Lessons Learned & Recommendations for Long-Term Research Partnerships in Low and Middle-Income Countries

Social work has a strong part to play in global research initiatives. Long-term research partnerships between social work scholars and projects in low-and middle-income countries can produce higher levels of knowledge and forward important social justice initiatives. Presenters will discuss the role that the African Programming Research Initiative to End Modern Slavery at the University of Georgia School of Social Work has in reducing child labor and human trafficking in multiple African countries. This initiative has been running for over three years with lasting effects on the host communities. These long-term partnerships have resulted in updating national human trafficking laws, capacity building of practitioners and legal personnel, and numerous publications forwarding the science of collective impact and human trafficking. This initiative engages researchers and experts from multiple fields (e.g., public health, sociology, statistics, law); however, it is uniquely housed in the School of Social Work, giving it a social justice framing. Along with the benefits, challenges often accompany international partnerships with low- and middle-income countries, including a lack of resources and infrastructure, potential miscommunication due to language and cultural differences, managing power imbalances, and choosing potential partners. This roundtable will open a discussion about these challenges and the many benefits, creating a space of curiosity about potential research projects. This roundtable session will begin a dialogue about the benefits and hardships of enduring relationships with international research partnerships with low- and middle-income countries. Presenters will focus particular attention on ways to encourage cultural humility while ensuring academic rigor and understanding the enduring legacy of colonialism in these areas. For example, one presenter will speak to the role of neocolonialism embedded within typical humanitarian aid and research funding. Another presenter will describe using theories, such as the socio-ecological model, to enhance research-practitioner collaboration, and finally, another presenter will discuss the use of a collective impact model that utilizes cross-sector engagement to further social justice and research with local partners. A local discussant will also be present to speak on the role of in-country support and partnerships. All presenters will speak about the role of capacity building within relationships for the sustainability of local partners. This roundtable aims to engage participants in pragmatic conversations about social-justice-oriented research with long-term partnerships among low- and middle-income countries with the hope of fostering strong research partnerships worldwide.