biostudies-literatureBreedt DSAcademy of Medical Sciencese005629https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8208008biostudies-literatureUnknown6(6)Surgical healthcare has been prioritised in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional intergovernmental entity promoting equitable and sustainable economic growth and socioeconomic development. However, challenges remain in translating political prioritisation into effective and equitable surgical healthcare. The AfroSurg Collaborative (AfroSurg) includes clinicians, public health professionals and social scientists from six SADC countries; it was created to identify context-specific, critical areas where research is needed to inform evidence-grounded policy and implementation. In January 2020, 38 AfroSurg members participated in a theory of change (ToC) workshop to agree on a vision: 'An African-led, regional network to enable evidence-based, context-specific, safe surBMJ global healthIdentifying knowledge needed to improve surgical care in Southern Africa using a theory of change approach.PMC8208008GCRFNGR4-1036GCRFNGR4\1036Breedt DSBakanisi BNaidoo MAfroSurg CollaborativeGroeneveld KMaswime SChetty SSheehama JBoden RBiccard BMunyika ADuys RMuguti Gde Waard LPeters SReddy CLTarpley JVerhage SNaidu PClune EChu KShivera TD'Ambruoso LMac Quene TNyaguse SOdland MLDavies JITarpley MLevine SMakgasa MfalseIdentifying knowledge needed to improve surgical care in Southern Africa using a theory of change approach.Surgical healthcare has been prioritised in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional intergovernmental entity promoting equitable and sustainable economic growth and socioeconomic development. However, challenges remain in translating political prioritisation into effective and equitable surgical healthcare. The AfroSurg Collaborative (AfroSurg) includes clinicians, public health professionals and social scientists from six SADC countries; it was created to identify context-specific, critical areas where research is needed to inform evidence-grounded policy and implementation. In January 2020, 38 AfroSurg members participated in a theory of change (ToC) workshop to agree on a vision: 'An African-led, regional network to enable evidence-based, context-specific, safe sur2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Jun2026-07-16T11:53:52.734Z2026-07-09T10:51:44.102ZS-EPMC82080083413099010.1136/bmjgh-2021-005629