The National Health Research and Training Institute (NHRTI) has an important role in strengthening Zambia’s capacity to conduct and use health research. Established under the National Health Research and Training Institute Act, 2024, NHRTI is mandated to conduct accredited health research training programmes and provide facilities for national, regional and international health research and training. Training is therefore a core part of the Institute’s work, alongside research, innovation and technical support.
Training that responds to national needs
NHRTI’s training is intended to address practical skills gaps across Zambia’s health and research system. Areas being considered include health research, surveillance, data science, implementation science, research ethics and leadership.
The focus is not simply on offering courses. Training responds to what professionals and institutions actually need and gives participants skills they can apply in their work.
The Institute is also looking at the different needs of its potential trainees, including early-career researchers, district health officers, laboratory professionals, data analysts and policymakers. Issues such as geographical access, equity and career development will also shape the training approach.
Flexible and quality-assured learning
NHRTI plans to offer different types of learning, including short courses, workshops, certificates and longer programmes. Depending on the subject and audience, training may be delivered face-to-face, online or through blended learning.
Flexible learning formats
Short courses, workshops, certificates and longer programmes delivered face-to-face, online or via blended learning.
Accredited quality
Programmes are required to be accredited by the Higher Education Authority, ensuring competency-based education.
Practical & applicable skills
Curriculum design directly addresses skills gaps across health research, surveillance, and data science.
Building on collaborative expertise
NHRTI’s training mandate recognises the value of partnerships. The Act provides for collaboration with organisations and health research institutions in Zambia and internationally in areas such as research, training, innovation and technology transfer.
This collaborative approach allows NHRTI to build on existing expertise and offer training that complements, rather than duplicates, programmes already available elsewhere. Stakeholders from institutions including UNZA, ZNPHI, CBU, HEA and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have been involved in shaping the Institute’s emerging training approach.
Turning knowledge into practical skills
NHRTI’s advantage is that its training work is closely connected to its research mandate. Hands-on laboratory training in pathogen genomics, next-generation sequencing, and advanced molecular diagnostics equips researchers and healthcare professionals to respond to emerging public health challenges.
Training helps turn scientific evidence into practical skills—enabling researchers and laboratory scientists to design better studies, work with sequencing data, and apply research findings to real health challenges.
Building skills Zambia needs: turning research into action
A stakeholder workshop held to develop the national training curriculum focused on identifying national training needs, mapping NHRTI’s strengths and gaps, defining priority trainee groups and identifying courses that should be developed. The goal is straightforward: to build the skills Zambia needs to generate quality evidence, strengthen health programmes and turn research into action.
Short courses, attachments and postgraduate enquiries
For information about future short courses, research attachments, mentorship or postgraduate collaboration, contact the institute. The relevant team can advise on current availability and any requirements.
Tell us your area of interest
Include the subject or type of learning you are asking about so your enquiry can reach the relevant team.
Check the current opportunity
Dates, fees and application routes will be stated when an opportunity is formally announced.