Addressing institutional and individual power dynamics is essential for equitable partnerships and co-design approaches. An asymmetry in power relations may be directly expressed or more implicit in interactions between stakeholders. There may be a spatial aspect to this dynamic, with communities feeling that decisions made in distant centres of power do not reflect local understandings and realities. As a researcher, you also occupy a position of authority and therefore power in the research relationship.
Addressing power inequalities depends on the manner of engagement as well as the process. Actions to consider include:
- Flexibility on when and where you engage with people.
- Openness and adaptability regarding methods and activities.
- Humility in interactions – this can be something as simple as allowing others to speak first and not rushing to answer questions or volunteer your own knowledge (people are interested in what you know but it is important to emphasise that you are interested in what they know!).
- Reciprocity – finding ways to meet an identified need, or provided a benefit, so people are not only being asked to make an altruistic contribution to the assessment.
- Respecting other people’s time – following up on any commitments that you make or requests that you receive in a timely fashion.
- Thanking participants for their contributions.
- Acknowledging participants’ contributions and roles in the final outputs.
What happens after an assessment?
Experiences in other projects show that processes of engaged co-production can lay the foundations for, and raise expectations around, future engagement. While this is a potential opportunity, expectations of a longer-term engagement may be at odds with institutional aims or capacity.
Managing expectations up-front around the timeframe and outcomes of the anticipated process is important to try and avoid negative repercussions where on-going engagement is not possible.
Appropriately concluding the process is in keeping with an ethical mode of engagement and leaves a positive stepping off point for any further collaboration in future.