WP2 – Training and capacity building

This Work Package is led by Dr Valérie Briand, former researcher at Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and current head of the Research Department at Epicentre/MSF in France.

For the management of the WP2, she is closely supported by Prof. Kassoum Kayentao (USTTB, Mali), by Dr Jenny Hill (LSTM, UK) and by Prof. Halidou Tinto (CNRST/IRSS, Burkina Faso)

WP2 is a key component of INTEGRATION, focused on knowledge transfer to support young researchers from Mali and Burkina Faso in developing skills related to the project objectives.

In the context of this WP, 2 Master Students and 2 PhD students from each country was selected:

– Joel BOGNINI, from Burkina Faso, is registered at Bordeaux University (IRD) for a doctoral course on the topic: “Prenatal follow-up under new WHO recommendations: adoption and individual and contextual factors influencing the follow-up of these recommendations in Mali and Burkina Faso; effectiveness of a home-based intervention to increase the use of antenatal care”. His thesis is co-supervised by Dr Valérie Briand and Prof. Halidou Tinto.

– Kadiatou KOITA, from Mali, is registered at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) for a doctoral course on the topic: “Community-based approach to IPTp-SP delivery: feasibility, acceptability, and systems effectiveness”. Her thesis is co-supervised by Dr Jenny Hill and Prof. Kassoum Kayentao.

– Aida Millogo, from Burkina Faso, applied for a two-year master’s degree in Epidemiology at the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Belgium. For her Master, she is co-supervised by Prof. A. Roberts (UCL) and Prof Halidou Tinto.

– Hamadoun Diakité, from Mali, has been selected to follow a two-year master’s degree in public health/Epidemiology at Bordeaux University. For his master’s degree, he is co-supervised by Dr Valérie Briand, Dr Jean-Baptiste N’takpé (Researcher at IRD) and Prof. Kassoum Kayentao.

Objectives of the WP2

O2.1: To design the training programs for trial and qualitative study implementation.

O2.2: To increase trained research staff working on the project and compliant with GCP guidelines, including adherence to SOPs, and safety measures for COVID-19.

O2.3: To train 2 MSc and 2 PhD students (one of each per country).

How to reach these objectives?

How to reach O2.1

Central training will be provided for the study staff on trial specific procedures (GCP, ethics, quantitative and qualitative research management, GDocP, and GCDMP). Tailor-made refresher courses will be provided to maintain and improve the level of knowledge acquired, based on need assessment and study monitoring.

How to reach O2.2

To meet international GCP standards, ample training will be offered on these aspects with particular attention on increasing the skills and knowledge of research staff and CHWs working in the project sites through teaching sessions organised by IRD and each local site (USTTB and IRSS) prior each round of SMC, each year. Training will be done in each country.
Training in trial management and quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods will involve a hybrid approach consisting of on-site training sessions as well as webinars/online courses with the follow up of a mentor (from Bordeaux and Liverpool).

How to reach O2.3

Capacity building in the South will further strongly benefit from training of local MSc and PhD candidates in gaining knowledge in research methodology and epidemiology, implementation science, and health economics. One Master and one PhD student from each country will be registered at the University of Bordeaux and at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. A 3-year PhD programme in epidemiology/biostatistics and social sciences/economics is available in both institutions. PhD candidates will be identified in the very beginning of the project. Regarding master students, they will be enrolled in a 2-year master’s training programme on epidemiology or international health.