Partnership approaches have been identified as crucial for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. In the context of an emerging literature on cross-sector partnerships, and more specifically reflections on how academic institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) create effective and mutually beneficial research collaborations, this paper draws on the experiences of a particular partnership between academic researchers and a Fair Trade organization partnership to contribute to building an understanding of how collaborative research can be achieved more effectively. A set of collaborative outputs resulted from the experience, including best practices for engagement and a training tool. It has contributed to changes in some of Fairtrade International’s ways of working with researchers. We found that we had more in common than what divided us in terms of skills and attitudes to knowledge, which is an important factor in the success of our relationship. Rooted in reflective practice, our project highlights the importance of trust and relationship building but also recognition of formal agreements and institutional structures to sustain the relationship.

Aniekwe, C.C., Hayman, R. and Mdee, A. with Akuni, J., Lall, J. and Stevens, D. (2012) Academic-NGO Collaboration in International Development Research: A Reflection On the Issues [online], Oxford: INTRAC <https://www.intrac.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Academic-NGO-Collaboration-in-International-Development_September-2012.pdf> [accessed 12 February 2017].

Bäckstrand, K. (2006) ‘Multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development: rethinking legitimacy, accountability and effectiveness’, Environmental Policy and Governance 16(5): 290−306 <https://doi.org/10.1002/eet.425>.

Brewer, J. (2013) The Public Value of the Social Sciences, London: Bloomsbury.

Cooke, W. and Kothari, U. (eds) (2001) Participation: The New Tyranny? London: Zed Books.

Cornish, H., Fransman, J. and Newman, K. (2017) Rethinking Research Partnerships: Discussion Guide and Toolkit [pdf], Rethinking Research Partnerships Collaboration <https://www.christianaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-10/discussion-guide-ngo-academic-research-oct2017.pdf> [accessed 12 February 2018].

Cramer, C., Johnston, D., Oya, C. and Sender, J. (2017) ‘Fairtrade and labour markets in Ethiopia and Uganda’, Journal of Development Studies 53(6): 841−56 <https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2016.1208175>.

Denis, J-L. and Lomas, J. (2003) ‘Convergent evolution: the academic and policy roots of collaborative research’, Journal of Health Services Research & Policy 8(suppl. 2): 1−6 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1258/135581903322405108>.

Fairtrade International (2015) Journeys to Change: Fairtrade Theory of Change [pdf] <https://www.fairtrade.net/fileadmin/user_upload/content/2009/resources/1612-Fairtrade_Theory_of_Change.pdf> [accessed 10 January 2016].

Fairtrade International (2017) Monitoring the Scope and Benefits of Fairtrade [online] <https://www.fairtrade.net/library/monitoring-the-scope-and-benefits-of-fairtrade-ninth-edition-2017> [accessed 12 June 2019].

Green, D. (2016a) ‘How can academics and NGOs work together? Some smart new ideas’ [blog], Oxfam <https://oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/how-can-academics-and-ngos-work-together-some-smart-new-ideas/> [accessed 10 January 2018].

Green, D. (2016b) ‘Academics and NGOs can work together in partnership but must do so earlier and with genuine knowledge exchange’ [blog], London School of Economics and Political Science <http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2016/10/19/why-is-it-still-so-hard-for-academics-and-ngos-to-work-together/> [accessed 11 November 2017].

Hayman, R., King, S., Kontinen, T. and Narayanaswamy, L. (eds) (2016) Negotiating Knowledge: Evidence and Experience in Development NGOs, Rugby: Practical Action Publishing.

Howard, R.J. (2016) Pathways to ‘Fair Carbon’: Assessing Fairness in Standard-Setting and Carbon Projects [online], PhD thesis, University of Leeds <http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/15356/> [accessed 12 February 2017].

Justice, J., Tallontire, A., Hastings, J., Mendoza, A. and Kour, H. (2018) Game Play as a Safe Critical Space for Exploring Research Collaboration [pdf], SRI Briefing Paper 17, University of Leeds <http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/fileadmin/Documents/research/sri/briefingnotes/Justice_et_al.__2018_SRI_Briefing_Note_No._17.pdf> [accessed 10 December 2018].

Kirkpatrick, K. (2015) Fairtrade and Research, Fair Trade International Symposium, Milan, May 2015.

Kontinen, T. (2016) ‘What sense does it make? Vocabularies of practice and knowledge creation in a development NGO’, in R. Hayman, S. King, T. Kontinen and L. Narayanaswamy (eds), Negotiating Knowledge: Evidence and Experience in Development NGOs, Rugby: Practical Action Publishing.

Lottholz, P. and Kluczewska, K. (2017) ‘Ever wondered why practitioners treat researchers like a nuisance? The challenges of accessing expert knowledge, from two perspectives’ [blog], Field Research Method Lab <http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/fieldresearch/2017/10/30/why-practitioners-treat-researchers-like-a-nuisance/> [accessed 15 May 2018].

Macnamara, L. (2012) People and Permaculture: Caring and Designing for Ourselves, Each Other and the Planet, East Meon: Permanent Publications.

Mendoza, A. (2017) ‘Fairtrade’s impact: how do we measure up?’ 26 September 2017 [online] <https://medium.com/@fairtrade/fairtrades-impact-how-do-we-measure-up-4db266b317b0> [accessed 10 December 2017].

Moxham, C. and Kauppi, K. (2014) ‘Using organisational theories to further our understanding of socially sustainable supply chains: the case of fair trade’, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal 19(4): 413−20 <https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-09-2013-0332>.

O’Meara, K., Eatman, T. and Petersen, S. (2015) ‘Advancing engaged scholarship in promotion and tenure: a roadmap and call for reform’, Liberal Education 101(3) [online] <https://www.aacu.org/liberaleducation/2015/summer/o%27meara> [accessed 20 December 2018].

Oya, C., Schaefer, F. and Skalidou, D. (2018) ‘The effectiveness of agricultural certification in developing countries: a systematic review’, World Development 112: 282−312 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.08.001>.

Pohl, C., Rist, S., Zimmerman, A., Fry, P., Gurang, G.S., Schneider, F., Speranza, C.I., Kiteme, B., Boillat, S., Serrano, E., Hirsch Hadron, G. and Wiesman, U. (2010) ‘Researchers’ roles in knowledge co-production: experience from sustainability research in Kenya, Switzerland, Bolivia and Nepal’, Science and Public Policy 37(4): 267−81 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3152/030234210X496628>.

Raelin, J.A. (2002) ‘“I don’t have time to think!” versus the art of reflective practice’, Reflections 4(1): 66−79 <www.researchgate.net/publication/240275477_I_Don't_Have_Time_to_Think_versus_the_Art_of_Reflective_Practice>.

Roper, L. (2002) ‘Achieving successful academic-practitioner research collaborations’, Development in Practice 12(3/4): 338−45 <https://doi.org/10.1080/0961450220149717>.

Schoen, V., Durrant, R., Fishpool, M. and Dooris, M. (2017) CSO-Academic Collaboration: Theory and Practice [pdf], Food Research Collaboration <http://foodresearch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2017/01/FRC-collaboration-briefing-paper-final-4-January-2017-1.pdf> [accessed 20 December 2018].

Shucksmith, M. (2016) InterAction: How Can Academics and the Third Sector Work Together to Influence Policy and Practice? [pdf], Carnegie UK Trust <https://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/publications/interaction/> [accessed 19 November 2017].

Smith, A.M. (2009) ‘Evaluating the criticisms of Fair Trade: how strong is the argument that consumers and businesses should abandon Fair Trade as a means to socialise their economic decisions?’ Economic Affairs 19(4): 50−3 <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0270.2009.01944.x>.

Stevens, D., Hayman, R. and Mdee, A. (2013) ‘“Cracking collaboration” between NGOs and academics in development research’, Development in Practice 23(8): 1071−7 <https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2013.840266>.

Aniekwe, C.C., Hayman, R. and Mdee, A. with Akuni, J., Lall, J. and Stevens, D. (2012) Academic-NGO Collaboration in International Development Research: A Reflection On the Issues [online], Oxford: INTRAC <https://www.intrac.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Academic-NGO-Collaboration-in-International-Development_September-2012.pdf> [accessed 12 February 2017].

Bäckstrand, K. (2006) ‘Multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development: rethinking legitimacy, accountability and effectiveness’, Environmental Policy and Governance 16(5): 290−306 <https://doi.org/10.1002/eet.425>.

Brewer, J. (2013) The Public Value of the Social Sciences, London: Bloomsbury.

Cooke, W. and Kothari, U. (eds) (2001) Participation: The New Tyranny? London: Zed Books.

Cornish, H., Fransman, J. and Newman, K. (2017) Rethinking Research Partnerships: Discussion Guide and Toolkit [pdf], Rethinking Research Partnerships Collaboration <https://www.christianaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-10/discussion-guide-ngo-academic-research-oct2017.pdf> [accessed 12 February 2018].

Cramer, C., Johnston, D., Oya, C. and Sender, J. (2017) ‘Fairtrade and labour markets in Ethiopia and Uganda’, Journal of Development Studies 53(6): 841−56 <https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2016.1208175>.

Denis, J-L. and Lomas, J. (2003) ‘Convergent evolution: the academic and policy roots of collaborative research’, Journal of Health Services Research & Policy 8(suppl. 2): 1−6 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1258/135581903322405108>.

Fairtrade International (2015) Journeys to Change: Fairtrade Theory of Change [pdf] <https://www.fairtrade.net/fileadmin/user_upload/content/2009/resources/1612-Fairtrade_Theory_of_Change.pdf> [accessed 10 January 2016].

Fairtrade International (2017) Monitoring the Scope and Benefits of Fairtrade [online] <https://www.fairtrade.net/library/monitoring-the-scope-and-benefits-of-fairtrade-ninth-edition-2017> [accessed 12 June 2019].

Green, D. (2016a) ‘How can academics and NGOs work together? Some smart new ideas’ [blog], Oxfam <https://oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/how-can-academics-and-ngos-work-together-some-smart-new-ideas/> [accessed 10 January 2018].

Green, D. (2016b) ‘Academics and NGOs can work together in partnership but must do so earlier and with genuine knowledge exchange’ [blog], London School of Economics and Political Science <http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2016/10/19/why-is-it-still-so-hard-for-academics-and-ngos-to-work-together/> [accessed 11 November 2017].

Hayman, R., King, S., Kontinen, T. and Narayanaswamy, L. (eds) (2016) Negotiating Knowledge: Evidence and Experience in Development NGOs, Rugby: Practical Action Publishing.

Howard, R.J. (2016) Pathways to ‘Fair Carbon’: Assessing Fairness in Standard-Setting and Carbon Projects [online], PhD thesis, University of Leeds <http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/15356/> [accessed 12 February 2017].

Justice, J., Tallontire, A., Hastings, J., Mendoza, A. and Kour, H. (2018) Game Play as a Safe Critical Space for Exploring Research Collaboration [pdf], SRI Briefing Paper 17, University of Leeds <http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/fileadmin/Documents/research/sri/briefingnotes/Justice_et_al.__2018_SRI_Briefing_Note_No._17.pdf> [accessed 10 December 2018].

Kirkpatrick, K. (2015) Fairtrade and Research, Fair Trade International Symposium, Milan, May 2015.

Kontinen, T. (2016) ‘What sense does it make? Vocabularies of practice and knowledge creation in a development NGO’, in R. Hayman, S. King, T. Kontinen and L. Narayanaswamy (eds), Negotiating Knowledge: Evidence and Experience in Development NGOs, Rugby: Practical Action Publishing.

Lottholz, P. and Kluczewska, K. (2017) ‘Ever wondered why practitioners treat researchers like a nuisance? The challenges of accessing expert knowledge, from two perspectives’ [blog], Field Research Method Lab <http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/fieldresearch/2017/10/30/why-practitioners-treat-researchers-like-a-nuisance/> [accessed 15 May 2018].

Macnamara, L. (2012) People and Permaculture: Caring and Designing for Ourselves, Each Other and the Planet, East Meon: Permanent Publications.

Mendoza, A. (2017) ‘Fairtrade’s impact: how do we measure up?’ 26 September 2017 [online] <https://medium.com/@fairtrade/fairtrades-impact-how-do-we-measure-up-4db266b317b0> [accessed 10 December 2017].

Moxham, C. and Kauppi, K. (2014) ‘Using organisational theories to further our understanding of socially sustainable supply chains: the case of fair trade’, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal 19(4): 413−20 <https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-09-2013-0332>.

O’Meara, K., Eatman, T. and Petersen, S. (2015) ‘Advancing engaged scholarship in promotion and tenure: a roadmap and call for reform’, Liberal Education 101(3) [online] <https://www.aacu.org/liberaleducation/2015/summer/o%27meara> [accessed 20 December 2018].

Oya, C., Schaefer, F. and Skalidou, D. (2018) ‘The effectiveness of agricultural certification in developing countries: a systematic review’, World Development 112: 282−312 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.08.001>.

Pohl, C., Rist, S., Zimmerman, A., Fry, P., Gurang, G.S., Schneider, F., Speranza, C.I., Kiteme, B., Boillat, S., Serrano, E., Hirsch Hadron, G. and Wiesman, U. (2010) ‘Researchers’ roles in knowledge co-production: experience from sustainability research in Kenya, Switzerland, Bolivia and Nepal’, Science and Public Policy 37(4): 267−81 <http://dx.doi.org/10.3152/030234210X496628>.

Raelin, J.A. (2002) ‘“I don’t have time to think!” versus the art of reflective practice’, Reflections 4(1): 66−79 <www.researchgate.net/publication/240275477_I_Don't_Have_Time_to_Think_versus_the_Art_of_Reflective_Practice>.

Roper, L. (2002) ‘Achieving successful academic-practitioner research collaborations’, Development in Practice 12(3/4): 338−45 <https://doi.org/10.1080/0961450220149717>.

Schoen, V., Durrant, R., Fishpool, M. and Dooris, M. (2017) CSO-Academic Collaboration: Theory and Practice [pdf], Food Research Collaboration <http://foodresearch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2017/01/FRC-collaboration-briefing-paper-final-4-January-2017-1.pdf> [accessed 20 December 2018].

Shucksmith, M. (2016) InterAction: How Can Academics and the Third Sector Work Together to Influence Policy and Practice? [pdf], Carnegie UK Trust <https://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/publications/interaction/> [accessed 19 November 2017].

Smith, A.M. (2009) ‘Evaluating the criticisms of Fair Trade: how strong is the argument that consumers and businesses should abandon Fair Trade as a means to socialise their economic decisions?’ Economic Affairs 19(4): 50−3 <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0270.2009.01944.x>.

Stevens, D., Hayman, R. and Mdee, A. (2013) ‘“Cracking collaboration” between NGOs and academics in development research’, Development in Practice 23(8): 1071−7 <https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2013.840266>.