BACKGROUND:
Knowledge translation (KT) is increasingly recognized as a critical process for bridging the persistent “evidence-to-action” gap in health systems, ensuring that research evidence informs policy and practice. Despite global and regional efforts to promote evidence-informed decision making, the uptake and translation of public health research remains limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Zambia. This scoping review aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators of translating research evidence into action in Zambia.

METHODS:
The scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR and the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework for scoping reviews. A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature and grey sources was conducted across PubMed Central, BioMed Central, and Google Scholar, supplemented by a direct Google search. Studies exploring barriers and facilitators of knowledge translation in Zambia were included, and key findings were synthesized using thematic areas to address the review question.

RESULTS:
Out of 876 records identified, 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. Key barriers to KT in Zambia included inadequate relevant information for decision-making, poor access to information by policymakers, limited KT capacity, insufficient financing, weak relationships between researchers and policymakers, the absence of national KT guidelines, and the lack of centralized knowledge hubs. Despite these challenges, facilitators were identified as follows: the enactment of the National Health Research Act (2013), appointment of provincial KT focal persons, capacity-building initiatives, and functional dissemination platforms.

CONCLUSIONS:
Key barriers exist to the translation of research evidence into action in Zambia. The development of national KT guidelines and a comprehensive KT framework, including its evaluation, is needed to institutionalize current processes. Priorities include investing in capacity building, securing dedicated KT funding, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and creating platforms for regular interaction between researchers and policymakers. Such measures will help ensure that research evidence meaningfully contributes to policy and improves health outcomes in Zambia.