New Report Explores Equity in Funder-Level Partnerships in Research for Development 

4 February, 2025

Equitable partnerships

The UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) has released a new report titled Research for Development: The Meaning of Equity in Funder-Level Partnerships. The report aims to contribute to the evolving conversation around equity in research partnerships, with a specific focus on how equity is understood and experienced by research funders in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and High-Income Countries (HICs).  

While equity in research partnerships has long been a topic of discussion, momentum has been building in recent years to address systemic imbalances between partners. This report, developed in consultation with research funding organisations from both HICs and LMICs, provides fresh insights into the power dynamics and challenges that influence funder-level partnerships. While HIC-based funders prioritise equity in supporting LMIC development agendas, their focus has predominantly been on research-level equity rather than addressing imbalances within the funder-level relationship itself. Conversely, LMIC-based funders tend to see partnership challenges as part of the broader process of collaboration, rather than explicitly framing them as equity issues. 

The findings point to equity as a systemic challenge that requires changes across the global research ecosystem. However, the report emphasises that there are actionable steps funders can take to improve how they engage with each other to drive re-balancing within the global research system. The report draws on UKCDR and ESSENCE’s Four Approaches to Supporting Equitable Research Partnerships, identifying areas for action and opportunities for funders to support more equitable practices.  

In addition, the report underscores the importance of strengthening Southern agency and increasing LMICs’ participation in the research ecosystem. It highlights that partnerships where equity is prioritised tend to be more sustainable and effective, providing key insights for funders, policymakers, and stakeholders aiming to create more equitable and impactful research collaborations. 

This study will contribute to ongoing efforts to transform the research for development sector and catalyse a broader rethinking of equity, focusing not only on research outcomes but also on the relationships between funders and the foundational structures that support development. 

Research for Development: The Meaning of Equity in Funder-Level Partnerships is now available for download on the UKCDR website. 

About UKCDR

The UK Collaborative on Development Research is an organisation working side-by-side with government departments and research funders to amplify and enhance the UK’s research for international development sector. UKCDR works to advance the impact of UK-funded development research by promoting collaboration, improving the quality of research, and enhancing the integration of research into development policy and practice. 

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