Research on health has historically prioritized and catered to the needs of the Global North. The one-sided focus on producing knowledge that is intended to be universally valid and applicable leads to a neglect of more locally specific research that policymakers, health professionals and community representatives in the Global South say they need to improve action for health.
A program for locally led and demand-driven health research in Ghana, supported by the Netherlands, exemplifies an effective approach to North-South collaboration in which local capacities and institutions are strengthened.