Rethinking North–South Research Partnerships Amidst Global Uncertainties: Leveraging Lessons Learned from UK GCRF Projects during COVID-19

Daniela Anghileri (), Matt Kandel, Melanie C. Austen, Vikki V. Cheung, Helen Coskeran, Adam J. M. Devenish (), Patrick S. M. Dunlop, Mawuli Dzodzomenyo, Hong C. Goh, Sithembile Mwamakamba, Vanessa Ross, John Spafford, Precious Yeki and Genevieve Agaba
Additional contact information
Daniela Anghileri: Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Matt Kandel: Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Melanie C. Austen: School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Vikki V. Cheung: School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Helen Coskeran: Horizons Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Adam J. M. Devenish: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Patrick S. M. Dunlop: Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre, Ulster University, Belfast BT15 1AP, UK
Mawuli Dzodzomenyo: Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon P.O. Box LG 13, Ghana
Hong C. Goh: Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Sithembile Mwamakamba: Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network, Pretoria 0184, South Africa
Vanessa Ross: Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre, Ulster University, Belfast BT15 1AP, UK
John Spafford: Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 3EA, UK
Precious Yeki: National Agricultural Marketing Council, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
Genevieve Agaba: Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-22

Abstract: International research and development projects (or grand challenge projects) consist of multicultural, multi-country, multi-sectoral, and multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed at poverty reduction. They are usually conceived as partnerships between actors in the global north–south. The COVID-19 pandemic was a major unexpected disruption to ongoing projects and challenged their already complex management. The aim of this paper is to present evidence on how international development projects were impacted by COVID-19 with a particular focus on the relationship between research institutions in the north and south. We conducted a mixed-methods research study, combining a reflective exercise with the co-author team and a survey with principal investigators, project managers, and capacity development leads drawn from 31 Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) projects funded through the UK government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) and focused on social–ecological system research. The survey contained closed- and open-ended questions in order to (i) demonstrate how those involved in managing projects adapted to risks, including both threats and opportunities, presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and (ii) consider the implications for tailoring adaptive management approaches in international research projects amidst uncertainties, with a special focus on enhancing equities in global north–south partnerships. The paper offers the following recommendations on designing, planning, and implementing international research and development projects: (i) devolve project management in order to enhance project resilience and improve north–south equities; (ii) allocate dedicated resources to enable equitable north–south research partnerships; (iii) rely more on hybrid and agile approaches for managing a project’s life cycle; and (iv) improve resource flexibility, transparency, and communication through enhanced funder–implementer collaboration.

Keywords: Official Development Assistance; Global Challenges Research Fund; pandemic; capacity development; project management; international development; global north–south research collaboration; social–ecological system research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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