11
Countries
500+
Volunteers
81
Workshops
1,827
Participants
221
Projects
60+
Publications
11
Countries
500+
Volunteers
76
Workshops
1602
Participants
203
Projects
60+
Publications
Our Vision
To transform communities through locally-led, innovative, community-engaged and –oriented research.
Our Mission
To be a trusted, accountable partner in training and mentoring through practical, “micro”, and community-owned research.
Our Values
- Empowering: Prioritizing the voices, leadership and experiences of local communities, ensuring they are the creators and drivers of change.
- Integrity: Deeply rooted conviction and passion for scientific rigour and creating a culture of empathy.
- Collaborative: Fostering sustained partnerships, teamwork and inclusive engagement across perspectives.
- Innovative: Promoting emerging ideas and local approaches to generate practical solutions that strengthen community well-being.
- Equitable: Addressing systems of inequity and injustice by promoting fair access to knowledge, resources, and opportunities for all.
History
Too often in Africa new health knowledge is not implemented in the community, because proposed changes do not fit local context/culture, lack local champions, or have limited available resources. Daily health care demands end up taking precedence over developing strategies to improve the system. Imported, top-down change ideas have also failed if they are context and culturally inappropriate. The need to build research capacity so local health care providers can solve local problems was recognized by African leaders and governments as an urgent problem many years ago. However, lack of training, funding opportunities, and mentors has proven to be a major obstacle in the countries needing improved research capacity the most.
MicroResearch ensures small research projects will have a real impact on health. Teaching research skills across the entire health-care provider spectrum and within the community unleashes a local culture of inquiry, to identify and solve new problems.
MicroResearch remains a flexible program, having been adapted in a myriad of regions, contexts, and for a range of audiences. Workshops with MicroResearch principles have been offered in disciplines beyond traditional health research, including agriculture, engineering, and computer science.
While MicroResearch has roots in East Africa, it has expanded into Asia, with workshops delivered in Nepal, Indonesia, and India. In 2016, it was brought to Canada, first in Nova Scotia, and later in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, with workshops planned in Saskatchewan as well. The growth of MicroResearch in these various contexts reflects the apparent need for research capacity to address issues at the local level.
Our Approach
Micro-finance has shown that a small infusion of capital can “prime the pump” to creative local economic productivity. Since 2008, MicroResearch has used a similar approach to train local health care professionals and community members to find sustainable solutions to local health problems using community focused research.
MicroResearch ensures small research projects will have a real impact on health, well-being, and public safety. Teaching research skills across communities also unleashes a local culture of inquiry, to identify and solve new problems.
Improving health care outcomes with innovative community based research
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