Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
British Geological Survey, Nottingham, UK.
F1000Res. 2023 Sep 8;12:1119. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.139715.1. eCollection 2023.
The Strengthening Capacity in Environmental Physics, Hydrogeology and Statistics for conservation agriculture research (CEPHaS) consortium sought to to strengthen research capacity among a network of African and UK researchers, and their respective institutions, to fill knowledge gaps on the impacts of conservation agriculture practices on the water cycle in cultivated soils. We examined experiences of consortium membership and, drawing on this information, determined key recommendations for future programmes with similar objectives. A mixed methods study encompassing an online survey (N=40) and semi-structured interviews (N=19) completed between June 2021 and February 2022 with CEPHaS consortium members from Malawi, UK, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Survey and interview data were analysed separately, using univariate statistics and framework synthesis respectively Survey and interview findings were generally aligned, with both revealing a wide range of reported capacity strengthening gains resulting from CEPHaS engagement at both an individual and institutional level. Participants consistently expressed their CEPHaS involvement in positive terms with praise for the applied 'learn by doing' approach underpinning many of the activities as well as the engaging and highly inclusive leadership. There was evidence that the various trainings and resources provided through CEPHaS were valued, frequently utilised, and often transferred beyond the immediate CEPHaS membership for wider benefit. Resource provision and staff training were seen as foundational for long-term institutional benefits. Some challenges and suggested areas for improvement were reported by participants as were potential opportunities to facilitate greater impact. Our findings suggest that the basic 'template' of the CEPHaS consortium provided a strong basis for research capacity strengthening in Conservation Agriculture, especially at the level of individual researchers, and that this template could be further enhanced in any future iteration of the same or similar programme. Recommendations for replicating and enhancing CEPHaS programme strengths are presented.
加强环境物理、水文地质学和统计学在保护性农业研究中的能力（CEPHaS）联盟旨在加强非洲和英国研究人员及其各自机构的研究能力网络，以填补关于保护性农业实践对耕作土壤水循环影响的知识空白。我们研究了联盟成员的经验，并根据这些信息确定了具有类似目标的未来计划的关键建议。
这是一项混合方法研究，包括 2021 年 6 月至 2022 年 2 月期间对来自马拉维、英国、赞比亚和津巴布韦的 CEPHaS 联盟成员进行的在线调查（N=40）和半结构化访谈（N=19）。使用单变量统计和框架综合分别对调查和访谈数据进行了分析。
调查和访谈结果基本一致，都显示出从 CEPHaS 参与中在个人和机构层面获得了广泛的报告能力增强。参与者一致以积极的态度表达了他们对 CEPHaS 的参与，赞扬了许多活动所基于的应用“边做边学”方法，以及引人入胜且高度包容的领导力。有证据表明，通过 CEPHaS 提供的各种培训和资源受到重视，经常被使用，并经常在 CEPHaS 成员之外转移，以获得更广泛的利益。资源提供和员工培训被视为长期机构利益的基础。参与者报告了一些挑战和改进建议，并提出了一些潜在的机会，以促进更大的影响。
我们的研究结果表明，CEPHaS 联盟的基本“模板”为保护性农业的研究能力建设提供了坚实的基础，尤其是在单个研究人员的层面上，并且该模板可以在任何未来的同一或类似计划的迭代中进一步增强。提出了复制和增强 CEPHaS 计划优势的建议。
