[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.]

The world has entered into an unknown, chaotic international policy landscape. Among many other massive challenges, North-South international cooperation is under enormous scrutiny for not delivering on its promise and, to some extent, for replicating colonial ways of working with Global South countries. Decolonial advocates – such as the organisations and leaders of our partnership – are more than ready to promote bold ideas and transformative approaches. 

This is the story of how we opted to escape the trap of the North-South partnership option, at least for once, and formed a collective of eight very diverse organisations – from universities and think tanks, to civil society organisations and social networks from Latin America, Asia and Africa: The South-to-South collective. These partners are: Institute for Global Dialogue (South Africa), Women for a Change, Cameroon, FLACSO Argentina, Fundación SES – Solidaridad, Educación y Sustentabilidad (Argentina and Latin America), GENSA (Gender and Equity Network South Asia), North-South Initiative #ViralizingSolidarity (Malaysia), the Praxis Institute for Participatory Practices (India and Asia), and the Global Change Center (South-South global platform). With the support of the Ford Foundation, we co-facilitated and co-produced two research landscape reports outlining the deeply ingrained unfair power dynamics in the international evaluation ecosystem. We interviewed and engaged with more than 100 key actors based in over 30 countries to arrive at our conclusions. We also co-facilitated Southern-led global and regional online and in-person sessions to identify trends, patterns, and journeys of change (little-travelled pathways to promote transformative equity). We are now entering a second phase for this action-research process with the support of the International Development Centre Canada (IDRC-Canada).

Our funders, the Ford Foundation and now IDRC-Canada, seem to understand that it is time to move away from some “usual suspects” in a crowded field and experiment with grounded changemakers, researchers and leaders.

Our Approach: Equity-Driven Inquiry

Each partner organisation of our South-South collective comes from different historical, social, economic, and political contexts, shaped by varying degrees of colonial influence. Within the Global South, the trajectories of Latin America, Africa, and Asia are diverse from each other. As a result, every partner navigates a dual struggle: resisting dominant narratives within their own countries while simultaneously challenging the global mainstream. This creates a unique set of perspectives on partnerships, research, and marginalisation, expanding our toolbox on how to deploy evidence for policy change.

Our research experience emerged directly from what we define as ‘our Souths‘ — diverse Southern identities historically colonised, erased, exploited, and subjected to centuries of resource and information extraction, cultural destruction, political and military manipulation and intervention. All experiences that directly affect our lives, and those of our families and communities. It is true, none of us are alike. However, we are bound together by our shared trajectories of oppression and, most importantly, we are connected by the invisible bridges of resilience, perseverance, resistance, and a steadfast commitment to innovate in crisis to try to create a context of expanded dignity for all.

Another common thread unites us: we have all faced similar experiences of marginalisation by Global North funders or mainstream research organisations (including evaluation companies/institutions). This shared history has enabled us to collectively lead conversations on equity and transformation. Each organisation, in turn, engaged with at least ten other individuals or groups with similar perspectives, collating dialogues and synthesising insights. This collective process formed the foundation of our equity-driven study, which sought to identify solutions for embedding a culture of equity in evaluation.

From the Peripheries: Generating Discomfort to Regain Our Power

Even in spaces dedicated to decolonisation, Global South voices often remain marginal. The decolonisation agenda itself has frequently been co-opted by Global North institutions, shaped by their priorities rather than the realities of those of us engaged in day-to-day on-the-ground work within our communities. This bias is evident in how issues are framed, privileging the concerns of the Global North over the structural challenges faced by those in the Global South.

Through our reports, events, and long-term engagements, we strive to disrupt these narratives and create spaces for the perspectives of the Global South to take centre stage. In our meetings with funders and research institutions, we aim to generate and confidently share the “Global South gaze”. We notice that, at times, this creates a sense of discomfort. We believe that catalysing this sense of discomfort is necessary to invite power holders out of their comfort zones and into genuine engagement with alternative ideas and perspectives. True diversity is not merely about representation but about valuing and integrating the political viewpoints and lived experiences of the Global South, beyond just the diaspora based in Washington, D.C., London, Brussels or other global capitals. It is about knitting new narratives, together, despite uneasy sensations and with the courage to enter into dialogue. 

For us, South-South collaboration is about cooperation and the power holders’ willingness to listen and engage. It is through this process that long-term shifts in power and perspective can take place. Through our work, we have seen firsthand how meaningful collaboration can lead to innovation that is deeply responsive to multiple voices and the community needs we are close to. When partnerships are informed by organisations close to the ground, they carry an authenticity that no external framework can replicate. To sustain this, we need to invest in mechanisms that facilitate continuous dialogue, ensuring that our ways of working evolve organically rather than being dictated by external pressures or short-term priorities.

The Value of South-South Collaborations: Principle-Driven Partnerships

In the ever-evolving landscape of global development, South-South collaborations have emerged as a powerful counterpoint to the dominant narratives shaped by the Global North. Building partnerships in the Global South is not just about collaborating with anyone—it is about working with particular groups that share the same core values and are committed to co-creating knowledge and strategies. Without this trust and flexibility, we risk being mere implementers of externally driven agendas rather than enablers of transformative change. These partnerships represent a distinct way of working—one that is principle-based, rooted in trust, and shaped by the realities of voices and communities on the margins.

This is not about imposing a rigid framework or replicating models from elsewhere. Instead, it is about fostering dialogues that are informed by lived realities, allowing communities to shape their own proposals and methodologies for change. Grounded dialogue is central to this process—it is through deep listening and sustained conversations that we can co-create solutions that respond to concrete challenges.

One of the key lessons we have learned is that decolonisation must not become a new form of colonisation. Too often, well-intentioned efforts to challenge Northern dominance inadvertently replicate the same top-down structures, treating indigenous knowledge as something to be ‘mainstreamed’ rather than respected on its own terms. A true decolonial approach acknowledges that local communities are not passive recipients of development but are already solution providers within their own ecosystems (and beyond). Our role is to create spaces where these solutions can thrive, without the pressure to conform to external benchmarks of legitimacy.

At its core, South-South collaboration is about centring the voices and agency of those who have historically been marginalised in global decision-making. It is about creating spaces where knowledge flows in multiple directions, where flexibility is valued over rigidity, and where long-term relationships take precedence over short-term outputs. As we move forward, we must continue to ask: Are we truly listening? Are we making space for communities to lead? Are we co-creating solutions that are grounded in their realities? If the answer is yes, then we are on the right path.

Challenges

In our experience of working across different contexts in the Global South, what has stood out is the necessity of flexible, solution-driven partnerships that evolve with the needs of the people they serve. South-South collaboration is not just about working together — making true collaborations happen is not easy and should not be fast-tracked with simplified toolkits or guidance documents. It requires exercising the art of facilitation, dialogue and principled-driven work, every day, at every step of any specific project. In our case, we held countless joint-analysis sessions to truly make sense of data together, overcoming a “case study” approach. We also conducted mutual peer-review exercises, while investing time to debate ideas and options to offer final conclusions and recommendations with a united voice. Thus, it is important to note the time-consuming effort required for this honest, transparent, multilingual dialogue.

The geographical distance between collaborating groups adds to the complexity, as successful models of such partnerships are often shaped by Global North structures that focus on centralising power. This makes it difficult for South-South collaborations to emerge organically without replicating hierarchical models. 

Another major challenge is the centralisation of funding. Funders typically require a single focal point for financial accountability, which risks concentrating power and decision-making in one entity. Ensuring that this focal point does not become a power centre is crucial to maintaining the principle of equitable collaboration.

Key Takeaways for Actors in the Global North

The principle of equity in collaborations lies in forming teams that may introduce functional hierarchies but remain independent of external power dynamics. This ensures that no one’s positionality within the wider world dictates their influence within the collaboration.

Northern funders must shift towards flexible, adaptive approaches when supporting South-South collaboration-based projects. They should embrace mixed methods, combining quantitative data with qualitative insights from local stakeholders. Investing in local capacity building through training and South-South knowledge exchange is crucial to fostering sustainable and equitable partnerships.

A critical learning from our experience was the importance of synthesis—the stage in any research or evaluation where diverse perspectives converge. At this point, it is vital to consciously acknowledge power differentials and create a process that ensures dignity for both ideas and the individuals presenting them. This participatory approach to synthesis is one of the most distinctive aspects of our study, where we spent time building our partnership and collating ideas together.

At the same time, prioritising dignity and participation does not mean compromising on key principles such as anti-racism, anti-patriarchy, and anti-ableism. In fact, in our case, lived experiences of marginalisation naturally informed the common framework for synthesis — one that does not require rigidly defining non-negotiable principles but instead allows them to emerge organically from the collaborative process. This ensures that equity is not just an abstract goal but an active, embedded practice within South-South partnerships.

We are open to share more insights on our experience and explore how to expand this type of collaboration with others ready to truly engage in transformative work in various thematic areas. It is the best time to co-create!

[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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