INDIGO: Creating a Productive Collaborative Culture

By Nuha Ibrahim INDIGO Karen Hand INDIGO

Outline of the Presentation

INDIGO Background Creating a Productive Collaborative Culture: INDIGO &NGOs

INDIGO !!

The International Doctorate in Global Health Started in 2009The Objective:

“To create a sustainable partnership of African and European universities that promotes and facilitates health research in Africa through the transfer of skills, joint research projects, training of emerging researchers and strengthening of management and supervisor capacity”

PartnersUniversity of Malawi (Malawi) University of Malawi (Malawi)

The Human Sciences Research Council (South Africa)The Human Sciences Research Council (South Africa)

The Council on Health Research for Development (Switzerland) The Council on Health Research for Development (Switzerland)

Harvard University (USA)Harvard University (USA)

Columbia University (USA) Columbia University (USA)

Makerere University (Uganda)Makerere University (Uganda)

Ibadan University (Nigeria)Ibadan University (Nigeria)

Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia)Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia)

International Doctorate School in Global Health _TCD (Ireland)

International Doctorate School in Global Health _TCD (Ireland)

UK Cochrane Centre/Oxford University (UK)UK Cochrane Centre/Oxford University (UK)

Trinity with input fromCochrane and Harvard

Enter Via Trinity College

Block 1 (October – December): Common Programme at TCD

Enter Via Africa Partner Universities

Year 2: Field Research

Structure of the programme

Year 3: Field Research

Trinity College Dublin Block 2 (January – June):Optional Modules Columbia University

New York

Block 3 (July – August):Internship: HSRC South Africa

Year 4: Final Write-up and Examination of Thesis

Graduation from TCD and partner university as appropriate

Research themes

Human Resources for Health

Water and Sanitation

Health System Financing

Health Information Systems

Evidence Based Health Practices Equitable Access to Health Services

The Role of Branding in NGOs

Community Health Workers

Hospital Management and Work Environment

Emerging communities &Health Services

Research Governance

Aim of INDIGO Projects

Health System StrengtheningInterdisciplinary Approach to Solving Global Health IssuesKnowledge ExchangeProductive Collaboration

To achieve projects aims INDIGO Collaborate with:

Universities and academic institutes MoH and health services facilitiesGovernmental organisationsNon governmental organisations (NGOs)

“Creating a Productive Collaborative Culture: INDIGO and NGOs”

Two Main Types of Collaboration INDIGO Within One NGO INDIGO Across Many NGO’s

•INDIGO Researcher working within NGO•Working alone/within project team•Research Objectives for INDIGO and NGO

•INDIGO Researcher working across NGO’s•Working alone/within academic team•Research Objectives for INDIGO (and NGO?)

Issues that Can Arise in Collaborations• INDIGO within NGO

– Unclear understanding of deliverables and expectations from both sides

– Different end-usage of research data

• Intellectual ownership of research data?

– Different mind-sets around the role of research and researchers

– Different meanings within similar words

• E.g different and valid definitions of what constitutes ‘evidence’

• INDIGO across NGO’s– Lack of productive dialogue

on the objectives and consequences of research between INDIGO and participating NGO’s

– Balancing need for collective NGO learning with individual NGO privacy

– Lack of common frameworks to conduct/share research learning

• E.G: Formats for writing up /sharing research can differ

Best Practice for INDIGO/NGO Research Collaboration

1-Alignment on Shared Key Questions2-Communication3-Negotiation4-Shared Protocols

INDIGO researchers and NGO’s have separate distinct realities, goals and objectives-At most extreme : ‘Ivory Tower’ vs. ‘Coal-Face’

However it makes sense there should be some fertile common ground, where collaboration can add value to both the overall objectives of INDIGO and NGO’sIt is worthwhile having open dialogue about those key questions and where collaboration IS and IS NOT attractive to both parties-This will allow all parties to best apply resources to priority

questions

1. Alignment on the Key Shared Questions

2. CommunicationOnce there is more alignment, communication should flowIdeally this means we can communicate less (‘Death by Email’) and achieve moreRelationships between INDIGO researchers and NGO’s can be more about productive partnership and shared goals and less about ‘going through the motions’ of co-operation

3. Negotiation

Negotiation process should allow both INDIGO researcher and NGO “clearly” express their expectations and deliverablesBoth sides should be aware and clear about their ‘next best alternative’ so that the final negotiation is seen as a ‘win/win’If negotiation breaks down, it releases both parties to pursue more productive arrangements with other parties..

4. Protocols

To protect the interests of both parties and maximize the productivity of collaborations- it makes sense to have some simple protocols for INDIGO/ NGO researchThese should flow from and facilitate alignment, communication and negotiationProtocols need to have flexibility to allow for pioneering and experimental collaborative modelsThe ability to analyze and learn from new collaborative ways of working should be an overall goal for INDIGO and partner NGO’s.