Abstract

Declining budgets, economic pressures, and relatively low investment in R&D are driving research institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to seek alternative funding, with foreign sources being the most prominent. This growing reliance on international funding requires partnerships that span national, institutional, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries. Effective research management (RM) systems and the expertise of skilled, professional research managers and administrators (RMAs) play a vital role in ensuring that these partnerships are equal, effective, and deliver impactful research outcomes. Many funders are working to improve their policies to foster more equitable partnerships, with research management being recognised as a key factor in achieving this (1).

In many LMICs, there are often significant discrepancies in research support compared to their counterparts in the global North. Additionally, RMA is not consistently formalised or recognised, limiting its role in global research partnerships.

The Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association has unified RM professionals through a Professional Competency Framework (PCF) (2), identifying nine key competency areas. The PCF highlights partnerships and collaboration as one of these areas. The PCF serves as a tool in the International Professional Recognition Council’s professional recognition program (3), where research managers can earn professional status through a peer-reviewed portfolio of evidence capturing prior learning, experience, and competence. This recognition validates their expertise and enhances their credibility amongst others in managing complex research projects and partnerships.

This workshop aims to bring together key stakeholders, including representatives from Research and Innovation Management Associations (RIMAs), RMAs, and funders of research in LMICs, while also engaging counterparts from the global North to enrich the discussion. Discussions will be enriched by the participation of counterparts from the global North. The workshop will be delivered through a combination of presentations, interactive discussions, and group sessions, all designed to foster collaborative learning and address critical challenges in managing equitable research partnerships. The workshop aims to achieve the following outcomes:

(1) Understanding perspectives on equitable partnerships - how it is viewed by RMAs, their institutions, and research funders.
(2) Identifying the key technical and transferable competencies RMAs need to successfully facilitate and manage equitable transnational partnerships.
(3) Exploring the perceived value of professional recognition/accreditation in partnership development and management.
(4) Linking the facilitation and management of equitable partnerships to the principles of the Hiroshima Statement on Essential Practice of RMA and consider how RIMAs, institutions, and RMAs can adopt and deliver on the relevant principles.

This workshop creates an opportunity for the sharing of knowledge and experiences, mutual learning, benchmarking, and collaborative reflection to build the necessary competence to equip institutions in LMICs to better engage in sustainable partnerships.

References:
(1) ESSENCE and UKCDR Good Practice Document (2022). Four Approaches to Supporting Equitable Research Partnerships. https://tdr.who.int/groups/essence-on-health-research
(2) https://www.sarima.co.za/resources/research-management/
(3) https://iprcouncil.com/