Resources for the global research community

These resources were developed using UK aid funding and so to achieve maximum impact for development community, they are available freely to use. We ask that you credit the University of Edinburgh and our global partners who were involved in creating them.

Building strong partnerships

Successful research projects rely on strong partnerships with those in LMIC. These should include both academic and non-academic actors, such as NGOs, industry and civil society.

It is fundamental that these partnerships are ethical, equitable and sustainable and they should be established well in advance of writing an application to a funding call.

We have an in-depth guide for researchers wishing to build fair and equitable partnerships in LMICs.

The toolkit identifies important issues that academics should address in order to:

  1. ensure research collaborations are fair, equitable, sustainable and have long lasting impact
  2. strengthen research proposals and increase chances of being awarded funding
  3. maintain the University’s good reputation for developing partnerships with integrity

 

Ethical Action in Global Research

All research conducted by the University of Edinburgh must comply with the highest standards of integrity and ethical practice, as set out in the UKRIO Concordat to Support Research Integrity. Research activities conducted in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and/or with partners in LMICs present additional ethical challenges, throughout all stages of the research, including but not restricted to:

  • Place: The context in which the research takes place (including cultural, political, economic and social forces), and its impact on the research activities
  • People: All those involved in the research (including the research team, funders, partners, participants, and potential beneficiaries), and their needs and concerns
  • Principles: The multiple values and standards that guide the research (from the UK, in other countries, in different disciplines etc.), and how these may intersect
  • Precedent: Learning from and building on past individual and/or collective experiences and insights

The University of Edinburgh has funded the development of an ethics toolkit for researchers, practitioners and others who conduct or support research in complex, low income or fragile settings.

This toolkit is the result of a series of discussions with more than 200 global researchers from more than 30 countries designed to inform and support ethical choices in global research.

We recommend using the toolkit as a framework to consider many ethical issues that can exist throughout the lifecycle of a global project – from idea and proposal development, to data collection and analysis, through to dissemination and impact.

 

Gender in international development research

Experience has shown we cannot assume that technology and research will benefit everyone equally. Impacts interact with existing social structures – such as gender inequality. In the development sector, experience has shown that projects that take gender specific experiences into account are far more effective and deliver more positive outcomes in ensuring the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal’s central agenda to 'leave no one behind'.

Therefore funders are increasingly asking for evidence that projects have taken into account how gender is relevant and demonstrate that they are taking active steps to reduce inequalities.

GENDER.ED – the University’s interdisciplinary hub for gender and sexualities studies – has developed a suite of resources to help you do this.

 

Considering impact from the outset

The primary purpose of development research is to promote the economic development and/or welfare of people LMICs. Therefore, perhaps more crucially than with some other funding streams, impact – and your pathway to impact – needs to be considered right from the outset.

International development funders are more technical in their requirements, with a focus on concepts such as 'Theory of Change', 'Logframes' and 'monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks'.

It is essential that researchers who are applying for international development research funding fully understand these concepts and tools in order to develop competitive research proposals.

We have curated resources to help you with this.

 

 

Webinar 1 | Introduction to a Theory of Change: Why do I need one and how is it useful for my research project?

This webinar is the 1st in our Unpacking the Impact of International Development series. It covers the following key topics:

  • Key concepts that support “theory of change thinking” and how these provide a foundation for developing your logframe and MEL approach.
  • The different dimensions of a theory of change: as a process and a product; a visual and a narrative; and a framework to support learning and adaptation vs accountability and reporting.
  • How theory of change can be used to define clear impact pathways, and to support a structured conversation within consortia on how change happens.
  • Introduction to “Seven steps to a theory of change”, with a focus on Step 1: defining the purpose of a theory of change

Webinar 1, Introduction to a Theory of Change: Why do I need one and how is it useful for my research project? 

Captions have been automatically generated for this video. They may not always be edited or fully accurate.

Introduction to Theory of Change - PDF resource guide

 

Webinar 2 | Seven steps to developing a Theory of Change: Practical guidance on theory of change thinking and facilitation tools to develop impact pathways

This webinar is the 2nd our Unpacking the Impact of International Development Research web series. The webinar covers the following key topics:

  • Overview of “Seven steps to developing a theory of change”
  • Framing your “vision of change” as the starting point for theory of change conversations.
  • Practical tools to build consensus amongst partners on the most relevant problems and people to consider when developing your theory of change.
  • Applying problem tree analysis and stakeholder mapping to help understand your context and the implicit power imbalances from a number of different perspectives.
  • Understanding the multiple dimensions of change and defining the types of changes your project would like to influence.
  • Mapping of causal pathways and articulating assumptions around how change happens.

Webinar 2 | Seven steps to developing a Theory of Change: Practical guidance on theory of change thinking and facilitation tools to develop impact pathways.

Captions have been automatically generated for this video. They may not always be edited or fully accurate.

Seven Steps to a Theory of Change  -  PDF resource guide

 

Webinar 3 | How to make the most out of your logical framework indicators

This webinar is the 3rd in our Unpacking the Impact of International Development Research webinar series. The webinar covers the following key topics:

  • The difference between a theory of change and a logframe and the complementarities and contradictions between them.
  • The structure and mechanics of a logframe and distinguishing between reporting on outputs, outcomes and impacts.
  • What makes an indicator ‘SMART’ (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely)
  • Practical tips to balance quantitative and qualitative data in reporting.
  • Identifying the most appropriate data sources to generate evidence needed for robust monitoring systems and reporting against your logframe.  

Webinar 3 | Logical frameworks: How to make the most out of your logical framework and indicators.

Captions have been automatically generated for this video. They may not always be edited or fully accurate.

Introduction to Logframes  - PDF resource guide

 

Webinar 4 | Developing a MEL approach

This is the last in our Unpacking the impact of international development research webinar series. The webinar covers the following key topics:

  • Unpacking the different elements of monitoring, evaluation and learning – understanding the overlaps and gaps between these three different processes.
  • How theory of change and logframes support an effective MEL system
  • The practicalities of data collection, synthesis and management for MEL
  • Evaluation approaches to understand how projects are contributing to change (and how these align with your theory of change and logframe).
  • The importance of learning and reflection in project cycles and how theory of change can provide a framework to support project adjustments.

Webinar 4 | Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL): Exploring the different components of MEL systems and the practical implications for implementation.

Captions have been automatically generated for this video. They may not always be edited or fully accurate.

Developing a MEL Approach - PDF resource

This article was published on