Knowledge translation workshop: Developed by Work Package One and the Communication Subcommittee of the Consortium

Accra, Ghana – 25 November 2025

The SAVING Consortium convened policymakers, researchers, regulators, and civil society representatives in Accra for a Knowledge Translation Workshop to strengthen the use of evidence in Ghana’s health policy and decision-making. The workshop, held on 25 November 2025, brought together stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, Food and Drugs Authority, academic institutions, and partner organisations to explore how implementation research can better inform the adoption and delivery of new health technologies.

Strengthening Evidence-Informed Health Policy

Health policies determine how services are organised, financed, and delivered, making the effective use of high-quality evidence essential for ensuring efficiency, affordability, and equitable access to care. However, evidence alone does not automatically translate into sound policy; its uptake depends on factors such as decision-maker capacity, institutional processes, stakeholder engagement, and the broader political and social environment.

Ghana has established structures—including initiatives in Health Technology Assessment (HTA)—to support evidence-informed policymaking. The SAVING Consortium builds on these foundations by strengthening implementation research capacity and enhancing the translation of research findings into practical decisions on new medical interventions, particularly vaccines.

Objectives of the Workshop

Organised under Work Package 5 of the SAVING project, the workshop sought to identify opportunities for policy uptake and to promote evidence synthesis to support decision-making.

Specific objectives included:

• Providing an overview of global approaches to evidence-to-policy translation
• Showcasing how SAVING’s implementation research has generated opportunities for policy change
• Exploring ways to optimise evidence-to-policy processes within Ghana’s health system

These discussions were designed to strengthen collaboration among national stakeholders involved in knowledge translation and evidence-informed health governance.

Collaborative Dialogue and Shared Learning

The three-hour workshop featured presentations from national and international experts, including leadership from the Ministry of Health, the University of Health and Allied Sciences, and Swiss TPH. Case studies highlighted:

• Capacity strengthening for evidence production in Ghana
• Public-sector perspectives on the need for evidence in decision-making
• Regulatory insights on using evidence to guide safe and effective adoption of new health technologies

A World Café dialogue session enabled participants to collectively examine how Ghana can optimise evidence-to-policy processes, encouraging open exchange, shared reflection, and practical recommendations.

Moving From Evidence to Impact

The workshop reinforced a central message of the SAVING Consortium: strong health systems depend not only on generating evidence but also on translating that evidence into policy and practice. By fostering collaboration across government, academia, and regulatory institutions, the initiative contributes to more responsive decision-making and improved uptake of life-saving health interventions in Ghana.

Through continued investment in implementation research, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge translation, SAVING is helping ensure that new vaccines and medical technologies are not only introduced but also effectively delivered to the populations who need them most.