Beyond the metrics of health research performance in African countries

While it is important to be able evaluate and measure a country’s performance in health research (HR), HR systems are complex multifaceted nature. As such, attempts at measurement can suffer several limitations which risk leading inadequate indices or representations. In this study, we critically review common indicators of capacity explore their strengths limitations. The paper informed by data sources documents, combined with interviews peer-to-peer learning activities conducted officials working education ministries set nine African countries. We find that many metrics assess have gaps the conceptualisation fail address local contextual realities, makes challenge interpret them relation other theoretical constructs. Our study identified concepts excluded from current definitions for performance. These omissions may particularly interpreting within context processes countries, thus challenging relevance, utility, appropriateness acceptability universal measures region. discuss challenges scholars conceptualising such phenomenon—including different competing viewpoints stakeholders, setting objectives work, navigating realities empirical where missing partial necessitate proxies alternative chosen. findings ensure global community does not rely on over-simplistic evaluations when analysing planning improvements low-income middle-income