Stakeholder mapping for a complex and diverse population: methodology for identifying leaders across sub-Saharan Africa
Abstract Background Stakeholder-related methodologies for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have primarily focused on stakeholder engagement or identification of specific, well-defined populations. Current stakeholder mapping research methods do not provide sufficient sampling processes for d...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23026-2 |
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| author | Katherine Banchoff Sualiha Abdulkader Muktar Kelly E. Perry Kendra N. Williams Malanto Rabary Choolwe Jacobs Rosemary Morgan Anna Kalbarczyk |
| author_facet | Katherine Banchoff Sualiha Abdulkader Muktar Kelly E. Perry Kendra N. Williams Malanto Rabary Choolwe Jacobs Rosemary Morgan Anna Kalbarczyk |
| author_sort | Katherine Banchoff |
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| description | Abstract Background Stakeholder-related methodologies for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have primarily focused on stakeholder engagement or identification of specific, well-defined populations. Current stakeholder mapping research methods do not provide sufficient sampling processes for defining and implementing a sampling frame for poorly defined populations. In this paper we develop a unique stakeholder mapping methodology and apply it to the Transforming health: The role and impact of women's leadership in the health sector (THRIVE) study, aimed at generating evidence to support investment in women’s leadership in global health decision-making in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, and nutrition (RMNCAH-N) and immunization across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Though current literature has examined challenges women have faced to reach leadership roles, there are no methods for systematically identifying women leaders, and leaders in RMNCAH-N and immunization have not been uniformly well-defined or systematically documented. Consequently, understanding the impact of women’s leadership on health and healthcare policies is lacking. Results We developed a stakeholder mapping methodology to ensure accurate identification and representation of leaders in RMNCAH-N and immunization in Sub-Saharan Africa who could serve as a “sampling universe” for further investigation into the impact of women leaders. We began by defining what constituted a “leader” and “leader-adjacent” individual. Using a matrix, we refined the target sample of stakeholders and created uniform inclusion criteria. Stakeholder mapping was guided by the following strategic steps for each SSA country: screen government webpages; contact UN/multilateral agencies; conduct a systematic Google and social media search; identify relevant academic and grey literature; contact professional and personal connections in SSA; cross-check leads against a pre-defined matrix of stakeholder levels; and in-country validation. Inputs were collated into a shared Excel sheet. At the end of the stakeholder mapping exercise, we had systematically identified 3,901 leads. On average, 81 stakeholders were identified for each country. Approximately 38% (n = 1353) of the identified individual stakeholders were women. Conclusions This paper’s focus on creating a sampling universe of women leaders in RMNCAH-N and immunization in SSA fills a gap in current operational and implementation research. The insights derived from the adaptation and application of this methodology highlight the value of a structured approach to capturing the complexities of stakeholder and leadership dynamics in global health, particularly when applied to systematically map health topics or disciplines that lack databases or public records. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-db0917d4e2ab46e0bb036d660b3f2f73 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-db0917d4e2ab46e0bb036d660b3f2f732025-08-20T03:48:02ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-23026-2Stakeholder mapping for a complex and diverse population: methodology for identifying leaders across sub-Saharan AfricaKatherine Banchoff0Sualiha Abdulkader Muktar1Kelly E. Perry2Kendra N. Williams3Malanto Rabary4Choolwe Jacobs5Rosemary Morgan6Anna Kalbarczyk7Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthInternational Institute for Primary Health Care EthiopiaDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthIndependent ConsultantUniversity of ZambiaDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthAbstract Background Stakeholder-related methodologies for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have primarily focused on stakeholder engagement or identification of specific, well-defined populations. Current stakeholder mapping research methods do not provide sufficient sampling processes for defining and implementing a sampling frame for poorly defined populations. In this paper we develop a unique stakeholder mapping methodology and apply it to the Transforming health: The role and impact of women's leadership in the health sector (THRIVE) study, aimed at generating evidence to support investment in women’s leadership in global health decision-making in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, and nutrition (RMNCAH-N) and immunization across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Though current literature has examined challenges women have faced to reach leadership roles, there are no methods for systematically identifying women leaders, and leaders in RMNCAH-N and immunization have not been uniformly well-defined or systematically documented. Consequently, understanding the impact of women’s leadership on health and healthcare policies is lacking. Results We developed a stakeholder mapping methodology to ensure accurate identification and representation of leaders in RMNCAH-N and immunization in Sub-Saharan Africa who could serve as a “sampling universe” for further investigation into the impact of women leaders. We began by defining what constituted a “leader” and “leader-adjacent” individual. Using a matrix, we refined the target sample of stakeholders and created uniform inclusion criteria. Stakeholder mapping was guided by the following strategic steps for each SSA country: screen government webpages; contact UN/multilateral agencies; conduct a systematic Google and social media search; identify relevant academic and grey literature; contact professional and personal connections in SSA; cross-check leads against a pre-defined matrix of stakeholder levels; and in-country validation. Inputs were collated into a shared Excel sheet. At the end of the stakeholder mapping exercise, we had systematically identified 3,901 leads. On average, 81 stakeholders were identified for each country. Approximately 38% (n = 1353) of the identified individual stakeholders were women. Conclusions This paper’s focus on creating a sampling universe of women leaders in RMNCAH-N and immunization in SSA fills a gap in current operational and implementation research. The insights derived from the adaptation and application of this methodology highlight the value of a structured approach to capturing the complexities of stakeholder and leadership dynamics in global health, particularly when applied to systematically map health topics or disciplines that lack databases or public records.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23026-2Women’s leadershipImmunizationRMNCAH-NGlobal healthSamplingStakeholder mapping |
| spellingShingle | Katherine Banchoff Sualiha Abdulkader Muktar Kelly E. Perry Kendra N. Williams Malanto Rabary Choolwe Jacobs Rosemary Morgan Anna Kalbarczyk Stakeholder mapping for a complex and diverse population: methodology for identifying leaders across sub-Saharan Africa BMC Public Health Women’s leadership Immunization RMNCAH-N Global health Sampling Stakeholder mapping |
| title | Stakeholder mapping for a complex and diverse population: methodology for identifying leaders across sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full | Stakeholder mapping for a complex and diverse population: methodology for identifying leaders across sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_fullStr | Stakeholder mapping for a complex and diverse population: methodology for identifying leaders across sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stakeholder mapping for a complex and diverse population: methodology for identifying leaders across sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_short | Stakeholder mapping for a complex and diverse population: methodology for identifying leaders across sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_sort | stakeholder mapping for a complex and diverse population methodology for identifying leaders across sub saharan africa |
| topic | Women’s leadership Immunization RMNCAH-N Global health Sampling Stakeholder mapping |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23026-2 |
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