How funders can cultivate visionary research leadership that drives evidence to action

This peer assist note outlines how funders can support visionary research leadership in education. The discussion centred on the need for more inclusive practices in research funding, including greater engagement of young people and local researchers. The session explored practical steps such as co-creation of research and impact agendas, flexible funding models, and the creation of policy windows to facilitate evidence-based decision-making in the African education sector.

To effectively support the development of locally-led research leadership to address emerging policy issues or fields, funders can implement the following strategies:

• Support local researchers in generating evidence that can be used at various levels to respond to emerging topics. Early career researchers may need additional support, which funders can provide.
• Leave room for experimentation and failure, especially in emerging policy spaces.
• Provide resources for networking, collaboration, and mentorship.
• Provide more flexible grants for topics identified by local researchers.
• Prioritise learning about the grantee/partner’s work and ideas in initial meetings. Funders can focus on understanding the partner’s existing work and passions before presenting their own strategy. This approach allows for more genuine alignment and avoids grantees/partners attempting to fit their ideas into the funder’s pre-determined framework.
• Consider supporting policy change at the sub-national level rather than solely focusing on the national level.

To avoid elite capture in research funding and ensure the inclusion of diverse participants, particularly young people and those with lived experience, funders can take the following steps:

• Broaden participation in decision-making processes. Funders should proactively ensure that decision-making processes, from setting research priorities to reviewing proposals and allocating funding, involve a diverse range of stakeholders. This includes not only policymakers and established researchers but also young people, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience. This approach helps to avoid concentrating power and perspectives within a limited circle of elite researchers. 
• Engage young people early on in decision-making processes. Funders must actively combat “adultism” by valuing and incorporating the perspectives and ideas of young people. This early engagement helps to foster a sense of ownership and ensures that research projects are relevant to the needs and priorities of younger generations.
• Prioritise listening to diverse voices, including those beyond physical or virtual meetings. This means creating accessible and inclusive mechanisms for gathering input from a wide range of individuals, regardless of their location or ability to attend formal meetings.
• Include practitioners and people with lived experience in review panels, alongside funders. This helps to break down traditional power structures in research funding and ensure that funding decisions are informed by a broader range of perspectives.
• Design research and impact agendas collaboratively with local researchers, ensuring meaningful co-creation. This approach shifts the focus from top-down decision-making to a more participatory and equitable process.
• Involve all stakeholders from the project’s inception, facilitating multiple, iterative layers of feedback throughout the research process. This iterative and inclusive approach helps to ensure that research projects are responsive to the evolving needs and perspectives of all participants.
• Facilitate meaningful conversations to understand local needs, challenging externally perceived priorities. Funders should prioritise research questions and methodologies that resonate with the lived realities of the communities involved.
• Employ skilled facilitators who are adept at listening and ensuring inclusive participation. The facilitator’s role is crucial in creating a safe and equitable space for diverse voices to be heard and considered.
• Provide increased support and funding for the engagement of non-research partners. This might include community organisations, advocacy groups, or individuals with lived experience, ensuring their meaningful involvement throughout the research process.
• Offer flexible funding mechanisms that allow grantees/partners to pursue research directions aligned with their passions and expertise. This flexibility empowers researchers to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities more effectively.
• Prioritise learning about the grantee/partner’s work and ideas in initial meetings, avoiding the premature presentation of the funder’s strategy. This approach allows for a more genuine and equitable partnership, fostering trust and ensuring that research priorities are not solely dictated by the funder’s agenda.
• Actively seek out and engage with individuals and organisations beyond established networks to diversify participation. Funders need to proactively reach out to underrepresented groups and communities to ensure that their perspectives are included.

By adopting these strategies, funders can move towards a more equitable and impactful research funding landscape that values diverse perspectives and avoids elite capture. This shift will lead to research that is more relevant, responsive, and beneficial to a wider range of stakeholders.