Key Takeaways from the Didactic Foundation and Competency Framework Workshop

4 May 2026

We're thrilled to share key takeaways from our workshop, presented by Lisa Pfadenhauer, Marie Therese Schultes, and Judith van de Kamp on Day 1 of the IS4NCDs Regional Consortium Meeting, focusing on the didactic foundation and competency framework for Implementation Science in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). This vital work, supported by the European Union's Erasmus+ programme, is paving the way for more effective NCD interventions, especially in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

Our workshop delved into several crucial areas:

• Principles of Learning: We explored crafting reality-based, context-sensitive learning environments that foster diversity, trust, and critical reflection.
• Learning Orientation: The discussion emphasized cultivating systems thinking, critical analysis, and the ability to map relevant disciplines and stakeholders for integrated approaches.
• Competency Framework: A robust framework was presented, developed through extensive research and contextualization. This framework identifies crucial skills for NCD implementation science expertise, research, communication, and interpersonal collaboration.

The IS4NCDs project aims to synthesize existing implementation science (IS) competency frameworks for applying them to NCD prevention and care in LMICs. It also seeks to provide an evidence base for capacity building in implementation science education for non-communicable disease prevention and management in Africa.

The development of this framework involved a rigorous methodology:

• A rapid review of the literature describing IS competency frameworks.
• Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycInfo.
• Screening of 8888 abstracts and 117 full-texts in Rayyan.
• Inductive coding of competencies in MAXQDA.

A recent survey study, involving professionals from 22 LMICs, provided invaluable insights into the prioritization, appropriateness, feasibility, and acceptability of our competency framework. We identified key barriers such as funding and resource constraints, and facilitators including leadership, organizational commitment, and capacity building.

The framework consolidates competencies into 5 clusters, each with 3-5 sub-competencies. These clusters include:

• Implementation Science Expertise: Define & understand IS, describe, select & apply IS TMFs, incorporate health equity in IS, apply organizational & policy knowledge.
• General Research Competencies: Identify & prioritize needs & problems, acquire & manage research projects, search for, synthesize & appraise evidence, evaluate implementation outcomes systematically, scientifically assess & analyze data.
• Implementation Research Competencies: Design implementation research studies, identify & understand contextual factors, select & apply de-implementation strategies, monitor outcomes & tailor strategies/interventions, apply principles of sustainability & scale-up.
• Communication & Dissemination Competencies: Communicate clearly & appropriately, build capacity for research & implementation, disseminate research findings.
• Interpersonal Competencies: Apply leadership & teamwork skills, engage & co-create with community members, collaborate interprofessionally & build sustainable partnerships.

To further contextualize the competency framework for NCD prevention & care in LMICs and determine the relevance of competencies for different target groups, the next steps include:

• Focus group discussions with NCD experts.
• A survey study with interest holders with different roles in NCD management in LMICs.