[This story is part of our collection on transforming research collaboration. It highlights efforts and challenges in reimagining partnerships for greater equity, with a focus on strengthening Southern-led approaches to research.]

Research management, defined as ‘all administrative, operational and management functions and activities an institution undertakes to support the output of its researchers, other than the conducting of the research itself’, is crucial to advancing equity by creating systems that prioritise inclusion, fairness, and equal opportunities. The International Research Management Staff Development Programme (IRMSDP) represents a significant shift in the landscape of global research partnerships, emphasising Southern leadership and the reconfiguration of power dynamics in research collaborations. This groundbreaking initiative, detailed in this 2021 publication, is jointly spearheaded by the Africa Research Management Capacity Strengthening (REMACS) Programme, a programme of the Science for Africa Foundation, and the Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA) in the United Kingdom (UK). Designed for research management professionals across Africa and the UK, this programme aims to build long-term partnerships, foster knowledge and culture exchange, and co-create tools and resources for the global research management community.

Shifting the Centre of Gravity

From the onset, the Science for Africa Foundation and ARMA teams set out to co-create a programme that addressed partnership challenges on both sides. A core goal of the IRMSDP is to shift the centre of gravity for African science to Africa. This involves empowering African researchers, research support staff and institutions to take the lead in setting research agendas and driving impactful studies. The programme’s emphasis on Southern leadership is evident in its structure and implementation: its initial projects were co-led and co-developed by African and UK research managers, ensuring that African voices are central to the decision-making process. The first edition of the programme in 2020-2021 brought together six international teams, comprising 58 members from 21 institutions in eight African countries and 17 institutions in the UK. 

Addressing Local Contexts, Needs, and Priorities

A key objective of the IRMSDP is to address specific language and terminology challenges African research institutions face when collaborating with UK institutions and vice versa. For example, one project, “Improving Pre-Award Tracking and Collaboration”, aimed to develop a glossary of terms used in research development to facilitate better communication and collaboration between African and UK institutions. This project highlighted the importance of understanding local contexts, centring language, and ensuring that there is a common understanding of the different research management practices and how to leverage this understanding to build and sustain equitable partnerships.

Another project, “Sustainable Management and Administration for Research: Training across the Project Lifecycle (SMARTLife)”, focused on building the competencies of research managers through training and knowledge exchange activities. This project addressed the need for professional development in research management, ensuring that African research managers have the skills and resources necessary to lead successful research projects and that their UK counterparts understand the context in which they operate. 

Enabling Southern Research Managers to Step into Leadership Roles

The IRMSDP also aims to provide a platform for Southern research managers to develop their leadership skills and gain recognition for their contributions to the global research community. The programme’s emphasis on inclusivity, co-creation and collaboration seeks to ensure that research managers from diverse backgrounds and institutions can participate and benefit from the training and resources produced.

For instance, the “Toolkit for Early-Career Research Managers Online Resource (TReMOR)” project aimed to equip early-career research managers with the tools and resources needed to succeed in their roles. By providing guidelines, blog posts, top tips, interviews, and presentations, this project helped early-career research managers navigate the complexities of research management and develop their professional skills.

The “Research Communication for Impact” project, for its part, focused on training early-career researchers and research managers to disseminate their research to policy-makers effectively. This project highlighted the importance of communication and networking skills for Southern researchers to step into leadership roles and influence research outcomes.

Driving Meaningful Change within the Broader Research Community

The IRMSDP initial projects have significantly impacted the broader research community by promoting equitable partnerships and fostering a culture of long-term collaboration and knowledge exchange. The projects’ emphasis on co-creation and mutual benefit ensured that both African and UK participants gained valuable insights and skills from the collaboration.

For example, the “Cradle to Grave: A Research and Programme Management Knowledge-Sharing Series” project delivered interactive workshops on various aspects of research project management, from pre-award design to project close-out. These workshops provided a platform for participants to share their experiences, challenges, and best practices, fostering a sense of community and collaboration among research managers.

The “A Competencies Toolkit for Research Managers and Administrators” project led to the formulation of a comprehensive toolkit to support the professional development of research managers. This toolkit includes how-to guides, training materials, and advice on various aspects of research management, helping to build a common skills base and promote professionalisation in the field.

Power Shifting Towards the Global South

Unlike traditional efforts that focus solely on academics, the IRMSDP recognises that collaboration occurs within a broader ecosystem involving academics, research infrastructure, and research support staff. The IRMSDP represents a significant step towards shifting power dynamics in the global research landscape. By prioritising Southern leadership and ensuring that African research managers and institutions are at the forefront of research collaborations, the programme challenges the traditional model of Northern-led research partnerships. It also maintains a focus on global challenges across North and South, while taking into account the diverse cultural contexts and positions of the partners.

The programme’s success is evident in the numerous outputs and resources developed by the participating teams. These include interactive PDFs, online toolkits, training sessions, and workshop videos, all of which are designed to be accessible and beneficial to the global research management community.

Moreover, the IRMSDP has fostered long-term relationships between African and UK institutions, creating a network of research managers and administrators who are committed to promoting equitable and sustainable research partnerships. This network serves as a foundation for future collaborations and ensures that the lessons learned from the programme continue to benefit the broader research community.

[Explore other stories from our collection on transforming research collaboration and engage with ideas envisioning a more equitable future for research. ]

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