title: North-south collaboration and capacity development in global health research in low- and middle-income countries - the ARCADE projects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research capacity enhancement is needed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for improved health, wellbeing, and health systems' development. In this article, we discuss two capacity-building projects, the African/Asian Regional Capacity Development (ARCADE) in Health Systems and Services Research (HSSR) and Research on Social Determinants of Health (RSDH), implemented from 2011 to 2015. The two projects focussed on providing courses in HSSR and social determinants of health research, and on developing collaborations between universities, along with capacity in LMIC universities to manage research grant submissions, financing, and reporting. Both face-to-face and sustainable online teaching and learning resources were used in training at higher postgraduate levels (Masters and Doctoral level).
  
  
  METHODS
  We collated project meeting and discussion minutes along with project periodic reports and deliverables. We extracted key outcomes from these, reflected on these in discussions, and summarised them for this paper.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly 55 courses and modules were developed that were delivered to over 920 postgraduate students in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Junior researchers were mentored in presenting, developing, and delivering courses, and in preparing research proposals. In total, 60 collaborative funding proposals were prepared. The consortia also developed institutional capacity in research dissemination and grants management through webinars and workshops.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ARCADE HSSR and ARCADE RSDH were comprehensive programmes, focussing on developing the research skills, knowledge, and capabilities of junior researchers. One of the main strengths of these programmes was the focus on network building amongst the partner institutions, where each partner brought skills, expertise, and diverse work cultures into the consortium. Through these efforts, the projects improved both the capacity of junior researchers and the research environment in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences (Global Health/IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Salla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.affiliation: Institute of Development Studies, Brighton, UK; s.marsden@ids.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marsden
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences (Global Health/IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Public Health and Environment, R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India.|International Centre for Health Research, Ujjain Charitable Trust Hospital and Research Centre, Ujjain, India.
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Diwan
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Merrick
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zwarenstein
keywords: capacity building; global health; health determinants