The realm of research is where true critical thinking is possible and encouraged, and where new and daring ideas can be tried on. Yet academic research sometimes risks having too little practical impact, and universities are not necessarily the best to choose what to put on the research agenda and to act on the evidence.
Opening his TEDx-talk by comparing his experience working in academic research at university and as a policy and communication specialist for humanitarian actors, Samuel discussed some of the key success factors that translate critical research into tangible change.
“The realm of research is where true critical thinking is possible and encouraged, and where new and daring ideas can be tried on. Yet academic research sometimes risks having too little practical impact, and universities are not necessarily the best to choose what to put on the research agenda and to act on the evidence,” Samuel noted in his talk.
Critical analysis of problems at hand
“First, research should by inspired by and targeted at real problems at hand, like the challenges we face in our missions and programmes around the world,” he said, using a study on alternative measles vaccination strategies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as an example. Recurring outbreaks of infectious diseases like measles are a major public health concern in the DRC, and, since 2012, MSF has been testing a new and innovative vaccination approach that operational research helps to evaluate. Instead of vaccinating in the most densely populated and easy-to-reach areas first, vaccination teams try to reach the centre of the outbreak as fast as possible by motorbike, boat or on foot.
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Operational Research helps to assess the feasibility of new vaccination strategies against measles in the DRC. © Diana Zeyneb Alhindawi/MSF
In other projects, research helps identify and improve interventions that are not working well. In a nutrition programme in an urban slum in Bangladesh, research showed that children did not eat their ready-to-use meals because they did not like the taste of the product, and caregivers were struggling to understand the instructions on the packaging. “It was a case in which we realized our approach was partially wrong, and we needed to better inform people, and organize community cooking lessons,” Samuel added.
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In Bangladesh, a community survey showed existing ready-to-use meals did not work well to fight malnutrition amongst children. © Julie Remy /MSF
Good communication of strong and reliable evidence
Publishing our research in journals is important, but does not automatically translate into implementation. The key is to share findings and recommendations with the right stakeholders – at the right time, and in the right format.
A next key aspect of evidence-based programmes and policy making is strategic communication. “Publishing our research in journals is important, but does not automatically translate into implementation. The key is to share findings and recommendations with the right stakeholders – at the right time, and in the right format,” Samuel said in his talk. Fighting the misuse of oxytocin in Pakistan, for example, requires communicating and collaborating with government and health authorities, as much as with health professionals and communities, using policy briefs, dedicated trainings, or radio messages and animated videos.
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In the 2015/2016 refugee crises, research evidence led MSF to call upon EU member states to respect human rights at European borders. © Gemma Gillie/MSF
As a humanitarian organization, we have the opportunity and obligation to act on our evidence: to alert of unacceptable suffering, to condemn attacks on medical facilities, or to advocate for the vulnerable and forgotten in crises.
MSF is also able to use evidence to take a stance in the political debates around humanitarian issues. In the refugee crisis that hit Europe in 2015 and 2016, research findings and eye-witness stories revealed European police and border forces as perpetrators of severe violence against migrants and refugees. MSF consequently called upon EU member states to respect human rights and refugee law, and provide safe and legal passage to refugees.
“As a humanitarian organization, we have the opportunity and obligation to act on our evidence: to alert of unacceptable suffering, to condemn attacks on medical facilities, or to advocate for the vulnerable and forgotten in crises,” Samuel added.
The 2018 TEDx Luxembourg City Event took place in late April and was recorded in Luxembourg.