Networked Research

To start off, here is something I wrote for IFRTD manual on networked research, that IFRTD is publishing with support from SDC. For more information check out their website http://www.ifrtd.org/ or contact Kate Czuczman, kate.czuczman@ifrtd.org

The inspiration for initiating ‘networked research’ as we have thought fit to ‘brand’ the practice, came from a philosophy that is inclusive and democratic and seeks to breakdown existing hierarchies of knowledge production.

Networked research recognises the value of the knowledge and experience of people with real life experiences and combines that knowledge with the skills of formally trained researchers. In this way it is able to bring fresh perspectives, practically relevant knowledge from different locations and the rigour of analysis into the research process, enriching both researchers and practitioners.

Doing ‘networked research’ is not easy: it requires leaps of faith from all those involved and can easily be hijacked by individuals and organisations that are seeking collaboration merely to further their own agendas. This often causes frustration and disillusionment, even though participation will not be eshewed for practical and financial reasons. Used well and in the right spirit, networked research has impacts that reach well beyond the research output itself: everyone learns from each other, everyone gains new knowledge, new partnerships are formed and many opportunities for stimulating change are created.

The process was initially carried out when Helen Appleton and I coordinated the Do It Herself: women and technology innovation programmein ITDG. In the IFRTD, the approach was first used in the Balancing the Load programme on gender and transport, but the network has made it the cornerstone of their knowledge activities, hence the manual. Versions of the approach were used in the Waterways and Livelihoods programme, in the Mainstreaming Gender in World Bank funded programmes (not quite the correct name) programme, in the Southern and East African HIV and Transport programme. Their latest networked research programme on mobility and health has refined the approach much further. Dangers of refining it too much, and losing some of the flexibility and the spontaneity of the approach remain.

Networked research is not quite 'collaborative research' because it goes beyond collaboration to include issues of equity of knowledge.

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