This approach encourages countries to assess their needs and design a process that is credibly set -involving representative groups from policy, research and the population (civil society) and regularly updated– so that the priorities reflect the reality of today’s population health situation in the country.

With this basis in place, countries can then select the most appropriate tool or method for their needs.

For countries, the benefits of such an approach include: improved ability to negotiate with research funders to focus funding on national needs; ensuring health equity by involving all population groups in the process; and the ability to manage the performance of health research.