16 May 2019 – A 4-day workshop was conducted from the 10 to 13 December 2018 in Hammamet, Tunisia, to introduce key elements of good health research practice, such as principles of research ethics and quality, developing research protocol, tools for collecting data, conducting, recording and monitoring research, managing and analysing data, evaluating, reporting and disseminating research outcomes.

The workshop used the TDR good health research practice guide that was developed and modified after piloting the course in several countries in a variety of settings. During the workshop, mixed training methodologies were used including lecture discussion, working groups, role playing and case studies.

The workshop was facilitated by the Pasteur Institute team, and WHO staff from the Research Promotion and Development programme of the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and included participants from 7 countries: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Sudan and Tunisia.

During the workshop, the participants worked, during the different exercises, on refining and modifying their own projects, based on their discussion with the course faculty and fellow delegates.  Participants were advised to use the acquired knowledge and skills to further modify and refine their research projects.

The Research Promotion and Development programme will continue using such courses to build research capacity in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.