Table 3 A guiding framework for strategizing the stakeholder mapping sampling universe, as adapted from and inspired by Peters et al. 2020

Describe the program of interest

Define goals to map and synthesize tacit knowledge, ideas, approaches, and experiences that are not documented but are relevant to understanding the impact of women’s leadership in RMNCAH-N and immunization within various contexts

Define a sampling universe to meet criteria

Organizational and operational levels (Table 1)

Relevant organizations are broadly defined to include those involved with funding, researching, designing, managing, and implementing activities related to RMNCAH-N and/or immunization.

The RMCAH-N and immunization universe across the study areas was “the population of individuals who have influence and power over identifying priorities, providing strategic direction, allocating resources, and decision-making within the immunization and/or RMNCAH-N sector at either the sub-regional, regional, national, or continental level for 12 or more continuous months between 2000 and the present.”

Estimate sampling universe size

(i) conservatively estimate the number of all individuals who could have possibly been involved

(ii) estimate the Top Management Team (i.e. our leadership definition) workforce of key organizations identified

(i) purposively or randomly selecting geographical sub-units within SSA or within a country for enumeration

(ii) utilizing snowball sampling; using existing networks to distribute the survey

(iii) convening stakeholders and enumerating as many individuals as possible within key organizations

Enumerate a source population within the universe that can be feasibly reached for sampling

Strategy involves systematically identifying relevant organizations (see definition above) across SSA through a variety of sources.

Strategy involves contacting point persons at identified key organizations and requesting contact information for individuals and organizations who may belong to the RMNCAH-N and immunization universe across SSA.

Once universes were defined and described, we use different criteria and assumptions for estimating the sample size taking into consideration the operational feasibility of the sample.

Sample from the source population

Administer survey to a sample of the enumerated source population.

Utilize various methods of administering the same survey tool to ensure that responses were characteristic of the enumerated source populations both in terms of quantity of responses as well as a variety of respondents.

Survey respondents and response rates can be compared with original estimates of the source population and universe to assess the comprehensiveness of the survey.

Reflect on the process to determine strength of inferences drawn

Variability in the process of operationalizing the RMNCAH-N and immunization universe, defining a source population, and data collection limits the strict generalizability of the findings of specific country surveys but yields important conclusions for the global RMNCAH-N and immunization efforts more broadly.