Request for Applications: Research in Health Systems (South Africa)

The South African National Health Research Enterprise (NHRE), administered by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), supports research projects designed to address critical gaps in South Africa’s health system and improve public health outcomes. The opportunity is open to eligible researchers employed by.

The NHRE initiative aims to strengthen South Africa’s national health research ecosystem by supporting research that responds to important gaps in healthcare systems and public health delivery. This specific call focuses on health systems research that can generate evidence for practical improvements in the.

What Happened

Research proposals must address at least one of the programme’s identified priority health areas. Projects should explain how research in the selected health area can address a specific health system gap.

• This call provides up to R2 million per year, or R6 million over three years, for health systems research with a clear pathway to policy uptake, implementation, equitable healthcare access, scalability, and measurable impact.

• Health system strengthening involves improving the structures, resources, policies, and processes that enable healthcare services to function effectively.

• Applicants should show that policy engagement is integrated into the research pathway rather than treated only as a final dissemination activity.

Key Details

The call emphasizes research that produces evidence relevant to how the healthcare system operates and how it can be improved. Research proposals should not only describe a health problem.

• Policy uptake refers to the process through which research findings are translated into health policies, guidelines, programmes, or decisions.

• The host institution should provide an appropriate environment, infrastructure, expertise, and support for successful implementation.

• The proposal should identify relevant ethical and regulatory requirements and explain how they will be addressed.

Why It Matters

They should explain how the proposed research will generate evidence that can potentially be used to improve healthcare delivery, policy, or implementation. South Africa faces significant challenges in ensuring equitable access to effective and high-quality healthcare.

• Applicants must demonstrate that the project can realistically be completed within the available resources and three-year timeframe.

• The proposal should have a strong research question, appropriate methodology, and scientifically sound approach.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by fundsforNGOs as more details emerge