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Photo taken during a Water, Behaviour Change and Environmental Sanitation (WABES) project enumerator training in 2023 in Makerere University, Uganda. (Photo: Abishek Narayan)

Trust and co-creation are key to equitable research partnerships

August 11, 2026 | Julia Schindlbauer

Research partnerships between the so-called Global South and the Global North are essential for addressing issues such as access to safe water and sanitation, climate change, and public health. However, these partnerships are often shaped by unequal power structures. A new study by researchers from the aquatic research institute Eawag shows that trust, shared decision-making, and co-creating research priorities are key to building more equitable - and ultimately more successful - international research partnerships.

Research partnerships between institutions from different geographies are increasingly recognised as essential for addressing global challenges, a principle reflected in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG target 17.6). Yet many partnerships remain influenced by structural inequalities, including access to funding, research infrastructure and academic publishing.

To better understand what enables equitable international research partnerships, Christoph Lüthi from Eawag’s Department of Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (Sandec) conducted a qualitative study, recently published in the Journal of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene for Development. He interviewed 26 researchers and research managers from diverse geographical and institutional contexts with experience in international collaborations in the field of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

Co-creation instead of top-down decisions

The interviews revealed that around half of the participants felt that research priorities are still largely dictated by external funding agencies - mostly from the Global North - rather than jointly defined with partner institutions or local communities. Participants stressed that equitable partnerships require research priorities to be identified and defined together from the outset through a genuine co-creation process. Shared decision-making, transparent resource allocation and recognition of different institutional contexts were also identified as essential ingredients for building trust and creating research with lasting impact.

“Equitable research partnerships do not happen automatically. They require conscious efforts to share decision-making power, jointly define research priorities and recognise the expertise that all partners bring to the collaboration,” says Christoph Lüthi. “When partnerships are built on mutual trust and fairness, they produce stronger science and greater societal impact."
 

Cover picture: Photo taken during a Water, Behaviour Change and Environmental Sanitation (WABES) project enumerator training in 2023 in Makerere University, Uganda. (Photo: Abishek Narayan)
 

Original publication

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         sboundary research. The main objective was to understand the barriers to ach
         ieving equitable WASH research partnerships. The interviews revealed practic
         al insights into the dynamics of South–North research collaborations align
         ed with six principles for global research partnerships: (1) set the agenda 
         together, (2) manage power dynamics, (3) specify roles and responsibilities,
          (4) promote mutual learning, (5) share results and apply study findings, an
         d (6) build long-term partnerships. Our study calls for a shift toward truly
          transformative partnerships entailing transparent project development, a re
         think of research funding modalities and sharing of research results to enab
         le more ethical forms of transboundary research. The article closes with key
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What makes South–North research collaborations transformative? A qualitative study of WASH research partnerships

This article examines processes and dynamics within Global South–North collaborations in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) research. Using a qualitative approach, the research explored the experiences of 26 participants, including researchers, and research managers from both the Global North and South, who were involved in international WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) research collaborations. We analyse their experience and views on participation in research collaborations and the fair and equitable conduct of transboundary research. The main objective was to understand the barriers to achieving equitable WASH research partnerships. The interviews revealed practical insights into the dynamics of South–North research collaborations aligned with six principles for global research partnerships: (1) set the agenda together, (2) manage power dynamics, (3) specify roles and responsibilities, (4) promote mutual learning, (5) share results and apply study findings, and (6) build long-term partnerships. Our study calls for a shift toward truly transformative partnerships entailing transparent project development, a rethink of research funding modalities and sharing of research results to enable more ethical forms of transboundary research. The article closes with key factors on how to address asymmetries in transboundary research arrangements and achieve genuine collaborative enquiry and research.
Lüthi, C.; MacArthur, J.; Tumwebaze, I.; Wainaina, G.; Narayan, A. (2026) What makes South–North research collaborations transformative? A qualitative study of WASH research partnerships, Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 16(7), 676-689, doi:10.2166/washdev.2026.099, Institutional Repository

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