By Roseanna Avento, Kelly Brito and Susanne von Itter
In the realm of research and development, fostering inclusive global academic partnerships is crucial for addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) considerations. These partnerships not only enhance the quality and relevance of research but also ensure that diverse perspectives and expertise are integrated into collaborations. Inclusive partnerships help bridge gaps between different regions, disciplines, and communities, promoting a decolonial and more equitable approach to engagement between the Global South and Global North.
This blog post explores and builds upon the findings of a workshop co-hosted between UniPID and EADI in the summer of 2024 in the framework of the KFPE annual conference workshop series on the necessary pre-conditions, support mechanisms, and feedback processes for creating and sustaining effective partnerships throughout the funding lifecycle. By understanding and implementing these strategies, institutions and funding agencies can build robust collaborations that are inclusive and equitable. From the initial stages of networking and application writing to the ongoing support during the funding process, and the reflective practice after the implementation of projects, each phase plays a critical role in the success of a research or education project. Through careful planning, continuous support, and thorough evaluation, we can ensure that academic initiatives are both impactful and equitable, benefiting all stakeholders involved.
Creating a foundation for inclusive partnerships begins well before the funding application process
To foster truly inclusive, equitable and impactful partnerships in education and research, it is crucial to implement a few key strategies. First, timing is everything—avoiding the launch of funding calls during holiday periods of both Global South and Global North partners ensures maximum participation and engagement. For instance, if a funding agency plans to open a call for proposals, they should avoid doing so during major holidays like Diwali in India or Christmas in many European, African and Latin American countries. This consideration helps ensure that all potential partners have the opportunity to participate fully.
Next, creating networking spaces where potential partners can meet and collaborate is vital. For instance, organising international (hybrid) workshops where researchers from different regions can connect and discuss potential collaborations can be incredibly valuable. Providing seed funding for these initial networking efforts can be very helpful, laying a strong foundation for future collaboration. European universities and their Global South partners can for instance utilise the Erasmus + global mobility funding to meet each other and plan common future projects.
Ensuring that the motivations for collaboration extend beyond merely securing funding is also essential. Genuine interest in mutual goals and shared objectives is the cornerstone of a successful, sustainable partnership and excellent research. For instance, a research project focused on sustainable agriculture might bring together partners who are genuinely interested in improving food security and environmental sustainability, as well as developing sustainable food products. By aligning goals and demonstrating a shared commitment to these objectives, the partnership is more likely to be successful, long-term and sustainable.
Enhancing the inclusivity and effectiveness of partnerships during the application process
Enhancing the inclusivity and effectiveness of partnerships during the application process requires a multifaceted approach. It is important to allocate sufficient time for writing applications to avoid rushed and incomplete submissions, ensuring that all partners can contribute thoughtfully. For instance, a funding agency might set a six-month window for proposal submissions, allowing researchers ample time to develop thorough and well-considered applications. This approach helps ensure that all partners can contribute thoughtfully, and that the final submission is comprehensive and high-quality.
Offering comprehensive support services, such as writing assistance and reviews, can significantly ease the application burden and improve the quality of submissions. For example, a university might provide a dedicated team of grant writers and advisors to assist researchers in preparing their applications. This support can help clarify complex requirements and improve the overall quality of the submission, making it more competitive. Dedicated support for application writing helps level the playing field between partners with varying capacities.
Also, addressing language barriers is important. Providing multilingual support where necessary can facilitate better communication and understanding among partners. For instance, translating key documents and offering interpretation services during meetings enhance inclusivity and participation.
Enabling more equitable participation. Imagine a scenario where a funding body offers small grants to cover the costs of hiring professional writers or translators for the application process. This financial support can be particularly beneficial for partners from under-resourced institutions, ensuring they can participate on an equal footing.
Additionally, creating spaces where partners can learn from each other and share knowledge fosters a collaborative environment that strengthens the partnership. For instance, organising workshops or virtual meetings where partners can discuss their experiences, share best practices, and provide feedback on each other’s proposals can foster a collaborative atmosphere. These co-learning spaces encourage mutual learning and help build stronger, more cohesive partnerships.
Maintaining inclusive partnerships during implementation of projects requires robust support mechanisms
Maintaining inclusive partnerships during the implementation process of projects requires robust support mechanisms to ensure success. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks that emphasise mutual learning can help partners share insights and improve their practices. Additionally, flexible monitoring processes tailored to the specific partnership model allow for necessary adjustments and adaptations. For instance, a project might use adaptive management techniques to respond to changing circumstances and feedback from partners. Engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, including community members, is also crucial to incorporate varied perspectives and voices. Finally, appointing an equity curator to oversee and ensure fairness in partnerships can also help keep accountability and create a dynamic and inclusive environment for collaboration and innovation.
Supporting inclusive partnerships is everyone’s business
Every stakeholder in the academic ecosystem has a pivotal role to play in supporting inclusive partnerships. For instance, researchers and academics can actively seek collaborations with partners from diverse backgrounds and ensure that a variety of perspectives is included in their projects. In addition, upholding ethical standards and ensuring fair treatment of all the partners is crucial for maintaining trust and equity. Universities can offer resources such as funding of activities, training and administrative support, and even spaces for networking to promote connections and collaborations.
Funding agencies may also realign their funding instruments to added equity and inclusivity. These alignments, in the academic ecosystem, allow for more inclusive and supportive research environments. Furthermore, it may be of interest to develop and implement M&E frameworks that focus on equity, ensuring that partnerships are assessed not just on their outcomes, but also on how equitably they were conducted.
The private sector can certainly ensure that collaborations with academic institutions include diverse teams and perspectives. They may provide resources such as funding, technology, and expertise to less-resourced partners helping to level the playing field. Likewise, local communities, NGOs and CSOs can also advocate for equitable and responsible practices, leading to more relevant and impactful outcomes.
The stakeholders mentioned here are not an exhaustive list, by any means. All stakeholders play a crucial role in creating and maintaining equitable global partnerships, ensuring that research and development efforts are inclusive, diverse, and impactful. By working together, they can address global challenges more effectively and create a more just and equitable academic ecosystem.
Post-funding it is essential to assess the impact and gather feedback to improve future projects
Allocating resources for reporting, publishing, and communication is important for transparency and knowledge sharing. Dedicating funds for administrative support are key as well. Hiring communication specialists can help disseminate findings effectively.
Developing training programmes that bring together research support offices from both the Global North and South is another important strategy for enhanced equity. These programmes can co-develop tools and provide mutual support, enhancing the overall capacity of all partners.
Encouraging reflective practices, such as regular debriefing sessions, helps align experiences with policy priorities, leading to more effective future projects. Finally, maintaining engagement with local stakeholders and growing initial projects into long-term partnerships ensures sustained impact and relevance. For instance, continuing collaboration with community leaders after a project’s completion can help build trust and foster ongoing and future cooperation.
Universities are broadly active in several, diverse national and international networks. Broader collaboration and knowledge exchange can occur through network-to-network meetings, bringing together diverse groups of researchers to share insights, discuss challenges, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
Global academic partnerships can, indeed, become more equitable, inclusive, responsible and impactful. While there are many guidelines available serving to create awareness of challenges of inequity, we advocate for increased action on the ground – we need to ‘walk the talk’.
Further reading:
- Envisioning an Equitable Future for Research across the North-South Divide – Institute of Development Studies, Southern Voice (2024)
- Beyond ‘equitable partnerships’: the imperative of transformative research collaborations with Africa. By Isabella Aboderin, Divine Fuh, Eyob Balcha Gebremariam, and Puleng Segalo. (2023)
- Equitable scientific cooperation worldwide: Position paper of the German Commission for UNESCO (2024): Publikation_Equitable_scientific_cooperation_worldwide_Position_paper_of_the_German_Commision_for_UNESCO.pdf
Roseanna Avento is Global Development Manager at the University of Eastern Finland
Kelly Brito is Project Planner at the Finnish University Partnership for International Development, UniPID
Susanne von Itter is Executive Secretary of EADI