AuthorAID capacity development impact study 2017

Since 2007, INASP’s AuthorAID project has been working to support developing-country researchers to communicate their research more effectively. A new independent evaluation of three main aspects of the project – mentoring, large-scale online courses and intensive courses – has revealed that each intervention has a positive impact on researchers’ ability to publish their research and also on their overall confidence and research connections. It also revealed that different approaches suit different audiences.

Here we share the summary report and a Learning, Reflections and Innovation article reflecting on the findings and their implications.

Key findings included

Capacity development does create long term impact 

Capacity development is successful when approaches are tailored to a specific need

Capacity development impact is achieved by delivering a good intervention at the right time 

Successful capacity development produces sustainable self-supporting communities

Online capacity development provides opportunities for hard to reach groups