title: Post-doctoral research fellowship as a health policy and systems research capacity development intervention: a case of the CHESAI initiative.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Building capacity in health policy and systems research (HPSR), especially in low- and middle-income countries, remains a challenge. Various approaches have been suggested and implemented by scholars and institutions using various forms of capacity building to address challenges regarding HPSR development. The Collaboration for Health Systems Analysis and Innovation (CHESAI) - a collaborative effort between the Universities of Cape Town and the Western Cape Schools of Public Health - has employed a non-research based post-doctoral research fellowship (PDRF) as a way of building African capacity in the field of HPSR by recruiting four post-docs. In this paper, we (the four post-docs) explore whether a PDRF is a useful approach for capacity building for the field of HPSR using our CHESAI PDRF experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used personal reflections of our written narratives providing detailed information regarding our engagement with CHESAI. The narratives were based on a question guide around our experiences through various activities and their impacts on our professional development. The data analysis process was highly iterative in nature, involving repeated meetings among the four post-docs to reflect, discuss and create themes that evolved from the discussions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CHESAI PDRF provided multiple spaces for our engagement and capacity development in the field of HPSR. These spaces provided us with a wide range of learning experiences, including teaching and research, policy networking, skills for academic writing, engaging practitioners, co-production and community dialogue. Our reflections suggest that institutions providing PDRF such as this are valuable if they provide environments endowed with adequate resources, good leadership and spaces for innovation. Further, the PDRFs need to be grounded in a community of HPSR practice, and provide opportunities for the post-docs to gain an in-depth understanding of the broader theoretical and methodological underpinnings of the field.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study concludes that PDRF is a useful approach to capacity building in HPSR, but it needs be embedded in a community of practice for fellows to benefit. More academic institutions in Africa need to adopt innovative and flexible support for emerging leaders, researchers and practitioners to strengthen our health systems.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, Cape Town, South Africa. martina_lembani@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6831-4220
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lembani
authors.affiliation: Health Policy and Systems Division, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teddy
authors.affiliation: Health Policy and Systems Division, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Dintle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molosiwa
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Boroto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hwabamungu
mesh_terms: D057191:Capacity Building; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004500:Education, Graduate; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000193:education*; D013019:South Africa; D013597:Systems Analysis; D014495:Universities
keywords: Capacity development; Health policy and systems research; Post-docs; Post-doctoral research fellowship