2004 ANNUAL REPORT

Strengthening Local Resources
Assisting Professionals in India, Pakistan, Sudan, and Vietnam

Since 1952, the Population Council has been committed to training population scientists from developing countries.

In recent years, the Council has intensified its focus on individuals within critical institutions in developing countries, assessing research needs within these countries and investing resources to strengthen the ability of local population and public health scientists to conduct research.

With funding from the Ford, Hewlett, MacArthur, and Packard Foundations, as well as an anonymous donor, the Council is currently building research capabilities in India, Pakistan, Sudan, Vietnam, and elsewhere. All of these countries face obstacles in retaining or replacing population and public health professionals who emigrate or retire from service.

Council staff members assist Indian nationals in designing innovative research and programs in population, reproductive and sexual health, and reproductive rights. The Council also provides small research grants for individuals and organizations in two socially and economically less-developed Indian states.

In Pakistan, the Council was instrumental in launching the first graduate programs in population studies at three universities. It also facilitated the creation of the Population Association of Pakistan and established two research working groups, one on gender and population and one on reproductive health, that have influenced policy and programs in the country. The Council’s leadership training program has assisted more than 60 midcareer and young Pakistani professionals conducting reproductive health research. To promote collaboration among population professionals, the Council produces a population newsletter in Urdu and English.

In Vietnam, the Council administered two fellowship programs for health professionals; the final group of fellows is receiving Master’s degrees in 2005. Staff members collaborate with the Hanoi School of Public Health and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy to place former fellows into existing research teams and academic settings. Fellows returning from overseas studies are also eligible for small awards to fund research projects or improve skills. The Council and its collaborators created an e-mail list for these scholars, as well as an electronic newsletter and Web sites. The three organizations have arranged an annual national scientific meeting for former fellows.

In Sudan, the Council has begun a two-year initiative to develop the technical capacities of young scholars and program managers. Workshops are being conducted to train these professionals in drafting research proposals, and writers of the best proposals will receive funds to carry out field work. Concomitantly, the Council is identifying gaps in the training of these professionals and developing plans to address them.

These activities to enhance the ability of home-grown scientists to conduct population and public health research will help to ameliorate the “brain drain” of well-trained professionals from developing countries.

(return to 2004 Annual Report contents)

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See Also

• Strengthening Professional Resources

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