Engaging communities in humanitarian research: How should we share our findings?

Community engagement is an ethical imperative for research and response in humanitarian settings.

Our Research for Health in Humanitarian Crisis (R2HC) programme has previously published a rapid literature review and online courses, supporting our grantees to engage community members as active participants in research uptake and use of research findings. However, there is still much demand from researchers working in humanitarian contexts for both guiding principles and practical guidance on restitution of findings: returning data, evidence and generated knowledge arising from research to communities in a way that grants them meaningful ownership, knowledge and understanding.  

This 90-minute online panel discussion will draw from the humanitarian and research communities to foster a learning discussion, informed by practical experiences and case examples, to inform good practice guidance which R2HC is co-developing with stakeholders.

The event will:

• Share good practice examples of restitution strategies and signpost tools and approaches from a variety of humanitarian settings and research studies

• Explore challenges and complexities when disseminating findings, such as resource constraints, contested messaging, and conflict sensitivities

• Share insights on lessons learned and the way forward for the humanitarian research community to improve principles and guidance on restitution of findings  

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There will be short presentations from the speakers followed by a Q/A dialogue with the panelists and audience.

Speakers:

• Dr Gloria Seruwagi, Director, Centre for Health and Social Economic Improvement (CHASE-i), Makerere University and R2HC Funding Committee member

• Hannah Miles, Research Manager, Ground Truth Solutions

• Dr Mandy Kader Konde, Africa lead for the ‘Participants’ Research Ethics Toolbox’, Chair of the Foundation on Health & Sustainable Development (FOSAD) and Executive Director of the Center of Research on Priority Diseases (CEFORPAG) in Guinea Conakry

• Dr Sayed Jafar Ahmadi, Behrawan Institute/ American University of Afghanistan and R2HC grantee

• Stephanie Stern, Knowledge LAB project lead, Action Against Hunger

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Chair: Cordelia Lonsdale, Senior Research Impact Advisor, R2HC

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The event will be recorded, and those unable to make it are encouraged to sign up for the event so they can receive the recording post-event.