The KFPE is the information hub for global research partnerships in Switzerland. It promotes efficient, effective, and equitable research cooperation with low- and middle-income countries. By doing so, the KFPE contributes to sustainable development and to solving local and global problems.more

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An interdisciplinary dialogue on ethical considerations and the role of HIC research partnerships in strengthening capacity and stimulating South-South research

Time

10:00 - 11:30

Online Workshop Series 2023

An interdisciplinary dialogue on ethical considerations and the role of HIC

By: Ilse Van Roy (SolidarMed) and Briony Jones (University of Warwick)

We know that research partnerships between the Global South and the Global North are increasingly considered key to generating useful knowledge for tackling global issues. They are also seen as more ethical, ensuring that ownership over knowledge is democratised and expertise more widely and fairly acknowledged. For these reasons among many, research funders often require such research partnerships to be at the heart of project design and implementation. There are guidelines of best practice to support such partnerships. However, we also know that these partnerships rarely play out in the ideal version imagined through guidelines and donor requirements and that epistemic injustice abounds. The reality with the research partners in the South in terms of capacity, accessibility and even drivers to engage in the opportunities may be different from what was imagined. There is also little attention being paid by Global North funders to the possibilities offered by South-South partnerships. This is a serious problem, raising questions about the legitimacy as well as value of research being conducted.

The objective of the workshop is dual: to promote reflection and discussion on the ethical considerations of research partnerships and to consider the role that high-Income Country stakeholders can plan to strengthen capacity and stimulate South-South research. Specific topics to be covered include:

  • What can and should be the role of the HIC research partnerships?
  • Are ethics review processes fit for purpose when designing and implementing Global South-North research partnerships?
  • What are the ethical dilemmas of Global South-North research partnerships?
  • What emotional labour is involved in Global South-North research partnerships?
  • Whose challenge is the research partnership addressing – i.e. who will benefit by this?
  • What could be best approaches to address and deal with dilemmas of Global research partnerships?
  • Can capacitating grants from HIC research partnerships contribute to address the problem?
  • Can NGO’s be role models for HIC academia to accompany, assist and ultimately empower South Research Partnerships?

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Languages: English