In November 2022, Mauritius played host to a 4 day PHA4GE workshop (14 – 17 November) which focused on ethical data sharing practices and inclusive, equitable health research. The workshop, organised by the PHA4GE Ethics & Data Sharing Working Group, provided training and support to recipients of PHA4GE Ethics and Data Sharing sub-awards which were awarded to four teams conducting research into ethics and data governance challenges in under-resourced or challenging research environments. Workshop participants who have received PHA4GE sub-awards hailed from Botswana, South Africa, Ethiopia and Nepal.
The workshop featured training, discussion and implementation for a range of topics including project planning and monitoring using Theory of Change, creating logframes, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and implementation, and tips for successful grant writing.
One of the key themes of the workshop was developing Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI)-related skills and supporting ELSI research by researchers who may not have otherwise engaged in ethics and data sharing issues during their research programmes.
Participants worked closely with assigned mentors to put into practice what they learned in order to realise benefits in their own research projects. The workshop provided participants with opportunities to share and discuss their research challenges through open group discussions, to learn from shared experiences and problem-solving, and to establish their own informal networks.
Overall, the workshop provided valuable insights and guidance on ethics and data-sharing challenges faced by researchers in under-resourced environments. It also served as a platform for networking and collaboration among participants as well as providing them with additional skills to undertake ELSI-related research, including their ongoing PHA4GE-funded projects. This successful workshop also laid the groundwork for similar future initiatives from the PHA4GE Ethics & Data Sharing Working Group.
Jamie Southgate
