BACKGROUND In conflict settings, research capacities have often been de-prioritized as resources are diverted to emergency needs, such as addressing elevated morbidity, mortality and health system challenges directly and/or indirectly associated to war. This has had an adverse long-term impact in such protracted conflicts such as those found in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA), where research knowledge and skills have often been compromised. In this paper, we propose a conceptual framework for health research capacity strengthening that adapts existing models and frameworks in low- and middle-income countries and uses our knowledge of the MENA context to contextualise them for conflict settings. METHODS The framework was synthesized using "best fit" framework synthesis methodology. Relevant literature, available in English and Arabic, was collected through PubMed, Google Scholar and Google using the keywords: capacity building; capacity strengthening; health research; framework and conflict. Grey literature was also assessed. RESULTS The framework is composed of eight principal themes: "structural levels", "the influence of the external environment", "funding, community needs and policy environment", "assessing existing capacity and needs", "infrastructure and communication", "training, leadership and partnership", "adaptability and sustainability", and "monitoring and evaluation"; with each theme being supported by examples from the MENA region. Our proposed framework takes into consideration safety, infrastructure, communication and adaptability as key factors that affect research capacity strengthening in conflict. As it is the case more generally, funding, permissible political environments and sustainability are major determinants of success for capacity strengthening for health research programmes, though these are significantly more challenging in conflict settings. Nonetheless, health research capacity strengthening should remain a priority. CONCLUSION The model presented is the first framework that focuses on strengthening health research capacity in conflict with a focus on the MENA region. It should be viewed as a non-prescriptive reference tool for health researchers and practitioners, from various disciplines, involved in research capacity strengthening to evaluate, use, adapt and improve. It can be further extended to include representative indicators and can be later evaluated by assessing its efficacy for interventions in conflict settings.

中文翻译：

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冲突中卫生研究能力加强的概念框架：中东和北非地区的案例。

背景技术在冲突环境中，研究能力常常被降低优先级，因为资源被转移到紧急需求，例如解决与战争直接和/或间接相关的发病率、死亡率上升和卫生系统挑战。这对中东和北非地区（MENA）等旷日持久的冲突产生了不利的长期影响，这些地区的研究知识和技能往往受到损害。在本文中，我们提出了一个加强卫生研究能力的概念框架，该框架适应低收入和中等收入国家的现有模型和框架，并利用我们对中东和北非地区背景的了解，将其置于冲突环境中。方法 使用“最佳拟合”框架合成方法合成框架。相关文献有英语和阿拉伯语版本，通过 PubMed、Google Scholar 和 Google 收集，关键词为：能力建设；加强能力；健康研究；框架和冲突。灰色文献也进行了评估。结果 该框架由八个主要主题组成：“结构层面”、“外部环境的影响”、“资金、社区需求和政策环境”、“评估现有能力和需求”、“基础设施和沟通”、“培训” 、领导力和伙伴关系”、“适应性和可持续性”以及“监测和评估”；每个主题都有中东和北非地区的例子支持。我们提出的框架将安全、基础设施、通信和适应性视为影响冲突中研究能力加强的关键因素。正如更普遍的情况一样，资金、允许的政治环境和可持续性是卫生研究计划能力加强成功的主要决定因素，尽管这些在冲突环境中更具挑战性。尽管如此，加强卫生研究能力仍应是一个优先事项。结论 所提出的模型是第一个侧重于加强以中东和北非地区为重点的冲突中卫生研究能力的框架。它应该被视为一个非规定性的参考工具，供来自不同学科的卫生研究人员和从业人员参与加强研究能力以评估、使用、适应和改进。它可以进一步扩展以包括代表性指标，并可以通过评估其在冲突环境中干预的有效性来进行评估。