Facilitating project document

FACILITING PROJECT (administrative) Work plan project number	GPA 4.2: Further develop the global research agenda for workers’ health
Facilitating Project title	Global research Matrix
GPA Objective	Objective 4: To provide and communicate evidence for action and practice
GPA Action	4.21 Research on workers’ health needs to be further strengthened; in particular by framing special research agendas, giving it priority in national research programmes and grant schemes, and fostering practical and participatory research.
Priority Area	Priority 4.2: Further develop the global research agenda for workers’ health
Purpose of facilitating project	To collate and summarise current strategies for occupational health and safety research from CC members within the WHO network and establish potential gaps and opportunities for further research.
GPA Managers	Jo Harris-Roberts, Ed Robinson
CC Initiative Leaders and contact information	Jo Harris-Roberts ([e-mail]) Ed Robinson ([e-mail]) (HSL, UK)
WHO responsible person	Ivan Ivanov
Collaborating centre partners with separate contributing PROJECTS (List CC, project title, project number, project leader, and email)	Currently, there are no specific Contributing projects that have the aims of addressing this priority in their own right, However, under the scope of this facilitating project, all CC members currently within all the GPA objective areas will potentially “contribute” to this work by sharing basic strategic information to help populate a research matrix. This current facilitating project is led by the Health and Safety Laboratory, UK
WHO Regional offices actively involved in this project (name and email)	EURO
Summary of the facilitating project (max 100 words)	In order to assist the further development of the global research agenda into workers’ health, a clear understanding must first be obtained of the current (and historical) research topics that countries are(or have been) involved with. HSL will make best use of the WHO CC network to establish current topics of OHS research. This will lead to the development of a ‘matrix’ that summarizes the work to date in order to identify current gaps in research activities. This information will in turn be disseminated to the wider community to assist the future strategic direction of OSH research allowing for greater focus on topics that will have a greater, measurable impact on the workers health in both developed and developing countries.
Anticipated deliverables by 2012 from contributing projects	Other outcomes may arise from new contributing projects that may also provide valuable input into this theme.
Critical Gaps to be filled by 2012 in order to fulfil GPA priorities (these lead to deliverables desired by 2012)	Clear understanding of the current research themes undertaken by relevant establishments in the field of occupational safety and health.
Examples of deliverables desired by 2012 to adequately assist developing countries. It is these deliverables for which we will seek projects from CCs	An overview of current research strategies and topics will also help to identify areas of work that are not currently supported or that don’t address the needs of the wider community. This will allow the research gaps to be identified which in turn will offer future direction to the decisions and strategies of occupational health and safety research agendas both in the developed and developing world.
Barriers to success that must be addressed	Gaining the support of potential contributors to offer and share their research strategies in order to populate a research matrix.