Building Research Capacity in the Global South: Insights from a Scientific Writing Workshop

Introduction: Health researchers in the Global South face many barriers to scientific publication, including language limitations, lack of access to mentorship, and minimal training opportunities. Scientific writing workshops offer an affordable and effective method for building research capacity. We aimed to evaluate the design, implementation, and effectiveness of a scientific writing workshop implemented by the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Rwanda and the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) for early-career researchers in Rwanda and surrounding regions. Methods We conducted a mixed-methods program evaluation of a contextualized scientific writing workshop co-designed by UGHE and DGHI from 2023 to 2025 using Glatthorn’s and Smith’s curriculum frameworks and Fair-Trade Learning principles and delivered three times Pre- and post-workshop surveys assessed participant perceptions (Kirkpatrick Level 1). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (p < 0.05); qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis. Results A total of 203 participants attended (129 online, 94 in person). Pre-workshop data (n = 178) showed that 57.3% had a good understanding of scientific writing, and 34.2% felt comfortable preparing a manuscript. Post-workshop surveys (n = 195) data showed 87.6% reported having a strong understanding of adapting skills to resource-limited settings, and 88.2% had a good understanding of the manuscript components. Emerging themes included increased confidence, skill enhancement, motivation, and the need for more practice. Participants recommended extending workshop time, adding practical components, and providing mentorship. Conclusions This collaborative workshop enhanced the scientific writing skills and confidence among early-career health researchers in Rwanda and surrounding regions. Grounded in equity and contextual relevance, the workshop addresses barriers in scientific publishing and offers a scalable model for research capacity strengthening in resource-limited settings.