Strengthening capacity for community and public engagement (CPE): a mixed-methods evaluation of the ‘DELTAS Africa CPE seed fund’ pilot

Background: The ‘DELTAS Africa CPE seed fund’ was a pilot scheme

designed to strengthen capacity in community and public

engagement (CPE) via a ‘learn by doing’ approach. The scheme

supported a total of 25 early career researchers and research support

staff belonging to the DELTAS Africa network to design and implement a variety of CPE projects between August 2019 and February 2021. We examine recipient experiences of the DELTAS Africa CPE seed fund initiative, changes in their CPE attitudes, knowledge and proficiency and their CPE practice and/or practice intentions post-award.

Methods: A mixed-methods process and performance evaluation

drawing on three data sources: An anonymous, online knowledge,

attitude and practice survey completed by CPE seed fund awardees

pre- and post-project implementation (N=23); semi-structured

interviews completed with a sub-sample of awardees and programme

implementors (N=9); and ‘end-of-project’ reports completed by all

seed fund awardees (N=25).

Results: All awardees described their seed fund experience in positive

terms, despite invariably finding it more challenging than originally

anticipated. The combined survey, interview and end of project report data all uniformly revealed improvement in awardees’ self-reported CPE knowledge, attitudes and proficiency by completion of their respective projects. Commitment to continued CPE activity post award was evident in the survey data and all interviewees were adamant that they would integrate CPE within their respective research work going forward.

Conclusion: The DELTAS Africa CPE seed fund appeared to work

successfully as a CPE capacity strengthening platform and as a vehicle

for fostering longer-term interest in CPE activities.