Multi-level community dissemination of public health research: insights from the fuel to pot project case study in Kenya and Malawi

Household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuel use affects nearly 3.6 billion people globally, causing 3.2 million deaths annually. Despite extensive research, interventions show limited health benefits, highlighting the need for community-centered approaches that meaningfully engage affected populations in research dissemination and solution co-design. We present a community case study from the Fuel to Pot project (2020–2023), an interdisciplinary study conducted in the informal settlements of Mukuru, Kenya, and Ndirande, Malawi. Following 2 years of participatory research using walking interviews and photovoice, we implemented a cascaded, interactive dissemination model involving sequential community engagement events followed by policymaker discussions. Community dissemination events engaged diverse community members in each location through mobile poster exhibitions featuring local language translations, photovoice images, and simplified data visualizations. Interactive discussions generated contextually relevant recommendations addressing immediate community needs and systemic policy changes. Subsequent policymaker events with key stakeholders further facilitated dialog between community priorities and institutional capacity, strengthening researcher-community-policy relationships. We suggest six principles for community engagement in research dissemination (Engagement, Networks, Accessibility, Capacity strengthening, Trust, and Budgeting) that aim to transform research dissemination from a performative, extractive practice into a collaborative action. This approach enhances the sustainability of interventions, builds local capacity, and addresses ethical imperatives in global and public health research. The principles provide a replicable framework for researchers seeking to move beyond traditional academic dissemination toward more genuine community engagement and the co-creation of effective health interventions.