Setting research priorities for sexual and reproductive health in humanitarian settings: a global, stakeholder-informed agenda

BACKGROUND

Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) remain critically underfunded and underresearched in humanitarian settings. Existing global research agendas are outdated, lack an implementation focus and often exclude perspectives from frontline practitioners. This exercise aims to identify and rank actionable research priorities globally and by region.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional global, multiphase prioritisation exercise with information from frontline practitioners. The process included a scoping review and 11 regional consultations (informed by 91 SRHR experts), resulting in a long list of 101 SRHR research needs. Using these, we systematically listed and refined the SRHR research questions. A budget-weighted research prioritisation (BWRP) method was used for a global, multilingual survey to score 73 SRHR implementation questions across nine SRHR topical domains and three crosscutting domains. Domains were weighted equally, and regional priorities were identified.

RESULTS

A total of 271 experts contributed to the prioritisation ranking. Themes prioritised within the domains included the delivery of community-based care, self-care strategies, the integration of mental health into SRHR services and the improvement of adolescent access to contraception. A strong consensus emerged on the need to research topics such as human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination, emergency obstetric and newborn care, and resilient SRHR service delivery amid climate shock. Substantial regional variation underscores the need for locally contextualised agendas, e.g., Europe and Central Asia prioritised quality of care and noncommunicable disease integration, whereas Latin America and the Caribbean emphasised gender-transformative approaches and community leadership.

CONCLUSIONS

This stakeholder-informed research agenda responds to calls for context-specific SRHR research in humanitarian settings. The importance of tailoring research to local realities, including health system capacity, legal constraints and cultural norms, was a recurrent theme across all regions. The BWRP method enables clear prioritisation while reducing respondent burden, offering a practical model for future exercises. As global funding for SRHR contracts, aligning research with frontline needs is critical to ensuring effective, equitable service delivery.