OR/17/063 Science-for-development partnerships

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Gill, J C, and Mankelow, J. 2017. Workshop report: earth and environmental science for sustainable development (Dar es Salaam, September 2017). British Geological Survey Internal Report, OR/17/063.

Characteristics of effective partnerships

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

  • International (i.e., people and organizations from multiple countries),
  • Multi-sectoral (i.e., people from diverse sectors, such as the public and private sectors),
  • 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. Being treated as an equal by other members of the partnership.
2. Respectful dialogue between members of the partnership.
3. Access to training and capacity building.
4. Sharing of project outputs across the partnership (e.g., reports, journal articles).
5. Access to funding/financial resources.
6. Frequent e-mail communication between members of the partnership.
7. Opportunity for all members of the partnership to contribute to project design.
8. Access to expertise of other organizations.
9. Sharing of data across the partnership.
10. Co-authorship of research outputs (e.g., journal articles, reports).
11. Access to facilities of other organizations.
12. Understanding of cultural differences across the partnership.
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, resources, and process are all of importance to participants.

  • Two of the top five ranked characteristics relate to the affirmation of partners as equals in any science-for-development collaboration. Being treated as an equal by other members of the partnership (#1) and sharing of project outputs across the partnership (e.g., reports, journal articles) (#4, joint) are highly valued by those questioned.
  • Two of the top five ranked characteristics relate to the resourcing of partners during science-for-development collaborations. Access to training and capacity building (#3) was prioritised more than access to funding and financial resources (#4, joint).
  • One of the top five ranked characteristics related to the partnership process. Respectful dialogue (#2) was the ‘process’ characteristic valued most by participants.

Other characteristics associated with the ‘equality’ theme are opportunities for all members of the partnership to contribute to project design (#7, joint), sharing of data across the partnership (#7, joint), and ensuring opportunities for co-authorship of research outputs (#10). These were generally given greater importance than the remaining values relating to resources (e.g., access to expertise and facilities) and partnership process (e.g., frequent email communication, regular face-to-face meetings, and frequent telephone communications).

This preliminary data synthesis can help to inform partnership development in a Tanzanian context. 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.

Exploring potential regional cooperation

The UN Sustainable Development Goals emphasise opportunities for South-South collaboration, and so a short exercise was used which asked participants to reflect on expertise that Tanzania could share with the eight bordering neighbours (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique), and expertise that would be useful to get support from their neighbours.

Suggested examples of expertise available to share with neighbours included: wildlife management expertise, forest management plans, natural resource management policies and implementation, mining extraction techniques, livestock keeping, cultural integration for peace and harmony, growth and development of tourism sectors.

Suggested examples of neighbours’ expertise that would benefit Tanzania included: (Kenya) development of tourism, water resources management, management of transboundary wildlife, alternative energy resources, business (Zambia) best mining practice of heavy metals, (Rwanda) effective use of the internet, hygiene and health practices in cities (General) forest research using genetics, sustainable and safe mineral management, mining technologies.

Figure 13    Partnerships. SDG 17 emphasises the importance of positive partnerships if the SDGs are to be successfully delivered.