“Micro-Research” for Developing Countries: Borrowing From the Microfinance Experience

Abstract

Background: Africa bears one quarter of the burden of disease worldwide, yet has barely 3% of all health workers. A recent WHO 'Call to Action' urged funding agencies to develop research capacity in Africa and recommended that community organisations be included in the research process. However, lack of access to funds has hampered the health research studies needed to improve local quality-of-care. A new model for research funding is desperately needed. The microfinance concept of Muhammad Yunus has generated economic opportunities in developing nations by giving impoverished citizens access to capital to start new small businesses. Borrowing from this principle, micro-research could offer researchers small grants to address relevant, local health research questions; communitybased participatory research (CBPR). Objective: A pilot program has been launched, between Canadian and Ungandan research organizations and Universities to assess the potential of micro-research to enhance research capacity. Method: The program provides research education (through a face to face workshop and ongoing internet curriculum), mentoring, seed funding ($2-4,000 per project) and ongoing peer-to-peer interaction. The goal of the micro-research approach to CBPR is to build research capacity and foster a culture of inquiry applicable to local health care needs and decision making. Local interdisciplinary groups set the priorities, develop a proposal and assess the outcome of each project. Results: A research capacity workshop with 22 participants was completed, a web based curriculum for ongoing support is 75% complete, 2 CBPR projects were started with grant support from peer review process. Conclusion: Bureaucracy in micro-research will be kept to a minimum. The major focus will be on the local outcomes: research capacity enhancement, local applied health research questions addressed and health improvements achieved through application of research findings. As with microfinance, spinoffs from micro-research will likely start slowly but, with time, become significant, reaching areas of the world where the need is greatest for improved health.