Dear HIFA colleagues,
A few days ago we noted a new publication from WHO:
WHO: Global research agenda on knowledge translation and evidence-informed policy-making: prioritizing research for better decision-making
https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/who-global-research-agenda-knowledge-tr...
'This publication presents the first Global research agenda on knowledge translation and evidence‑informed policy‑making (KT/EIP) developed by the World Health Organization to strengthen the use of evidence in health decision-making. Developed through a global, inclusive process involving experts from 38 countries, the agenda identifies 19 priority research areas focused on what works in KT/EIP, what enables or hinders evidence use, and how methods and tools can be improved. It serves as a practical guide for researchers, policy-makers, funders and partners to align efforts and translate evidence into effective, equitable health policies...'
'The top five are:
1. making KT/EIP part of everyday decision-making – finding ways to embed evidence use into regular policy and practice;
2. showing what works – evaluating how KT/EIP tools and strategies make a difference in policy-making;
3. working together better – exploring how researchers, decision-makers and others can co-create and share evidence more effectively;
4. understanding the bigger picture – looking at how local context affects whether and how evidence is used and scaled up; and
5. using evidence in emergencies – finding better ways to translate and apply research quickly during public health crises.'
Each of these top five are complex challenges and need to be further unpacked. I am sure that any of them would serve as an excellent theme for an in-depth discussion on HIFA.
I would like to invite your comments on any or all of the above, and then we can seek modest sponsorship to take this forward as a HIFA project this year.
In the meantime I shall try to find out from our WHO colleagues which theme might be most useful for us to focus on. And I shall liaise with the HIFA-WHO Collaboration Group to see how this might align with Activity 1 (2026) in our Collaboration Plan in official relations with WHO: 'To support the development of a technical brief for the World Health Organization to accelerate progress towards universal access to reliable healthcare information'.
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org