Global Health podcast series

  • Published: 30 November 2022
  • Version: V1.0
  • 3 min read

In November 2022, we launched the first episode of our new Global Health podcast series, 'Spotlight on community engagement and involvement (CEI): Improving global health research and outcomes through engaging with local communities'. This series brings together guest speakers from across the globe to discuss the importance of CEI and share top tips for good practice.

Please note, these podcasts were recorded in early 2022. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Episodes

NIHR's approach to community engagement and involvement (CEI)

This introductory episode focuses on NIHR’s approach to community engagement and involvement (CEI) in the global health research we fund. Gary Hickey, a Senior Public Involvement Manager, hosts this podcast and is joined by Sarah Puddicombe and Mike Rogers, Assistant Directors of NIHR Global Health Research programmes. In this episode, you’ll also hear from Vijay Rajkumar, a public contributor who has been involved in the commissioning of research awards. The guests discuss the importance of embedding meaningful CEI, how CEI is considered in the commissioning of NIHR funded research and provide tips for embedding CEI in global health research. Listen to episode 1.

What mechanisms and structures best support meaningful community engagement and involvement (CEI) across multiple countries? 

The second episode in this series, split into 2 parts, discusses the implementation of community engagement and involvement (CEI) across a range of countries and explores the different approaches used.

Host, Doreen Tembo, NIHR's Global Health Community Engagement and Involvement Lead, is joined by members of the research team studying Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and intervention programmes to improve patient experience and reduce stigma (the short project title for this is ECLIPSE).

In part 1, the guests describe how CEI is embedded in the project and adapted across multiple countries. They also share the mechanisms and structures that best support meaningful CEI in these different countries. Listen to episode 2, part 1 now.

In part 2, our guests focus on CEI challenges faced across a range of countries, how to overcome these challenges and give their tips for embedding CEI in global health research. Listen to episode 2, part 2.

Bridging the gap between researchers and communities - The role of community connectors in CEI

In this episode, you’ll hear from community connectors working in South Africa who play key roles in bridging the gap between research and communities. They are joined by a CEI consultant from the UK and host, Gary Hickey. This episode focuses on exploring what connectors do, and the crucial role that connectors can have in ensuring effective CEI in research. The guests also share their tips for people looking to work with connectors to improve CEI in their own projects. Listen to episode 3.

For further information on connectors, visit the Mesh website.

How can power truly be shared with community members?

With a focus on exploring how power can be effectively shared between researchers and members of the community, host Saumu Lwembe (Assistant Director of PPI and engagement at the NIHR co-ordinating centre, CCF) speaks to Professor Richard Lilford of the University of Birmingham and research groups members, Jayashree Parasheril Kunju and Amar Bahadur Timalsina. They discuss their NIHR funded research on Leprosy and Buruli ulcers in India, Nepal and Nigeria and power sharing within research. Listen to episode 4.

CEI and the difference it makes

We speak to members of an NIHR funded project researching Stillbirth Prevention and Management in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia and discuss how CEI contributed to and enriched their project. This episode also showcases the impact of CEI on communities, those with lived experience of stillbirth and on both policy and practice. Listen to episode 5.

Managing CEI in a pandemic

The global pandemic has had a huge influence on how we work. This episode, with guests from multiple NIHR funded projects, explores how the COVID-19 pandemic affected community engagement and involvement (CEI) activities, as well as how CEI and research was adapted to cater to local restrictions and changing context. The guest speakers describe how CEI is embedded in their research, how it has benefitted their projects and the CEI work they are most proud of. In addition to this, the guests also share the  challenges they faced within CEI due to COVID-19, how these were addressed and their experiences with online CEI. Listen to episode 6.

Share your thoughts

If you’ve listened to any of our podcast series on CEI, we'd love to hear what you think! Share your thoughts by completing our survey.