Send message to Authors

Paper short abstract:

Based on our primary data collection experience in Nepal (mostly) we want to share reflections on structural constraints imposed by the current business model of donor funded multi-countries programs, which undermine claims of empowerment and transformation

Paper long abstract:

During field work in the context of qualitative research on energy, gender equality, and social

inclusion, our encounters with poor and socially stigmatised women triggered ethical and

methodological questions for us. Rather than discussing methodological details, this commentary

unpacks research process related issues we encounter in the context of research for development

(R4D). We reflect on the discrepancy between the claims about how R4D can foster transformation

and the constrains we face in conducting research and how it undermines the claimed expected outcome. We conclude that the roots of the dysfunctions along the research process primarily lie upstream, in the top-down research designs disconnected from the local realities we aim to change and business models incompatible with the demands of

quality research. The unrealistic donor expectations and conditionality - such as the need to fit within specific programs decided mostly by Global North based urban actors, imposed on research teams challenge ethical principles and are rarely discussed/debated.