Health research is an essential tool for improving health and health equity. It provides evidence-based policy and decision-making and has the potential to deliver widespread population health changes that respond to critical needs and contribute to sustainable development outcomes in the world's poorest countries. National priorities for research are essential to guide countries on research expenditure, promote science, technology, and innovation for health, stimulate human resource development for research, and negotiate with partners for targeted funding and long-term efforts. With national priorities, the science and innovation sectors can flourish to support health, equity, and development.

Between the 12th and the 16th of June 2023, WHO Namibia supported a key stakeholder consultation workshop to develop the National Health Research Strategic Framework (NHRSF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS). The development of the NHRSF for Namibia comes 20 years after the development of the Research Management Plan that was created in 2003. This workshop was attended by key stakeholders involved in health research within the country, including department heads of the MoHSS, academic institutions, medical doctors (of both public and private hospitals), the National Planning Committee, the National Commission on Research Science and Technology, the Center for Disease Control USA, USAID, and other UN agencies. A preliminary draft of the NHRSF was developed with the following strategic Goals by health research functions:

• Governance and Stewardship: Promote and enhance the conduct of health research in Namibia through the development and implementation of an effective governance strategy for health research in the country.
• Funding: Ensure appropriate and consistent funding allocation for health research through advocacy and mobilization within the government, donors, and various sectors.
• Capacity development and Infrastructure: Enhance Data Management and Research Information Systems; harmonize various data systems for the purposes of promoting data use.
• Research translation and uptake: Promote knowledge (including indigenous knowledge) translation and research uptake.
• Health Research Priorities: Identify context-specific Health Research priorities.
• Stakeholder engagement: Engage all relevant Communities and Stakeholders.

The next steps in the process will be to engage the key stakeholders involved in research in the country, for input on the research priorities and the strategies in the NHRSF document, development of an Annual Operational Plan, which will strengthen the capacity and culture for conducting health research in Namibia. This document is intended to serve the country on aspects related to health research for the next 10 years, with a 5-year periodic review.