Guide to good practice for inclusivity in global research

This policy is modified from Guide to good practice for inclusive research in global development (Altink et al., 2022).

Aim

The aim of this policy is to encourage authors to raise awareness on good practices in global research. Please read EGU's statement on scientific neocolonialism.

Considerations

Measures to make research more inclusive can be taken at each stage of a research project:

1. project proposal and design
2. equitable and ethical access to research data and management
3. fieldwork
4. analysis and publication of results
5. impact and legacy

For each research phase, have you considered the following?

1. Project proposal and design

1. Involving local collaborators from the start as equal partners in any research grant or project proposal.
2. Defining ownership and legacy of the project and its benefits and products generated, for all collaborators.
3. Recognizing that not one person or group in another country can speak for all parties relevant to a given research topic.
4. Defining expectations and agreement on the responsibilities, deliverables, and processes at all points of the work, including proposal development and the research itself.
5. Providing opportunities for in-country partners to enhance research and project management skills and take on leadership roles during the project.

2. Equitable and ethical access to research data and management

1. Developing ethics applications closely with in-country partners and ensuring they have the opportunity to participate in an equitable way in those processes.
2. Considering together with in-country partners the appropriate arrangements for rights of access to and use of data generated before or during the research by in-country partners and communities and for archiving and access to data after the project ends.
3. Ensuring that in-country partners are made aware, if they are not already, of globally available public databases that they might use during and after the project ends.
4. Appreciating and, when appropriate, including indigenous and local knowledge and the use of participatory research methods (e.g., by ensuring in-country leadership within the research process).

3. Fieldwork

1. Before fieldwork begins and throughout the project, addressing power inequalities and positionality that potentially exist between visiting and in-country researchers.
2. Maximizing the opportunities for in-country partners in all stages of the work, including methodology design, data collection, analysis, visualization of results, and interpretation and writing up of manuscripts.
3. Providing capacity training where it is needed at any of these stages.
4. Establishing formal contracts between visiting and in-country institutions.

4. Analysis and publication of results

1. Ensuring that in-country partners are included in developing and authoring outputs and have the opportunity to lead on publications, with you providing support as needed.
2. Acknowledging all significant contributors including translators, in-country assistants, and external organizations that provide data, but not awarding authorship unless warranted according to the guidelines on co-authorship (see general obligations for authors).
3. If needed, notifying collaborators of optional financial support or article processing charge discounts and waivers.
4. Paying attention to inclusive language used in scientific publications.
5. Reflecting on and including other forms of knowledge and understanding learned from the in-country partners (with proper crediting).

5. Impact and legacy

1. Selecting research output formats that can have in-country impact (e.g., policy brief, infographics, short videos).
2. Creating opportunities for in-country partners to present the outputs of the work (e.g., at conferences).
3. Engaging with in-country partners in relation to education and outreach activities.
4. Maximizing the accessibility of publicity materials (e.g., language, literacy level) used with in-country target populations.