Stakeholder mapping for a complex and diverse population: methodology for identifying leaders across sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

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.