Making Southern Realities Count: research agendas and design in North-South collaborations

This article illustrates some of the issues that arise when the commonly espoused principles of research partnerships are considered in the practice of North-South collaborations. It points to dynamics that may occur when research agendas are not shared by collaborators. Moreover, it questions the roles partners adopt during fieldwork in relation to the distribution of control over a research project. Related to this, the article explores issues of funding. What is the potential for collaborations with a project lead by Southern partners, which would reflect more strongly Southern realities in research projects? It is concluded that hierarchical research arrangements may be desirable in some circumstances, for example, where they favour the South; that Northern and Southern capacities and weaknesses should be made explicit; and that capacity building should be pursued beyond the point where it serves the North.