Equitable Partnerships Workshops Follow-on Funding awards 2025

Hong Ching Goh

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RECAP SEA- Research Excellence Capacity & Accreditation Pathway for Southeast Asia

Universiti Malaya

£29,860

Research management practices in Southeast Asia (SEA) remain fragmented despite efforts to improve them. This is due to a lack of standardized governance frameworks, inconsistent professional development, and varying institutional capacities. RECAP SEA aims to create a regional education and accreditation framework to standardize competencies, foster continuous professional development, and encourage inclusive leadership. The project will include capacity-building workshops, an accreditation roadmap, and ongoing support mechanisms. Its long-term impact will enhance the research management ecosystem in the ASEAN region, allowing institutions to better handle large-scale research projects and improve their competitiveness globally. As Malaysia takes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, this project aligns with regional research priorities, promoting collaboration and a sustainable, inclusive research agenda across SEA. It will also support Malaysia’s role in shaping regional policies that drive innovation, equitable development, and cross-border partnerships within ASEAN and beyond.

Research Team: Hsiao Wei Tan, Sunway University; Phaik Eong Poh, Research Link Solutions Sdn Bhd; Shaliza Ibrahim, Universiti Tenaga Nasional; Saowanee Namthachan, Khon Kaen University; Madiareni Sulaiman, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN Indonesia)

Ashley Gunter

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Next-Gen Partnerships: Advocacy and Sensitisation of Equitable Research Collaboration Principles to New Actors

University of South Africa

£29,300

Equitable partnership is being increasingly discussed by academics, policy makers and research institutions. However, these conversations are yet to be taken out to varied audiences both in the global South and the North. Building on the British Academy workshops and guidelines, and the AHRC-funded Equitable African-led partnership in Kenya and South Africa, this project aims to widen the audience for such initiatives through advocacy in the global North and extending the reach in the global South. Through workshops with 60 participants each in the UK and in Historically Black Universities in South Africa, the project aims to invite new collaborations. Seed corn funding will be used to further two potential new partnerships based on these principles and to test the framework. It will produce a live testbed for equitable partnership principles. It will test equitable partnership principles, with findings informing a British Academy report for refinement.

Research Team: Parvati Raghuram, The Open University UK; Pewa Mbali, University of South Africa; Leani Van Vuuren, University of South Africa; Melis Cin, Lancaster University; Manu Lekunze, University of Aberdeen

Yolande Harley

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Addressing equity challenges during proposal development to enhance long-term sustainability of institutions and their partnerships

University of Cape Town

£ 29,638

Addressing Equity Challenges During Proposal Development to Enhance Long-term Sustainability of Institutions and Their Partnerships

Equity in research funding has repeatedly been highlighted as pivotal in international collaboration. It underpins the financial sustainability of institutions and the conservation of their partnerships. Capitalising on prior learnings, this project will identify key equity challenges arising during international, collaborative research funding proposal development, and develop approaches to ameliorate their impact. Over three workshops, involving South-South-North partnerships with stakeholder engagement, the team will use Theory-of-Change and Implementation-Science frameworks to:

1. Co-identify and describe three key equity challenges that arise during collaborative research proposal development involving institutions from the Global South and North
2. Distil and characterise a series of interventions that will tackle each equity challenge to reduce its impact on all partners
3. Map a pathway for implementation of each intervention, including recognising stakeholders, identifying barriers, guiding practical application, and promoting long-term use

Research Team: Zulfa Abrahams, University of Cape Town; Rob Huddy, University of Cape Town; Caryn McNamara, University of the Witwatersrand; Helen Hopkins, University College London; Ella Sivyer, University College London

Blessings Nyasilia Kaunda

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Fostering Equitable Partnerships: Enhancing Professional Development and Careers for Female Social Scientists in Health Research across Malawi, Kenya, and South Africa

University of Malawi (Kamuzu University of Health Sciences)

£ 30,000

The proposed workshop is part of a south-to-south initiative aimed at strengthening the professional development planning (PDP) of early career researchers working on health and well-being, particularly female social scientists and specialists in development, humanities and public health, in sub-Saharan Africa. The research team are establishing a Malawi-Kenya-South Africa research network focused on writing workshops and PDP programs that will bring together ECRs, professors, and seasoned researchers who are familiar with the challenges faced by early career scholars in sub-Saharan Africa. Participants will collaborate on framing their PDPs, developing grant applications, and writing and publishing journal articles and policy briefs. Dr Dorine Lugendo from the University of Maseno, Kenya, Dr. John Nott from the University of Edinburgh, Prof. Andries Bezuidehout from the University of Fort Hare, and Dr Blessings Kaunda-Khangamwa from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and the University of Fort Hare will lead the initiative, prioritising female representation in research.

Research Team: Dorine Lugendo, Maseno University; John Nott, University of Edinburg; Andries Bezuidenhout, University of Fort Hare

Palesa Natasha Mothapo

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The Madiba Nexus: Advancing Balanced North-South Research Partnerships

Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

£30,000

The Madiba Nexus: in the title relates to Nelson Mandela and that this project continues in his spirit of working together. This Africa-UK consortium project seeks to enhance research management capacity, enhancing the researcher pipeline, promote South-led research agenda setting, and establish sustainable mechanisms for collaboration. Through targeted workshops and co-designed interventions, the team aims to foster an environment of transparency, shared decision-making, and long-term partnership development. This project builds on insights from the British Academy’s Equitable Partnerships Workshop in Pretoria, South Africa and Nairobi, Kenya (October 2024) to address key barriers and opportunities in equitable research collaborations. Heralding a new phase in the journey partners began through the GCRF, Knowledges, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) provide the framework for collaboration; steering its intended beneficiaries into a future where confident and knowledgeable research managers can support growth in the pipeline of researchers and the ability to conduct equitable international research projects.

Research Team: Peter Bukhala, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

David Musoke

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Strengthening Equitable Partnerships in International Research Collaboration in Uganda

Makerere University

£ 30,000

International research collaboration is crucial for advancing knowledge and addressing challenges in low- and middle-income countries. The project’s aim is to strengthen equitable partnerships in international research collaboration in Uganda. Four Ugandan research institutions that participated in the British Academy equitable partnerships workshop (Nairobi) and conference (London) will be involved. The institutions (Makerere University, Uganda Martyrs University, Mountains of the Moon University, and National Agricultural Research Organisation) will enhance the principles and practice of equitable partnerships in research collaboration with global south and global north partners. Nottingham Trent University will also be involved as a UK partner institution to stimulate North-South learning and sharing experiences. The main project activities will include workshops and webinars involving researchers from Uganda, UK and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The project will lead to strengthened South-South and South-North collaboration, enhanced individual and institutional capacity, as well as bi-directional learning.

Research Team: Albert Luswata, Uganda Martyrs University; Sophie Komujuni, Mountains of the Moon University; Walter Odongo, National Agricultural Research Organisation; Linda Gibson, Nottingham Trent University

Jayakayatri Jeevajothi Nathan

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Strengthening Research Governance and Equity in Malaysia: A Collaborative Initiative

Universiti Malaya

£ 29,510

This project aims to enhance research governance in Malaysia, ensuring ethical, equitable, and sustainable collaborations between universities and international institutions. Partnering with Universiti Malaya and Universiti Putra Malaysia, and drawing on expertise from the University of Edinburgh, the project will begin with a baseline survey to assess governance practices and challenges. Insights will shape a Stakeholder Engagement Workshop, where researchers, policymakers, and institutional leaders will co-develop strategies for improving transparency, funding distribution, and authorship agreements. A knowledge exchange visit to University of Edinburgh will further integrate international best practices. Findings will be compiled into an Equitable Partnership Report, offering recommendations for strengthening institutional policies and ethical compliance. A final dissemination workshop will discuss policy adoption to ensure long-term impact. Over 12 months, this initiative will provide Malaysian institutions with a roadmap for fostering fair, transparent, and culturally sensitive research partnerships aligned with global standards.

Research Team: Nur Bahiyah Sujana, Universiti Malaya; Mohamad Faizal Ibrahim, Universiti Putra Malaysia; Tan Hsiao Wei, Sunway University; Khoo Ee Ming, Universiti Malaya; Hilary Pinnock, University of Edinburgh; Dominique Balharry, University of Edinburgh

Hoa Ngo

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Equitable Research Partnership: Initiative in Providing International Research Management skill sets in South East Asia

University of Oxford

£29,962.44

Research management capacity has been identified as a critical factor in achieving equity in research partnerships by participants in the British Academy’s workshops and conference on equitable partnerships. This proposal aims to specifically address this issue in Southeast Asia, through co-development of a 4 day in-person capacity strengthening workshop at the University of Oxford Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Drawing on the participants in the British Academy’s regional workshops and the extensive networks of the project team, the programme of work integrates a regional need assessment with a responsive approach to network building and skills development. Building on the experience of team members in running similar workshops in Africa, the programme of the workshop will be designed specifically to address local needs. This approach ensures responsiveness to local skills gaps and strengthening of regional professional networks to enhance equity in international research.

Research Team: Mohamed Faizal Ibrahim, Universiti Putra Malaysia; Emily Graham, University of Oxford; Genevieve Kiff, University of Oxford; Mary Ryan, University of Glasgow

Goret Pereira Paulo

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Strengthening long-term equitable partnerships to enable greater international cooperation in research

Fundacao Getulio Vargas

£25,326

This project aims to advance equitable partnerships in international research cooperation by strengthening institutional capacity and fostering strategic alignment among key stakeholders in Brazil. Through at least three regional workshops, the initiative will promote dialogue between researchers, funders, and research governance professionals, focusing on the role of Research Development Offices (RDOs) in supporting equitable international collaborations. The programme will map regional strengths and barriers, identify strategies to enhance RDO capacity, and culminate in an open-source final report with best practices and actionable recommendations. By addressing structural challenges and promoting the development of RDOs, the project will empower Brazilian institutions to engage more effectively in international funding opportunities and equitable research partnerships, particularly with the UK. The initiative will contribute to a more inclusive, transparent, and sustainable global research ecosystem, fostering long-term improvements in research collaboration practices.

Research Team: Maria Zaira Turchi, Universidade Federal de Goiás

Damtew Teferra

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Equitable Partnerships in Higher Education: Advancing Strategies for Sustainable Collaborations

University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

£30,000

Equitable partnerships in higher education are essential for fostering successful and sustainable collaborations that promote mutual growth, knowledge exchange, and institutional development. This study systematically analyzes strategies for establishing and maintaining balanced academic and research partnerships, particularly between institutions in the Global North and South. The study examines existing models to address power imbalances, resource disparities, and differing institutional priorities drawing insights from multiple countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. While reciprocity, shared governance, and capacity-building are widely recognized as critical to equitable partnerships, this research assesses their actual prevalence and effectiveness within partnership ecosystems. The study ultimately aims to contribute to global efforts in designing a just and equitable academic and research partnership framework for universities, governments, policymakers, and development agencies.

Research Team: Abebaw Yirga Adamu, Addis Ababa University; Jude Ssempebwa, Makerere University; Ayenachew W/Giyorgis, Addis Ababa University; Lei Mee Thien, Universiti Sains Malaysia; Ana Maria Carneiro, University of Campinas; Isabella Aboderin, University of Bristol

Please note: Awards are arranged alphabetically by surname of the grant recipient. The institution is that given at the time of application.