Development of a South-South Clinical Research Capacity Strengthening: Institutional Partnership Platform between Cameroon and South Africa

Abstract

Collaborative partnerships are key components to reinforce biomedical and clinical research capacity and are characterized by enormous challenges though important in promoting the institutional exchange of ideas and capacities that potentially fill knowledge and research gaps. An observational analysis was conducted from 2014 to 2022 between the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and the Centre for the Study of Communicable Diseases (CSCCD), Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. Despite constraints, affiliations with institutes from developed economies are often established within the framework of North-South collaborations. Since 2014, a strong bilateral South-South research partnership between the two institutions has been developed and consolidated for sustainable coexistence. In this paper, we report on qualitative research within our leading collaborative scientists involved in major institutional research, our views on South-South collaboration, and the factors that consolidate our decision-making about joining and participating actively in research networks. Keywords South-South collaboration, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.