Communicating research for utilisation

Status: Completed project

Duration: 2010-2011

Project lead: Organisational Systems Development, South Africa

Project partners: Centre for Research into Evaluation of Science and Technology (CREST) at Stellenbosch University; The Association of Commonwealth Universities

Funder: Department for International Development (DFID)

Summary: This small-scale study considered the potential of a complementary approach to existing research communication initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA); a meso-level strategy to build capacity inside the institution where the researcher is employed and to establish research communication expertise as a core competency set. It examined whether central capacity could better support researchers, better utilise the externally-funded support given on a project by project basis; enable learning from multiple projects; and make the research outputs of universities more visible, accessible, usable, cost effective, and sustainable.

Outcomes: The study led to the implementation of the Development Research Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa (DRUSSA) programme, in which the partner organisations implemented much of the learning from this project.

Outputs: Communicating research for utilisation is the final report of the scoping study.