Article type
Abstract
This study explores knowledge translation (KT) in the Global South and identifies the KT strategies, practices, and theories researchers and intermediaries use, the challenges they experience, and the types of support required from funders. This research was led by the Institution of Development Studies (IDS) in partnership with On Think Tanks and funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
A mixed methods design incorporated facilitated learning sessions with IDRC (February 2022–January 2023) and a systematized and trilingual (French, Spanish, English) review of the literature, combined with a thematic content extraction and narrative synthesis (April–December 2022). The concept of the “Global South” was approached in an open-ended way and included anything labelled as “Global South,” as well as all countries other than high-income ones, and countries and territories with middle- or low-ranking socioeconomic indicators in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Caucasus and Balkans. There was no restriction on sectors included in the review.
The primary research was focused on KT broadly defined as “processes involving intentional dialogue between a range of actors to support the use of research-based evidence to inform decisions and influence behaviours, policies, and practice.” We employed the following tools over an intensive four-month period of data collection: (1) pulse survey, (2) key informant interviews, (3) case studies, (4) think pieces, and (5) sense-making sessions (August–December 2022).
The study finds that KT has been too narrowly defined by donors, and doing KT in the Global South is as much about bridging different ways of knowing as it is about the tools to deliver knowledge. Our analysis suggests that funders and international partners who take a more holistic approach to supporting knowledge systems will enjoy greater success. This includes creating KT challenge funds, co-producing culturally appropriate KT monitoring and evaluation systems, and taking a program-level approach to supporting KT. We identify a research agenda that looks beyond co-production and engaged research to explore research use in the Global South.
Link: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/20.500.12413/18054
A mixed methods design incorporated facilitated learning sessions with IDRC (February 2022–January 2023) and a systematized and trilingual (French, Spanish, English) review of the literature, combined with a thematic content extraction and narrative synthesis (April–December 2022). The concept of the “Global South” was approached in an open-ended way and included anything labelled as “Global South,” as well as all countries other than high-income ones, and countries and territories with middle- or low-ranking socioeconomic indicators in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Caucasus and Balkans. There was no restriction on sectors included in the review.
The primary research was focused on KT broadly defined as “processes involving intentional dialogue between a range of actors to support the use of research-based evidence to inform decisions and influence behaviours, policies, and practice.” We employed the following tools over an intensive four-month period of data collection: (1) pulse survey, (2) key informant interviews, (3) case studies, (4) think pieces, and (5) sense-making sessions (August–December 2022).
The study finds that KT has been too narrowly defined by donors, and doing KT in the Global South is as much about bridging different ways of knowing as it is about the tools to deliver knowledge. Our analysis suggests that funders and international partners who take a more holistic approach to supporting knowledge systems will enjoy greater success. This includes creating KT challenge funds, co-producing culturally appropriate KT monitoring and evaluation systems, and taking a program-level approach to supporting KT. We identify a research agenda that looks beyond co-production and engaged research to explore research use in the Global South.
Link: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/20.500.12413/18054