Exploring the complexity of partnerships in development policy and practice: Upstairs and downstairs

Heyer, Molly den; Johnson, Dustin

doi:10.1111/dpr.12485

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…However, mainstream research grant models often (unintentionally) reinforce donor–recipient relationships between well-resourced research organizations from high-income countries in the Global North, and “local” research organizations and government ministries from low- to middle-income countries in the Global South [ 1 , 2 ]. Limitations include limited (or non-meaningful) engagement of local researchers or policy-makers in research design or proposal writing; authorship of publications led or dominated by Global North researchers; or lack of understanding of political implications of sharing research data and findings [ 3 ]. These donor–recipient relationships lead to missed opportunities for knowledge and learning exchange between sectors (policy-makers, researchers and implementers), resulting in research that remains academic, policy that is not based on evidence, or service delivery that fails to learn from past experience [ 4 ].…”

Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

STRIVE PNG: using a partnership-based approach in implementation research to strengthen surveillance and health systems in Papua New Guinea

Farquhar

Dori

MacCana³

et al. 2022

Health Res Policy Sys

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Successful implementation research requires effective and equitable relationships between policy-makers, researchers and implementers to effect evidence-based systems change. However, mainstream research grant models between Global North and Global South institutions often (unintentionally) reinforce power imbalances between partners, which result in missed opportunities for knowledge and learning exchange between policy-makers, researchers and implementers.This case study, centred on the STRIVE PNG project, describes how a partnership-based approach has been used to establish, maintain and review effective and equitable relationships between 13 partner organizations (independent research institutes, government health agencies and public health laboratories) to strengthen surveillance and health systems in Papua New Guinea (PNG). We provide an overview of key terms (with supporting conceptual frameworks), describe selected partnership processes and tools used within the project, and share observations regarding early outcomes achieved through this approach.

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Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

STRIVE PNG: using a partnership-based approach in implementation research to strengthen surveillance and health systems in Papua New Guinea

Farquhar

Dori

MacCana³

et al. 2022

Health Res Policy Sys

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The final contribution to the special issue by den Heyer and Johnson (2020) draws on post‐development and critical theory to analyse two Canadian development initiatives. The reflections and critique presented suggest a continued preoccupation with “upstairs ownership” as embodied in official documents and strategies at the expense of “downstairs ownership” that emerges in multi‐stakeholder relationships centred around but not limited to more grassroots, “South–South” development co‐operation realities.…”

Section: Comparing Findings and Insights Of The Seven Contributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Special issue introduction Ownership in a post‐aid effectiveness era: Comparative perspectives

Keijzer

Black

2020

Development Policy Review

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Motivation: Close to 15 years have passed since the adoption of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, which generated unprecedented efforts to advance effective development co-operation with a central focus on developing country ownership. Under today's international development co-operation realities, involving inclusive agendas, strategic divergence and increasing competition, discussions on ownership, harmonization and alignment have lost traction. Yet the practices of development co-operation relationships show strong continuities. Purpose: This special issue examines how the principle of ownership may be understood and advanced under these new conditions. National ownership is prioritized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development yet has so far been marginalized by a predominantly piecemeal response and by the rise of "mutual benefit" co-operation. Approach and Methods: This special issue takes an inductive approach to studying specific cases and actors bearing on the challenge of understanding and advancing ownership today, in order to inform future policy and research. The contributions to this special issue mainly draw from qualitative research designs that present detailed research inquiries into specific country and actor cases, drawing from interviews, structured desk reviews of policy documents and the rich body of literature on development effectiveness. They are complemented by two contributions that respectively present quantitative research and probe the critical and post-development literature for additional insights. Findings: Findings point to an increasing prevalence of pragmatism and self-interest among all actors, to the detriment of national ownership. Broad co-operation agendas, a sense of urgency interpreted as a search for quick results, and more diverse, interest-and outcome-driven forms of multistakeholder partnerships all entail a more assertive and proactive approach on the part of external actors. Under these conditions, local initiative may either become stifled or be reasoned away. Given this, today's dominant approaches to co-operation raise concerns about their ethics and sustainability. Policy implications: Ownership remains both a requirement and a desired outcome of international co-operation and is key to the effective O2 | KEIJZER and BLaCK

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Achieving sustainability at the individual and community levels through development assistance

Kim,

Shin

2023

International Review of Public Administration

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Exploring the complexity of partnerships in development policy and practice: Upstairs and downstairs

Abstract: Motivation:The term partnership, and the balance of ownership within it, significantly influence the direction of the development field and whether it will be able to address increasingly complicated global challenges such as climate change, peace and security and growing inequality.

Cited by 4 publications

References 19 publications

STRIVE PNG: using a partnership-based approach in implementation research to strengthen surveillance and health systems in Papua New Guinea

STRIVE PNG: using a partnership-based approach in implementation research to strengthen surveillance and health systems in Papua New Guinea

Special issue introduction Ownership in a post‐aid effectiveness era: Comparative perspectives

Achieving sustainability at the individual and community levels through development assistance

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