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Strengthening capacity for community and public engagement (CPE): a mixed-methods evaluation of the ‘DELTAS Africa CPE seed fund’ pilot

Mwangi, Leah, Mutengu, Lillian, Gitau, Evelyn, Bates, Imelda ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0862-8199 and Pulford, Justin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4756-8480 (2022) 'Strengthening capacity for community and public engagement (CPE): a mixed-methods evaluation of the ‘DELTAS Africa CPE seed fund’ pilot'. Wellcome Open Research, Vol 7, e96.

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Abstract

Background: The ‘DELTAS Africa CPE seed fund’ was a pilot scheme
designed to strengthen capacity in community and public
engagement (CPE) via a ‘learn by doing’ approach. The scheme
supported a total of 25 early career researchers and research support
staff belonging to the DELTAS Africa network to design and implement a variety of CPE projects between August 2019 and February 2021. We examine recipient experiences of the DELTAS Africa CPE seed fund initiative, changes in their CPE attitudes, knowledge and proficiency and their CPE practice and/or practice intentions post-award.

Methods: A mixed-methods process and performance evaluation
drawing on three data sources: An anonymous, online knowledge,
attitude and practice survey completed by CPE seed fund awardees
pre- and post-project implementation (N=23); semi-structured
interviews completed with a sub-sample of awardees and programme
implementors (N=9); and ‘end-of-project’ reports completed by all
seed fund awardees (N=25).

Results: All awardees described their seed fund experience in positive
terms, despite invariably finding it more challenging than originally
anticipated. The combined survey, interview and end of project report data all uniformly revealed improvement in awardees’ self-reported CPE knowledge, attitudes and proficiency by completion of their respective projects. Commitment to continued CPE activity post award was evident in the survey data and all interviewees were adamant that they would integrate CPE within their respective research work going forward.

Conclusion: The DELTAS Africa CPE seed fund appeared to work
successfully as a CPE capacity strengthening platform and as a vehicle
for fostering longer-term interest in CPE activities.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: WA Public Health > WA 30 Socioeconomic factors in public health (General)
WA Public Health > Health Administration and Organization > WA 546 Local Health Administration. Community Health Services
Faculty: Department: Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17665.1
Depositing User: Mary Creegan
Date Deposited: 31 Mar 2022 13:13
Last Modified: 31 Mar 2022 13:13
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/20195

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