INDIGO: Creating a Productive Collaborative Culture By Nuha Ibrahim INDIGO Karen Hand INDIGO

Outline of the Presentation INDIGO Background Creating a Productive Collaborative Culture: INDIGO &NGOs

INDIGO !! The International Doctorate in Global Health Started in 2009 The Objective: “To create a sustainable partnership of African and European universities that promotes and facilitates health research in Africa through the transfer of skills, joint research projects, training of emerging researchers and strengthening of management and supervisor capacity”

Partners University of Malawi (Malawi) The Human Sciences Research Council (South Africa) The Council on Health Research for Development (Switzerland) Harvard University (USA) Columbia University (USA) Makerere University (Uganda) Ibadan University (Nigeria) Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia) International Doctorate School in Global Health _TCD (Ireland) UK Cochrane Centre/Oxford University (UK)

Trinity with input from Cochrane and Harvard Enter Via Trinity College Block 1 (October – December): Common Programme at TCD Enter Via Africa Partner Universities Year 2: Field Research Structure of the programme Year 3: Field Research Trinity College Dublin Block 2 (January – June): Optional Modules Columbia University New York Block 3 (July – August): Internship: HSRC South Africa Year 4: Final Write-up and Examination of Thesis Graduation from TCD and partner university as appropriate

Research themes Human Resources for Health Water and Sanitation Health System Financing Health Information Systems Evidence Based Health PracticesEquitable Access to Health Services The Role of Branding in NGOs Community Health Workers Hospital Management and Work Environment Emerging communities &Health Services Research Governance

Aim of INDIGO Projects

Health System Strengthening Interdisciplinary Approach to Solving Global Health Issues Knowledge Exchange Productive Collaboration

To achieve projects aims INDIGO Collaborate with: Universities and academic institutes MoH and health services facilities Governmental organisations Non governmental organisations (NGOs)

“Creating a Productive Collaborative Culture: INDIGO and NGOs”

Two Main Types of Collaboration INDIGO Within One NGOINDIGO Across Many NGO’s INDIGO Researcher working within NGO Working alone/within project team Research Objectives for INDIGO and NGO INDIGO Researcher working across NGO’s Working alone/within academic team Research Objectives for INDIGO (and NGO?)

Issues that Can Arise in Collaborations INDIGO within NGO – Unclear understanding of deliverables and expectations from both sides – Different end-usage of research data Intellectual ownership of research data? – Different mind-sets around the role of research and researchers – Different meanings within similar words E.g different and valid definitions of what constitutes ‘evidence’ INDIGO across NGO’s – Lack of productive dialogue on the objectives and consequences of research between INDIGO and participating NGO’s – Balancing need for collective NGO learning with individual NGO privacy – Lack of common frameworks to conduct/share research learning E.G: Formats for writing up /sharing research can differ

Best Practice for INDIGO/NGO Research Collaboration 1-Alignment on Shared Key Questions 2-Communication 3-Negotiation 4-Shared Protocols

INDIGO researchers and NGO’s have separate distinct realities, goals and objectives -At most extreme : ‘Ivory Tower’ vs. ‘Coal-Face’ However it makes sense there should be some fertile common ground, where collaboration can add value to both the overall objectives of INDIGO and NGO’s It is worthwhile having open dialogue about those key questions and where collaboration IS and IS NOT attractive to both parties -This will allow all parties to best apply resources to priority questions 1. Alignment on the Key Shared Questions

2. Communication Once there is more alignment, communication should flow Ideally this means we can communicate less (‘Death by ’) and achieve more Relationships between INDIGO researchers and NGO’s can be more about productive partnership and shared goals and less about ‘going through the motions’ of co-operation

3. Negotiation Negotiation process should allow both INDIGO researcher and NGO “clearly” express their expectations and deliverables Both sides should be aware and clear about their ‘next best alternative’ so that the final negotiation is seen as a ‘win/win’ If negotiation breaks down, it releases both parties to pursue more productive arrangements with other parties..

4. Protocols To protect the interests of both parties and maximize the productivity of collaborations- it makes sense to have some simple protocols for INDIGO/ NGO research These should flow from and facilitate alignment, communication and negotiation Protocols need to have flexibility to allow for pioneering and experimental collaborative models The ability to analyze and learn from new collaborative ways of working should be an overall goal for INDIGO and partner NGO’s.