were active in disseminating their research findings. Instead, our results showed that co-creation and transdisciplinary research approaches came close to this active knowledge transfer and even wents beyond dissemination to knowledge co-production by a range of stakeholders, which is why we have further elaborated this strategy