At the Evidence2025 summit in Cotonou, Benin, Shimwe Ngeze, a graduate of the pioneer Entry-Level cohort of the Evidence to Policy (E2P) Training Programme showcased an example of the programme’s real-world impact: the rollout of a Rapid Response Service (RRS) in Tanzania, directly applying the skills she acquired to address a national challenge.

Despite significant investment through the Primary Health Services Development Program (PHSDP), Tanzania continues to face persistent barriers to primary health care (PHC) access, particularly in rural and underserved areas. A complex mix of limited funding, shifting political priorities, and a lack of systematic evaluations has hindered equitable progress.

To tackle this, The Center for Reforms, Innovation, Health Policies, and Implementation Research (CeRIHI), where Shimwe is applying her expertise, collaborated directly with the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG). This partnership ensured the work was grounded in national priorities from the outset, embodying the E2P principle of co-creation with policymakers.

Together, they commissioned a rapid review to identify effective strategies—from both resource-constrained and high-income countries—that could be adapted to improve PHC access through infrastructure and service delivery innovations.

The findings from this rapid review are poised to directly inform PO-RALG and the Ministry of Health on evidence-based best practices to expand PHC access. This case study demonstrates how rapid, co-produced evidence can be effectively embedded into real-time policymaking, ensuring that decisions are informed by the best available data.

Watch Shimwe’s Presentation Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZd07zvGnLM&t=73s