Process learning on partnerships: building functioning research and practice organizational relationships
Implementers and researchers are responding to increasingly strong incentives to work together closely. Donors are placing a higher value on data, rigour, and evidence of impact from development assistance projects. This is seen in policy debates emphasizing value for money, and funding contingent on results and performance. In response, implementing organizations are increasingly collaborating with researchers. Such arrangements incur costs (financial and other), but the return on investment is high. Investments in relationship building, open and frequent communications, a clear understanding of partners’ objectives and non-negotiable requirements, and a mind-set of problem solving are important priorities in setting productive implementation science partnerships. We document process learning from developing a partnership between an implementing organization, Plan International, and a research institute, the Water Institute at the University of North Carolina. We make the case that: effective partnerships have preconditions for success; building institutional respect takes time and incremental changes to business as usual; establishing a partnership early with a long start-up period is advisable; accountability and research relevancy increase through shared roles during project design and results interpretation; and research message development requires regular review meetings with increasing frequency toward the end of a project.Aniekwe, C.C., Hayman, R., Mdee, A., Akuni, J., Lall, P. and Stevens, D. (2012) Academic-NGO Collaboration in International Development Research: A Reflection on the Issues [pdf] <https://www.intrac.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Academic-NGO-Collaboration-in-International-Development_September-2012.pdf> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Crocker, J., Shields, K.F., Venkataramanan, V., Saywell, D. and Bartram, J. (2016a) ‘Building capacity for water, sanitation, and hygiene programming: training evaluation theory applied to CLTS management training in Kenya’, Social Science & Medicine 166: 66–76 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.08.008>.
Crocker, J., Abodoo, E., Asamani, D., Domapielle, W., Gyapong, B. and Bartram, J. (2016b) ‘Impact evaluation of training natural leaders during a community-led total sanitation intervention: a cluster-randomized field trial in Ghana’, Environmental Science & Technology 50(16): 8867–75 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b01557>.
Crocker, J., Saywell, D., Shields, K.F., Kolsky, P. and Bartram, J. (2017) ‘The true costs of participatory sanitation: evidence from community-led total sanitation studies in Ghana and Ethiopia’, Science of the Total Environment 601–2: 1075–83 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.279>.
Hunter, D.J. (2009) ‘Relationship between evidence and policy: a case of evidence-based policy or policy-based evidence?’ Public Health 123: 583–6 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2009.07.011>.
Kar, K. and Chambers, R. (2008) Handbook on Community-led Total Sanitation [online], Plan UK and Institute of Development Studies <https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/872> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Lasker, R.D. and Weiss, E.S. (2003) ‘Broadening participation in community problem solving: a multidisciplinary model to support collaborative practice and research’, Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 80(1): 14–47 <https://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Fjurban%2Fjtg014>.
Marmot, M.G. (2004) ‘Evidence based policy or policy based evidence?’ BMJ 328: 906–7 <https://dx.doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.328.7445.906>.
Mattessich, P.W. and Monsey, B.R. (1992) Collaboration: What Makes It Work? A Review of Research Literature on Factors Influencing Successful Collaboration [online], St Paul, MN: Amherst H Wilder Foundation <https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED390758>.
Plan International Ethiopia (2015) Teacher-facilitated Community-led Total Sanitation: Implementation Narrative [pdf] <https://waterinstitute.unc.edu/files/2015/12/clts-gates-ethiopia-2015.pdf> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Stevens, D., Hayman, R. and Mdee, A. (2013) ‘“Cracking collaboration” between NGOs and academics in development research’, Development in Practice 23(8): 1071–7 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2013.840266>.
UN General Assembly (2015) Draft Outcome Document of the United Nations Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda [online] <http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/69/L.85&Lang=E> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Vangen, S. and Huxham, C. (2008) ‘Nurturing collaborative relations: building trust in interorganizational collaboration’, The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 39(1): 5–31 <https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886303039001001>.
Venkataramanan, V., Crocker, J., Karon, A. and Bartram, J. (2018) ‘Community-led total sanitation: a mixed-methods systematic review of evidence and its quality’, Environmental Health Perspectives 126(02) <http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP1965>.
Aniekwe, C.C., Hayman, R., Mdee, A., Akuni, J., Lall, P. and Stevens, D. (2012) Academic-NGO Collaboration in International Development Research: A Reflection on the Issues [pdf] <https://www.intrac.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Academic-NGO-Collaboration-in-International-Development_September-2012.pdf> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Crocker, J., Shields, K.F., Venkataramanan, V., Saywell, D. and Bartram, J. (2016a) ‘Building capacity for water, sanitation, and hygiene programming: training evaluation theory applied to CLTS management training in Kenya’, Social Science & Medicine 166: 66–76 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.08.008>.
Crocker, J., Abodoo, E., Asamani, D., Domapielle, W., Gyapong, B. and Bartram, J. (2016b) ‘Impact evaluation of training natural leaders during a community-led total sanitation intervention: a cluster-randomized field trial in Ghana’, Environmental Science & Technology 50(16): 8867–75 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b01557>.
Crocker, J., Saywell, D., Shields, K.F., Kolsky, P. and Bartram, J. (2017) ‘The true costs of participatory sanitation: evidence from community-led total sanitation studies in Ghana and Ethiopia’, Science of the Total Environment 601–2: 1075–83 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.279>.
Hunter, D.J. (2009) ‘Relationship between evidence and policy: a case of evidence-based policy or policy-based evidence?’ Public Health 123: 583–6 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2009.07.011>.
Kar, K. and Chambers, R. (2008) Handbook on Community-led Total Sanitation [online], Plan UK and Institute of Development Studies <https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/872> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Lasker, R.D. and Weiss, E.S. (2003) ‘Broadening participation in community problem solving: a multidisciplinary model to support collaborative practice and research’, Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 80(1): 14–47 <https://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Fjurban%2Fjtg014>.
Marmot, M.G. (2004) ‘Evidence based policy or policy based evidence?’ BMJ 328: 906–7 <https://dx.doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.328.7445.906>.
Mattessich, P.W. and Monsey, B.R. (1992) Collaboration: What Makes It Work? A Review of Research Literature on Factors Influencing Successful Collaboration [online], St Paul, MN: Amherst H Wilder Foundation <https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED390758>.
Plan International Ethiopia (2015) Teacher-facilitated Community-led Total Sanitation: Implementation Narrative [pdf] <https://waterinstitute.unc.edu/files/2015/12/clts-gates-ethiopia-2015.pdf> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Stevens, D., Hayman, R. and Mdee, A. (2013) ‘“Cracking collaboration” between NGOs and academics in development research’, Development in Practice 23(8): 1071–7 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2013.840266>.
UN General Assembly (2015) Draft Outcome Document of the United Nations Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda [online] <http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/69/L.85&Lang=E> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Vangen, S. and Huxham, C. (2008) ‘Nurturing collaborative relations: building trust in interorganizational collaboration’, The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 39(1): 5–31 <https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886303039001001>.
Venkataramanan, V., Crocker, J., Karon, A. and Bartram, J. (2018) ‘Community-led total sanitation: a mixed-methods systematic review of evidence and its quality’, Environmental Health Perspectives 126(02) <http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP1965>.
Aniekwe, C.C., Hayman, R., Mdee, A., Akuni, J., Lall, P. and Stevens, D. (2012) Academic-NGO Collaboration in International Development Research: A Reflection on the Issues [pdf] <https://www.intrac.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Academic-NGO-Collaboration-in-International-Development_September-2012.pdf> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Crocker, J., Shields, K.F., Venkataramanan, V., Saywell, D. and Bartram, J. (2016a) ‘Building capacity for water, sanitation, and hygiene programming: training evaluation theory applied to CLTS management training in Kenya’, Social Science & Medicine 166: 66–76 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.08.008>.
Crocker, J., Abodoo, E., Asamani, D., Domapielle, W., Gyapong, B. and Bartram, J. (2016b) ‘Impact evaluation of training natural leaders during a community-led total sanitation intervention: a cluster-randomized field trial in Ghana’, Environmental Science & Technology 50(16): 8867–75 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b01557>.
Crocker, J., Saywell, D., Shields, K.F., Kolsky, P. and Bartram, J. (2017) ‘The true costs of participatory sanitation: evidence from community-led total sanitation studies in Ghana and Ethiopia’, Science of the Total Environment 601–2: 1075–83 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.279>.
Hunter, D.J. (2009) ‘Relationship between evidence and policy: a case of evidence-based policy or policy-based evidence?’ Public Health 123: 583–6 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2009.07.011>.
Kar, K. and Chambers, R. (2008) Handbook on Community-led Total Sanitation [online], Plan UK and Institute of Development Studies <https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/872> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Lasker, R.D. and Weiss, E.S. (2003) ‘Broadening participation in community problem solving: a multidisciplinary model to support collaborative practice and research’, Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 80(1): 14–47 <https://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Fjurban%2Fjtg014>.
Marmot, M.G. (2004) ‘Evidence based policy or policy based evidence?’ BMJ 328: 906–7 <https://dx.doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.328.7445.906>.
Mattessich, P.W. and Monsey, B.R. (1992) Collaboration: What Makes It Work? A Review of Research Literature on Factors Influencing Successful Collaboration [online], St Paul, MN: Amherst H Wilder Foundation <https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED390758>.
Plan International Ethiopia (2015) Teacher-facilitated Community-led Total Sanitation: Implementation Narrative [pdf] <https://waterinstitute.unc.edu/files/2015/12/clts-gates-ethiopia-2015.pdf> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Stevens, D., Hayman, R. and Mdee, A. (2013) ‘“Cracking collaboration” between NGOs and academics in development research’, Development in Practice 23(8): 1071–7 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2013.840266>.
UN General Assembly (2015) Draft Outcome Document of the United Nations Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda [online] <http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/69/L.85&Lang=E> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Vangen, S. and Huxham, C. (2008) ‘Nurturing collaborative relations: building trust in interorganizational collaboration’, The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 39(1): 5–31 <https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886303039001001>.
Venkataramanan, V., Crocker, J., Karon, A. and Bartram, J. (2018) ‘Community-led total sanitation: a mixed-methods systematic review of evidence and its quality’, Environmental Health Perspectives 126(02) <http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP1965>.
Aniekwe, C.C., Hayman, R., Mdee, A., Akuni, J., Lall, P. and Stevens, D. (2012) Academic-NGO Collaboration in International Development Research: A Reflection on the Issues [pdf] <https://www.intrac.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Academic-NGO-Collaboration-in-International-Development_September-2012.pdf> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Crocker, J., Shields, K.F., Venkataramanan, V., Saywell, D. and Bartram, J. (2016a) ‘Building capacity for water, sanitation, and hygiene programming: training evaluation theory applied to CLTS management training in Kenya’, Social Science & Medicine 166: 66–76 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.08.008>.
Crocker, J., Abodoo, E., Asamani, D., Domapielle, W., Gyapong, B. and Bartram, J. (2016b) ‘Impact evaluation of training natural leaders during a community-led total sanitation intervention: a cluster-randomized field trial in Ghana’, Environmental Science & Technology 50(16): 8867–75 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b01557>.
Crocker, J., Saywell, D., Shields, K.F., Kolsky, P. and Bartram, J. (2017) ‘The true costs of participatory sanitation: evidence from community-led total sanitation studies in Ghana and Ethiopia’, Science of the Total Environment 601–2: 1075–83 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.279>.
Hunter, D.J. (2009) ‘Relationship between evidence and policy: a case of evidence-based policy or policy-based evidence?’ Public Health 123: 583–6 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2009.07.011>.
Kar, K. and Chambers, R. (2008) Handbook on Community-led Total Sanitation [online], Plan UK and Institute of Development Studies <https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/123456789/872> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Lasker, R.D. and Weiss, E.S. (2003) ‘Broadening participation in community problem solving: a multidisciplinary model to support collaborative practice and research’, Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 80(1): 14–47 <https://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Fjurban%2Fjtg014>.
Marmot, M.G. (2004) ‘Evidence based policy or policy based evidence?’ BMJ 328: 906–7 <https://dx.doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.328.7445.906>.
Mattessich, P.W. and Monsey, B.R. (1992) Collaboration: What Makes It Work? A Review of Research Literature on Factors Influencing Successful Collaboration [online], St Paul, MN: Amherst H Wilder Foundation <https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED390758>.
Plan International Ethiopia (2015) Teacher-facilitated Community-led Total Sanitation: Implementation Narrative [pdf] <https://waterinstitute.unc.edu/files/2015/12/clts-gates-ethiopia-2015.pdf> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Stevens, D., Hayman, R. and Mdee, A. (2013) ‘“Cracking collaboration” between NGOs and academics in development research’, Development in Practice 23(8): 1071–7 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2013.840266>.
UN General Assembly (2015) Draft Outcome Document of the United Nations Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda [online] <http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/69/L.85&Lang=E> [accessed 15 November 2018].
Vangen, S. and Huxham, C. (2008) ‘Nurturing collaborative relations: building trust in interorganizational collaboration’, The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 39(1): 5–31 <https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886303039001001>.
Venkataramanan, V., Crocker, J., Karon, A. and Bartram, J. (2018) ‘Community-led total sanitation: a mixed-methods systematic review of evidence and its quality’, Environmental Health Perspectives 126(02) <http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP1965>.
The Politics, Promises, and Perils of Data: Evidence-Driven Policy and Practice for Menstrual Health
Winkler, Inga T.
Bobel, Chris
Houghton, Lauren C.
Elhadad, Noémie
Gruer, Caitlin
Paranjothy, Vanessa
Women's Reproductive Health, Vol. 7 (2020), Iss. 4 P.227
https://doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2020.1820240 [Citations: 1]The new reality: perspectives on future integrated WASH
Nikolas Sorensen, Nikolas Sorensen
Marielle Snel, Marielle Snel
Waterlines, Vol. 39 (2020), Iss. 4 P.277
https://doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.20-00007 [Citations: 0]The new reality: perspectives on future integrated WASH
Nikolas Sorensen, Nikolas Sorensen
Marielle Snel, Marielle Snel
Waterlines, Vol. 41 (2022), Iss. 1 P.65
https://doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.20-00007OA [Citations: 0]Adapting Translational Research Methods to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Setty, Karen
Cronk, Ryan
George, Shannan
Anderson, Darcy
O’Flaherty, Għanja
Bartram, Jamie
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 16 (2019), Iss. 20 P.4049
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16204049 [Citations: 10]Making Smarter Decisions Faster: Systems Engineering to Improve the Global Public Health Response to HIV
Wagner, Anjuli D.
Crocker, Jonny
Liu, Shan
Cherutich, Peter
Gimbel, Sarah
Fernandes, Quinhas
Mugambi, Melissa
Ásbjörnsdóttir, Kristjana
Masyuko, Sarah
Wagenaar, Bradley H.
Nduati, Ruth
Sherr, Kenneth
Current HIV/AIDS Reports, Vol. 16 (2019), Iss. 4 P.279
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-019-00449-2 [Citations: 23]Open research data: A case study into institutional and infrastructural arrangements to stimulate open research data sharing and reuse
van Gend, Thijmen
Zuiderwijk, Anneke
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Vol. 55 (2023), Iss. 3 P.782
https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006221101200 [Citations: 3]Cost effectiveness of community led total sanitation in Ethiopia and Ghana
Crocker, Jonny
Fuente, David
Bartram, Jamie
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Vol. 232 (2021), Iss. P.113682
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113682 [Citations: 5]
- A call to action: organizational, professional, and personal change for gender transformative WASH programming
- Providing municipal faecal sludge management services: lessons from Bangladesh
- Menstrual hygiene management: education and empowerment for girls?
- Webwatch
- Transgender-inclusive sanitation: insights from South Asia
Browse our other journals
