Page 78 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

Building Capacity Through operate with service-rendered posts. The uncertainty
Training, Mentorship, and Support around the funding raises concerns about the long-
term sustainability of these projects.
In alignment with our Unit's strategic objective of
building sustainable health research capacity in Additionally, we were informed that to continue,
gender inequality and violence, the staff provides terminology around disability, equity, and inclusion
teaching and postgraduate supervision support would need to be removed. Another project
to various academic institutions. 21 postgraduate addressing the impact of GBV when disclosing HIV
students, i.e., 12 Masters' and 9 PhDs, are under status also faces similar challenges. Beyond these
supervision; some students graduated in Masters projects, the broader Unit is experiencing anxiety and
and PhD in 2024 and 4 master’s students are awaiting uncertainty about future funding and employment.
examination. Staff members are concerned that the increasingly
competitive funding landscape may hinder the Unit's
In collaboration with the Biostatistics Unit, the ability to attract new research funding. The Ntombi
unit has provided statistical training to over 30 Vimbela project, while not directly impacted, also
postgraduate students and public health researchers shares concerns about the future funding of planned
and awarded five bursaries through our Bill & Melinda RCT work with gender-diverse individuals, a research
Gates Foundation-funded project. The Ntombi domain typically funded by US sources.
Vimbela project also awarded a Master's bursary
to a black female student enrolled at a Historically
Disadvantaged Institution. Research Translation
Through Arts and Science
In 2024, the unit also supported emerging scientists
and established a community of practice group We employed creative methods to communicate
that fosters leadership development, scientific and and engage diverse audiences. The Disability Data
research skills building and knowledge sharing Initiative project – a national online platform that
across research teams and study sites. This includes produces and catalogues disability data aligned with
monthly journal clubs and scientific writing sessions, SDG indicators secured a grant to expand its reach
which are led by senior researchers. to Eastern and Southern Africa, provide new training
fellowships for young researchers. Our disability work
The Unit also invested in the professional was also cited in several policy documents: UNFPA
development of its staff and collaborators working publication on young people with disabilities and
on the Fediša Modikologo project. We developed South African National Mental Health Policy.
in-house training on IPV research, including a course
addressing vicarious trauma prevention for research Our unit co-convened Violence Prevention Forum,
teams. All Fediša staff have completed a Personal a multisectoral meeting with government, NGOs
Development Course to promote and support their and development partners, which utilised journalist-
personal growth and well-being. trained storytelling and "coffee table conversations"
to facilitate inclusive dialogue on emerging research
Navigating the Impact of US and its implications for policy and practice, enhancing
Executive Orders on Funding our research translation efforts and multisectoral
engagements for actionable solutions building.
The US Executive Orders have had a significant
impact on two CDC-funded projects within the Unit. Many of our projects foster community engagement
The two projects, focused on improving access to through Community Advisory Boards which bring
quality HIV and post-GBV services for disabled and together diverse stakeholders from our research
LGBTQI+ persons, were due to run from January to settings. The Fedisa team has incorporated lived
September 2025 but are now on hold. Recruitment experiences into its research, notably through
for two new Senior Scientists was completed, but narrative interviews in the creation of Women
offer letters had to be retracted due to the stop with Lived Experience Groups. These approaches
orders. Consequently, these projects are currently humanise the research and deepen our team's
lacking additional scientific support and can only connections with our audiences.

76 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2024-25