Global north/south partnerships in research: framing an enabling environment

Speaker: Dr Jama Musse Jama, Red Sea Cultural Foundation and University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’ (Asia, Africa e Mediterraneo) 

Discussants: Dr Madhu Krishnan, University of Bristol and Dr Michael Walls, Development Planning Unit (DPU), UCL

This symposium will focus on practical efforts to encourage research partnerships that incorporate a deep commitment to equivalence between researchers and institutions in the Global North and South. Research funding makes significant use of overseas development aid to support increasingly substantial projects designed to help to achieve development objectives. Yet, if the funding and staffing of such ventures continue to be dominated by research that is financed, designed and analysed in wealthy countries, it will remain difficult to truly share the benefits of that research in a manner that maximises positive development impact. For that to occur, it is essential that research is designed, data collection methodologies refined and implemented, and data analysed collaboratively. Only then will it be possible for those countries and regions that are meant to benefit most from the ‘developmental’ impact of research to be able to play a key role in determining the type of data collected, the use to which it is put and to grow local capacity to seek the finances needed to conduct locally relevant research in the future.

If you are interested in attending or want further information, please contact Dr Michael Walls at m.walls@ucl.ac.uk