OR/17/064 Science-for-development partnerships

Gill, J C, and Mankelow, J. 2017. Workshop report: earth and environmental science for sustainable development (Lusaka, September 2017). Nottingham, UK, British geological Survey, OR/17/064.

Using a questionnaire methodology, participants were invited to characterise good science-for-development partnerships. Here we note a summary of initial results. Data will be analysed further in the context of additional workshops, and published in a peer-review journal.

In this context, we consider ‘science-for-development’ to be research, application and/or communication of science directed towards efforts to tackle poverty, improve economic and human development, manage the natural environment, and reduce risk and increase resilience.

Science and research that supports sustainable development may require collaborations that are:

1. International (i.e., people and organizations from multiple countries),
2. Multi-sectoral (i.e., people from diverse sectors, such as the public and private sectors),
3. Multi-disciplinary (i.e., people from diverse disciplinary backgrounds). Questionnaires were completed independently by participants, and they were anonymous.

Participants were initially asked to comment on previous experience of science-for-development partnerships. They then proceeded to explore what characteristics they think are most important in developing positive and effective partnerships. Fourteen characteristics were presented, with participants asked to rate on a 7-point Likert scale (from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree) how important they believe each factor to be in the formation of positive ‘science-for-development’ partnerships. One test characteristic (members of the partnership are all the same nationality) was also added to check that participants were evaluating each statement carefully and not simply giving the highest ranking to each statement.

Based on 21 responses, the characteristics of science-for-development partnerships ranked as being of most importance are listed below.

1.	Sharing of data across the partnership.
2.	Access to training and capacity building.
2.	Sharing of project outputs across the partnership (e.g., reports, journal articles).
4.	Opportunity for all members of the partnership to contribute to project design.
4.	Respectful dialogue between members of the partnership.
6.	Access to funding/financial resources.
7.	Access to expertise of other organizations.
8.	Being treated as an equal by other members of the partnership.
8.	Frequent e-mail communication between members of the partnership.
10.	Understanding of cultural differences across the partnership.
10.	Co-authorship of research outputs (e.g., journal articles, reports).
12.	Access to facilities of other organizations.
13.	Regular face-to-face meetings between members of the partnership.
14.	Frequent telephone communication between members of the partnership.
15.	Members of the partnership are all the same nationality [test characteristic].

The rankings presented above suggest that characteristics associated with equality are of greatest importance to participants. Four of the top five ranked characteristics relate to the affirmation of partners as equals in any science-for-development collaboration. For example, ensuring equal access to data generated as part of the partnership (#1) and project outputs (e.g., reports, journal articles) (#2, joint) are highly valued by those questioned, as were opportunities for all members of the partnership to contribute to project design (#4, joint). Other characteristics associated with this ‘equality’ theme are being treated as an equal by other members of the partnership (#8, joint), and ensuring opportunities for co-authorship of research outputs (#10, joint).

Secondary to these ‘equality’ values are a set of values relating to resources and the resourcing of partners. Access to training and capacity building (#2, joint) was prioritised more than access to funding and financial resources (#6), expertise (#7), or facilities (#12). Finally a set of values can be identified which relate to the partnership process. Respectful dialogue (#4, joint) and frequent email communications between partnership members ranked relatively highly (#8, joint).

This preliminary data synthesis can help to inform partnership development in a Zambian context (recognising that four out of the 21 responses were from participants from Malawi and Zimbabwe). These results provide BGS with an understanding of key values to embed within research partnerships, supporting ongoing monitoring and evaluation of whether partnerships remain mutually beneficial. Replication of this research in other countries can help to develop a multi-national perspective on characteristics for effective science-for-development partnerships.