Program Science

Program and research goals are aligned to optimize population-level health impact and work toward equity in health outcomes.

This alignment requires sustained engagement and mutually beneficial partnerships involving collaborations between community members; program planners, managers, and implementers; researchers; as well as policy- and decision-makers within national and local-level governments.

Three spheres of practice guide the operationalization of Program Science: (1) strategic planning, (2) program implementation, and (3) program management and monitoring.

Together, their activities contribute to the development and refinement of a shared program learning and research agenda, which is continually reviewed and revised to accommodate the evolving needs of a public health program.

Enhanced program responsiveness

A Program Science approach allows programs to be flexible, nimble, and adaptable to identify, evaluate, and respond to programmatic complexities in a timely manner, as they emerge.

Synergistic collaboration

In a Program Science framework, multidisciplinary teams work together to build upon their diverse strengths to create synergies that contribute to program optimization to improve population-level impact and work toward equity in health outcomes.

Long-term partnerships

Intersectoral partnerships are the foundation of a Program Science approach. These partnerships last beyond single projects and periods of funding turnover, creating a sustainable foundation for further work to improve a program’s population-level outcomes.

Learn more about technical collaboration and program science (PDF)

Since 2019, the HIV/STI Program Science Initiative has been funded by The Gates Foundation to improve the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of HIV and sexually transmitted infections programming globally. This work highlighted the need for a comprehensive, practical resource that brings together key tools and concepts to support the implementation of a Program Science approach. In response, the Program Science handbook was developed to consolidate existing knowledge into a single, accessible resource.

The Program Science handbook serves as a cohesive compendium that demonstrates how these tools and concepts, grounded in the Effective Program Coverage Framework, work together across the program cycle to maximize population impact and advance health equity. Intended for a broad audience involved in the design, implementation, and management of public health programs, the handbook includes:

• An overview of Program Science and its core concepts
• An introduction to the Effective Program Coverage Framework
• A compendium of tools used to apply Program Science across the program cycle
• Reflections on the future directions of Program Science

If you are interested in receiving a copy of the Program Science handbook, please contact IGPH.

Conceptualizations of Program Science

Aral SO, Blanchard JF. The Program Science initiative: improving the planning, implementation and evaluation of HIV/STI prevention programs. Sex Transm Infect 2012; 88(3): 157-9.

Blanchard JF, Aral SO. Program Science: an initiative to improve the planning, implementation and evaluation of HIV/sexually transmitted infection prevention programmes. Sex Transm Infect 2011; 87(1): 2-3.

Applications of Program Science

Becker M, Haworth-Brockman M, Keynan Y. The value of program science to optimize knowledge brokering on infectious diseases for public health. BMC Public Health 2018; 18(1): 567.

Becker M, Mishra S, Aral S, et al. The contributions and future direction of Program Science in HIV/STI prevention. Emerg Themes Epidemiol 2018; 15: 7.

Crockett M, Avery L, Blanchard J. Program science--a framework for improving global maternal, newborn, and child health. JAMA pediatrics 2015; 169(4): 305-6.

McClarty LM, Bhattacharjee P, Isac S, et al. Key Programme Science lessons from an HIV prevention 'Learning Site' for sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya. Sex Transm Infect 2018; 94(5): 346-52.