Table 1 Key characteristics of UNICEF’s embedded implementation research approach

➢ Context specific—community, district, national

➢ Culturally sensitive, taking into account religious and cultural norms

➢ Relevant policy- and agenda-setting purpose—addresses the foundations of policy and challenges to implementation

➢ Methods fit for purpose—range of designs

➢ Demand driven—needs identified by policymakers, implementers or consumers (e.g. adolescents)

➢ Multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary - not just health

➢ Real world—usually under implementation rather than controlled trial or study conditions

➢ Real time—aligned with policy and program cycles and in time for real time improvements and adaptation

➢ Focuses on processes and outcomes—documents what is feasible and how

➢ Tacit knowledge is used and acknowledged, and lesson-learning is embedded within the intervention—cannot do implementation research without the implementers, preferably IR is embedded in programs and led by implementers.