PILOT PHASE

CORE Modules • ZQF LEVEL 8 • Online
Lead Institution: Copperbelt University

Fundamentals of Implementation Science

5–9 October 2026

This module establishes what implementation science is, how it differs from efficacy and effectiveness research, quality improvement, and dissemination research, and where it sits on the continuum from discovery to delivery. Participants will be equipped to diagnose implementation challenges in real non-communicable disease (NCD) programmes drawn from their own working contexts.

NCD Epidemiology, Determinants of Health & Implementation

26–30 October 2026

This module gives sustained attention to determinants that are commonly overlooked in programme design: the commercial determinants of health, including industry practice and trade and taxation policy as structural drivers of NCDs; and the syndemic interaction between NCDs and infectious disease such as HIV and hypertension, tuberculosis and diabetes which is a defining feature of the Southern African context.

Designing, Monitoring & Evaluating Implementation Programmes

2–6 November 2026

This module takes participants from implementation diagnosis to a fully specified, costed and evaluable implementation programme. It begins with the selection of implementation strategies using the ERIC taxonomy and the systematic matching of strategies to identified barriers, then builds the Implementation Research Logic Model (IRLM) as the central planning instrument linking strategies to mechanisms to outcomes.

INTERMEDIATE Modules • NQF LEVEL 9 • Online
Lead Institution: Stellenbosch University

Introduction to Mixed Methods Research in Public Health

12–16 October 2026

This module will provide an introductory-level overview of how mixed methods research can be used to address important public health research questions. Learners will explore the underpinnings, methodological designs, and other considerations relevant to mixed methods research. This module will equip learners with the theoretical and practical knowledge to design, conduct, and evaluate mixed methods research in the context of public health.

Quality Improvement Practice in Implementation Science for NCDs

19–23 October 2026

This module will provide an introductory-level overview of how the quality improvement approach is used to improve the implementation of quality improvement in Implementation Science for NCDs. This module will equip learners with theoretical knowledge, practical tools, and hands-on experience to design, implement, evaluate, and sustain QI initiatives that improve NCD-related care and outcomes within health systems.
 

Participatory Action Research in Implementation Science for NCDs

22–26 February 2027

This module provides an introductory to intermediate level foundation in participatory research approaches within implementation science for non communicable diseases in African health systems. Learners will explore the philosophical foundations, methodological designs, and practical strategies for working with communities, patients, providers, and stakeholders as partners in designing, implementing, and sustaining NCD interventions.

ADVANCED Modules • NQF LEVEL 9 • Hybrid
Lead Institution: University of the Witwatersrand

Introduction to Health Economics in Implementation of Health Programmes

16–20 November 2026

This advanced module provides applied training in health economics for the implementation of health programmes, with a focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income settings. It responds to the need for implementation science training that incorporates economic evidence into decisions about affordability, value for money, sustainability, priority setting, resource allocation, and scale-up.
 
 

Context, Complexity, and Multi-Sectoral Engagement in Implementation Science for NCDs

23–25 November 2026

This module provides an advanced-level exploration of how context, system complexity, and multi-sectoral governance shape the implementation of non-communicable disease (NCD) interventions. It is designed for participants who need to understand and respond to the real-world conditions that influence implementation, including dynamic health system contexts, stakeholder relationships, power dynamics, governance structures, and resource constraints.
 

Implementation Frameworks, Theory of Development, and Adaptation for NCDs

25–27 November 2026

This advanced module focuses on the use, development, adaptation, and evaluation of implementation science theories, models, and frameworks for the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It responds to the need for implementation science training that goes beyond applying established frameworks “as is” and equips participants to critically assess whether existing frameworks are appropriate for local health system contexts and to adapt or develop them for practical use in real-world NCD programmes.

Training

Rethinking the Classroom: The Power and Practice of Challenge Based Learning

Rethinking the Classroom: The Power and Practice of Challenge Based Learning 29 September 2026 Challenge Based Learning (CBL) is an immersive educational framework where participants actively engage with authentic, open-ended global or community issues to develop actionable, real-world solutions. Moving far beyond passive rote learning or simulated classroom exercises, CBL requires individuals to make real […]

Important Update: IS4NCDs Core Module Transitions to Fully Online Delivery

Important Update: IS4NCDs Core Module Transitions to Fully Online Delivery 23 September 2026 The IS4NCDs consortium has decided to modify the delivery format of its upcoming pilot core module, Fundamentals of Implementation Science, scheduled to take place 5–9 October 2026. To maximise accessibility and ensure that vital training in implementation science is available to health […]

From Evidence to Action: Securing Lasting Delivery Networks for NCD Care

From Evidence to Action: Securing Lasting Delivery Networks for NCD Care 21 September 2026 Translating clinical guidelines for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) into real-world practice requires a systematic approach to implementation science. To successfully scale up care, health systems must move beyond general public health frameworks and master the practical tools needed to turn an implementation […]

Quantifying Burden, Addressing Inequity: The Mechanics of NCD Control

Quantifying Burden, Addressing Inequity: The Mechanics of NCD Control 16 September 2026 Non-communicable diseases present the largest clinical and economic threat to Southern African healthcare systems, requiring a rapid shift from individual clinical interventions to structural public health solutions. While NCD epidemiology effectively quantifies regional disease burdens and lifestyle habits, these metrics are ultimately driven […]

Harnessing Quality Improvement to Implement Evidence-Based NCD Care: From Theory to Frontline Practice

Harnessing Quality Improvement to Implement Evidence-Based NCD Care: From Theory to Frontline Practice 14 September 2026 Deploying evidence-based interventions for non-communicable diseases remains one of the greatest challenges in modern global health. While clinical guidelines and technical toolkits—such as the World Health Organization’s HEARTS and PEN packages—are widely available, their real-world delivery is frequently compromised. […]

Mastering Implementation Science: The Power of Mixed Methods Research

Mastering Implementation Science: The Power of Mixed Methods Research 9 September 2026 Mastering implementation science requires integrating quantitative metrics with qualitative narratives to bridge the gap between clinical research and real-world health impact. By utilising frameworks such as convergent parallel, explanatory sequential, and exploratory sequential designs, researchers gain a comprehensive toolset that eliminates dangerous analytical […]

The Fundamentals of Implementation Science in NCD Management Across Southern Africa

The Fundamentals of Implementation Science in NCD Management Across Southern Africa 7 September 2026 Implementation science offers the vital framework needed to combat the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Southern Africa by systematically closing the gap between clinical guidelines and real-world practice. For health professionals and recent graduates in the region, mastering this […]

We are Now Accepting Expressions of Interest!

We are Now Accepting Expressions of Interest! 1 September 2026 We are now accepting expressions of interest for the IS4NCDs training programme in implementation science applied to non-communicable disease care. The Core Modules pilot is scheduled to begin in the first week of October 2026. The Training is Fully Funded, No Course Fees Valued at […]

One Class, Four Institutions: Shared Lecture Streams and Local Teamwork

One Class, Four Institutions: Shared Lecture Streams and Local Teamwork 11 August 2026 When IS4NCDs set out to pilot its Core Modules, it faced a practical constraint common to multi-country training programmes: how to deliver the same rigorous, faculty-led training across four institutions without either repeating the same module four times or asking faculty to […]

IS4NCDs Marks Steady Progress Towards October Pilot Launch

IS4NCDs Marks Steady Progress Towards October Pilot Launch 29 July 2026 IS4NCDs held its monthly virtual meeting on 27 July 2026, bringing together representatives from all partner institutions to review progress towards the piloting of its implementation science training modules, set to begin in October. The meeting highlighted encouraging momentum across the programme. Institutions leading […]

October 2026 Target Confirmed for Core Modules Pilot

The fifth and final day of the IS4NCDs Regional Consortium Meeting brought together partners from across the consortium at the Wits School of Public Health in Johannesburg to consolidate a week of intense and productive discussions. With clear decisions made, timelines set, and responsibilities assigned, the meeting closed on a note of genuine optimism and shared purpose.

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511