The overall aim of the study was to investigate the status of HRS in Namibia and to
develop strategies that will contribute to strengthening its implementation and
governance. This study was conducted within a positivist paradigm which employs
quantitative research approach, exploratory, descriptive and non- experimental
designs were employed. The study was conducted in 3 phases namely:
Phase 1: situational analysis comprised of document review using an adopted WHO
checklist in phase 1 A and a survey in phase 1 B. The situation analysis was
conducted to explore and describe the current approaches as well as the viewpoints
of stakeholders with regard to HRS implementation and governance in Namibia. In
addition, it was conducted to identify and describe factors that influence the
implementation and governance of HRS in Namibia. The population for phase 1A
comprised documents that guide the implementation and management of HRS in
Namibia that is, the Research Management Policy which is the official policy
document of the Ministry of Health and Social Services. In phase 1A, a checklist was
developed based on the attributes set out in the WHO Health Research Systems
Analysis Initiative (2010), checklist which is specifically developed to indicate
which attributes should be in place per HRS functions which are: stewardship
function and ensuring good governance, financing, capacity development, creating
and sustaining resources as well as producing and using research findings functions.
In phase 1 B, respondents were persons responsible for the coordination of health
research in Namibia, or institutions involved in health research (n=67). The
population was divided into two sub-populations.