Overcoming complexities: A coordinated partnership

A shift is needed for both researchers and policymakers to see hygiene as a vital, integrative component of public health strategies and design research and policies that work within this complex hygiene system. Systems thinking and systems-based approaches have received renewed attention across the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector [10], but the global focus is often dominated by water and sanitation priorities and their limited application to hygiene requires further elaboration [11]. Clearly defining the hygiene system and identifying ways to support coordinated research and action is a critical step to ensure the translation of knowledge into practice.

Developing effective policy requires a level of coordination between researchers and policymakers that is uncommon. Linear models of research uptake – in which research findings are subsequently adopted and actioned by policy and practice communities [12] – are ineffective and rarely associated with policy change in the hygiene sector. True progress on developing evidence-informed hygiene policy will require on-going partnership between research and policy communities across full research pipeline [13]. Policymakers and the technical and administrative/ civil service that support those roles must engage in dialogue to articulate the nature and type of evidence needed to inform policy and have a clear role in interpretation and implementation of findings. Similarly, research communities must better position their work, initiating an intentional dialogue with policymakers and engaging effectively with the broad range of policymakers necessary to translate knowledge into practice.

Supporting research and policy partnerships

Bridging the gap between research and policy requires adaptation and support across multiple sectors. Researchers need training to communicate complex findings and uncertainty, align research questions with policy needs, and engage policymakers early in the research process. Policymakers and their supporting systems need skills to critically analyse research, ask relevant questions, and collaborate in co-creating solutions or translating research findings to their local context. Research and policy however do not act in isolation. Research funders have increased their support and funding for knowledge translation activities, but there have been limited systematic evaluations of the effectiveness or impact of current approaches [14]. While academic institutions increasingly value public and societal impact of research programmes, consistent and transparent methods for the evaluation of this impact require further development [15].

Hygiene will play a pivitol role in pandemic preparedness, mitigating the health risks associated with climate change, and combating anti-microbial resistance. Forward-looking engagement on these critical topics presents a potential opportunity to bridge research and policy gaps. This means working collaboratively to identify the evidence gaps around questions of national and local interest, set a research agenda, implement the research and interpret the results. Researchers, policymakers, and funding organizations must work in partnership to ensure an evidence-informed policy development process.

Face-to-face convenings create opportunities for researchers, policymakers, and funders to engage in open dialogue, fostering mutual understanding and breaking down silos. While a handful of global conferences play an important role in the global research and policy landscape, direct enagement around specific hygiene priorities at country level play a vital role in translating this global knowledge to local practice. However, these local convenings are often less visible and funding limited. Potentially more criticial to ensure on-going dialogue is the support for local platforms and that link local researchers, policymakers, and implementing organizations. This local level, on-going engagement has the potential to create long lasting collaboration that responds to local priorities and ensure coordination continues beyond individual election cycles and should be prioritized by research funders.

Conclusion: Building capacity for a better future

Turning hygiene research into actionable policy requires more than good intentions—it requires sustained investment in developing partnerships between researchers and policymakers and building the capacity of all stakeholders involved. Funding organizations can play a crucial role in this process by supporting the skill development, convening, and collaboration necessary for successful policymaking at both global and country level. Early engagement, forward-thinking agendas, and a commitment to collaboration can ensure that we close the gap between what we know and what we apply, driving progress toward a healthier and more equitable world.

This opinion article was inspired by a side event at the 2023 UNC Water and Health entitled “Bridging the Gap: Translating Global Hygiene Research into Policy for Public Health”, supported by the Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute. A recording of the event is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmyBEC9JTLE.The presenters at that event are co-authors of this opinion.