Members of the Humanitarian Health Ethics Research Group conducted a workshop at the Canadian Bioethics Society in May 2024. The workshop was focused on ethical dimensions of collaborative research in humanitarian settings. It was composed of three pairs of presenters, each focusing on one of the following themes:
- Initiating a new collaborative partnership: presented by Sonya de Laat and Emmanuel Musoni-Rwililiza
- Maturing an established or ongoing partnership: by Puspita Hossain and Rachel Yantzi
- Project completion which does not necessarily mean partnership conclusion: by Isabel Muñoz Beaulieu, Revka Perez and Mayfourth Luneta
The objectives of the workshop included, a) identifying characteristics, values and principles inherent in recent initiatives around partnered global humanitarian health research; b) critically appraising what worked and what did not in efforts to continue promoting and effecting power redistribution strategies in research broadly; and c) reflecting on the interconnections between equity and power-sharing initiatives at the different stages of research.
The presentations (via video and in person) of the different ‘teams’ and ‘stages’, although distinct in nature, overlapped between different experiences: valuing friendship, open dialogue, and flexibility within a partnership. Challenges were also expressed, such as barriers around reciprocal travel exchange, budget constraints and limited time. There was a shared recognition that ‘getting along with each other’ contributes to ‘good outcomes’, including—hopefully, but not necessarily—scientifically robust work. Having systems in place to maintain and continue to build on collaborations (that took time to initiate) was recognized as important but also a challenge. Ultimately, however, something worth pursuing.
If you would like to check some of the videos you can access them below:
HUMANITARIAN HEALTH ETHICS 