Page 37 - SAMRC Strategic Plan

PART B: SAMRC STRATEGIC FOCUS
continued

panel of local and international Since its inception 10.4.2.3. People Management
in 1969, the SAMRC has had many laudable The SAMRC has an important role to play in
achievements and has had a significant impact improving the state of health in the country through
on public health in South Africa. A review of the leading health research and innovation. Thus, in
st
organisation by an independent panel of local and the emerging age of wisdom and digitised 21
international experts in 2017 (the SETI 2017 review) century, SAMRC delivers impactful science through
stated that the “SAMRC deserves praise for the its people, to serve as a national asset to support
revitalisation effort that has been effective in many existing and new research areas, initiatives and
ways and is currently still underway. The history of capacity development in the health research and
the organisation, and its recent focus on scientific innovation arena in line with the SAMRC mandate.
excellence and transformation, has assured its
continuation as one of South Africa’s most valuable There are numerous challenges in the health
national assets and, seen as a whole, a recognised research sector and growing threat about future
global leader in health research, defined by capacity of critical healthcare research skills. It is
competence and integrity, and trusted as a partner in this context that SAMRC continues to invest
by some of the most demanding co-funding in, and transform human resources for health in
research organisations in the world. This resurgence support of a high quality health system by deploying
of value is also due to the innovative nature of the a transformative and human capital-enhancing
modern SAMRC (clearly shown in the success of integrated Talent Management Framework. The HR
SHIP), the scientific productivity of the extramural strategic framework is a core management practice
research units and some of the intramural research for optimizing human resources capability to meet
units receiving enabling funding from the Council. current and future challenges within SAMRC. The
The prestige of the organisation is also enhanced framework adds value in developing resilience in the
by its leadership, and by the directors and senior SAMRC’s most important asset, its people.
staff of the productive intramural units, which
play important national (and often international) The integrated Talent Management Framework
roles in the biomedical and behavioural research aims to enhance and embed a talent-driven and
15
enterprise” . people-first culture that promotes a conducive
and supportive working environment through a
The SETI Report further revealed that the range of HR activities associated with attracting,
“SAMRC has undoubtedly assisted in the re- appointing, developing, and retaining employees
focusing of the national research effort on the for positive employee experience and optimizing
three inter-related areas identified as the nation’s the performance of the SAMRC, while transforming
foremost health priorities: increasing the longevity the equity profile to reflect the demographics of the
of the population, addressing maternal and country.
child mortality and morbidity, and fighting the
pandemics of HIV and tuberculosis infection. While The following graphic depicts the SAMRC’s
the favourable outcomes of these campaigns are integrated Talent Management Framework:
reflected in all surveillance data, some of these
are due to background improvements in the social
determinants of health”.

15 SAMRC SETI Report 2017

36 SAMRC STRATEGIC PLAN 2025/26 – 2029/30