Research ethics committees and IRBs are common in the Global North. They came about to stop wrongdoings against vulnerable groups in the biomedical field1. Now, they cover more than just biomedical research, making sure everyone follows rules1. But, there’s debate over if the same ethics model fits the Global South’s unique needs.

The Global South’s research ethics scene faces challenges. The Western model often overlooks local issues and ignores colonial history2. Now, there’s a push for ethics that better fit the Global South’s reality. This means making research methods and ethics more fair and relevant.

Key Takeaways

  • The current research ethics model in the Global South is predominantly based on the biomedical framework developed in the Global North, leading to ongoing debates about its suitability.
  • There is a need to address the limitations and biases of the Western-centric research ethics model, which often fails to consider local contexts, power dynamics, and historical legacies of colonialism.
  • Decolonizing approaches to research ethics aim to be more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the diverse realities of the Global South.
  • Emerging efforts to decolonize global health research, including funding opportunities and editorial practices, highlight the growing momentum for change.
  • Developing standardized frameworks and assessment tools to measure the progress of decolonization efforts in global health research is crucial.

Decolonizing Research Ethics: Challenging Western Hegemony

Western views have long dominated research ethics. Scholars from the Global South3 push for decolonial methods to challenge this. They want to change the way we think about ethics in research3. They say Western ethics don’t fit the values and knowledge of other cultures.

Critiquing Biomedical Ethics as the Dominant Model

The biomedical ethics framework has been seen as Eurocentric. This model4 ignores the cultural and real-life aspects of research in the Global South4. It focuses too much on individual rights, which can conflict with the community values of many cultures.

Recognizing Southern Theoretical Perspectives

Global South scholars3 push for a change in research ethics. They suggest new ways of thinking about ethics that are more inclusive3. Scholars like Chilisa (2020), Eze (1997), Hountondji (1996), and Wiredu (1980) have made big contributions to ethics and research methods.

By embracing Southern theoretical perspectives, research ethics can move past Western dominance. This leads to a fairer and more inclusive way of governing global health research4.

“The work of Global South scholars who advocate for decolonial approaches in academic fields that affect ethical consideration of research is often not included in questioning ethicality within RECs and IRBs.”

Ethical Governance Structures: Evolution and Limitations

In Africa, European thinkers still dominate school curricula, a legacy of colonialism. Yet, Africa has its own deep philosophical traditions and “evolved ethical systems”5. The “Decolonise Our Minds” campaign at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) in London shows a push against this. Students want more diversity on the curriculum, including non-European philosophers who have shaped European thought5.

This push against the current state isn’t just in schools. It’s also in the UK’s media and TV, showing a broad societal reaction5. These efforts highlight the need to look closely at how ethical governance has evolved and its limits, especially in the Global South context.

Indicator Value
Worldwide biomedical research spending in 2020 USD 37 billion, with 98.7% going to High-Income Countries (HICs)5
Grant funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2021 82% went to High-Income Country (HIC) recipients5
Participation in Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (GFBR) in 2022 87 participants from 31 countries, with 6 case studies and 16 governance presentations6

These facts show the big challenges in making Ethical Governance Structures fair for the Global South. There’s a big gap in research funding and resources, with Global North institutions leading. This shows the ongoing imbalance in Research Ethics56.

We need to deeply look at how Ethical Governance Structures have changed and their limits. We should also look at decolonial ways to give more voice to the Global South. This means working hard to change the dominant views, making decisions more inclusive, and making sure research ethics and governance are fair and represent many views.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems and African Philosophy

Scholars like Gordon7 question the idea of a single philosophy. They look at how Europeans see themselves as the only ones with philosophy8. This view pushes out other cultures and ideas.

Decolonizing Academic Curricula and Knowledge Production

Groups like the “Decolonise Our Minds” campaign at SOAS in London are fighting back7. They want to add more diverse thinkers to the curriculum. This includes those who influenced European thinkers already on the list8.

Schools have power that can help or hurt, often without really changing things8. Students of color and Indigenous students need their stories and views in school8.

Even though some changes have been made, there’s still a lot to do8. We need to understand our own biases and challenge old ideas in schools8.

Decolonization is about fighting against old colonial ways and thinking8. It started as a fight against colonization and continues today8.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Some ideas keep us stuck in old ways of thinking9. We need to listen to and include more voices to change this9.

Trying to add Indigenous knowledge can be tricky. It’s not always done right, and it can be hard work for Indigenous people9.

We need to support Indigenous-led research and policy-making9.

Achievements in 2024 Details
African Centre for Epistemology and Philosophy of Science (ACEPS) Ranking Ranked no. 2 in Africa7
Events in 2024 Workshops on Epistemic Oppression, Epistemic Virtues, Applying research methodologies from African Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Epistemic Reparations, and Decolonising Philosophy7
Visiting Professors and Researchers Collaborated with ACEPS from institutions like Miami U, U of Georgia, Zhejiang University, U of Quebec at Montreal, Brandon U, University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Australian National University, University of Western Australia, Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University, and others7
New Postdoctoral Research Fellows Drs Paige Benton, Garikai Madavo, Paul Michael, and Uchenna Ogbonnaya7
Postdoctoral Fellowship A former ACEPS PhD graduate, Dr. Tobi, was awarded a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship at Canada Research Chair on Epistemic Injustice and Agency7
GES 4.0 Fellowship Dr. Paige Benton, an ACEPS PDRF, received the 2024 GES 4.0 Fellowship and was also awarded R150,000 as part of a workshop series7
Temporary Lecturer Appointment In March 2024, Rybko, C, completing her PhD, was appointed a temporary lecturer at Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics @ Uni Witwatersrand7
New PhD Graduates ACEPS celebrated the graduation of 3 new PhDs: Dr. Abraham Tejiri Tobi, Dr. Dimpho Takane Maponya, and Dr. Akanimo Andrew Akpan in April 20247
Conference Hosted ACEPS hosted an Epistemic Oppression and Decolonization Conference co-organized by the Canada Research Chair on Epistemic Injustice and Agency7
Funding Opportunities ACEPS regularly hosts visiting and externally funded postdoctoral researchers and encourages doctoral students to explore funding through programs like Erasmus+ Exchange and Mobility7

Research Ethics in the Global South: Decolonizing Approaches for 2024

In Africa, European thinkers still dominate university courses, even though the region has its own deep philosophies and “evolved ethical systems”10. The “Decolonise Our Minds” campaign at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) in London shows a push against this. Students want the curriculum to include thinkers from other cultures, showing the need for change.

These calls for changing how we do research and share knowledge are key for 2024 and beyond11. They aim to balance out the Western focus and make research more inclusive and relevant to different cultures.

There’s a big issue with not enough diversity in academic work and ethics guides for the Global South11. Most of what we learn about global health ethics comes from Europe, which can leave others at a disadvantage11. This lack of diversity in ethics talks about global health raises big questions about fairness and representation11.

We need to rethink how we share and value knowledge to include more diverse views11. This means looking at our past and thinking about how we can do better in the future.

Doing research in the Global South means understanding the past and thinking about ethics to avoid hurting others12. Talking across cultures and being open about our own biases can help fix these issues and make research more fair12.

By adopting decolonizing methods, we can change the way Research Ethics works in the Global South. This will help balance out Western views, make research more inclusive, and lead to a fairer research world in 2024 and after.

Decolonizing Global Health Research: A Roadmap

Decolonizing global health research is key to fixing past wrongs. Racism, white supremacy, and ignoring the global South have deeply affected health research. These issues have pushed the views and stories of the global South aside13.

Prioritizing Research Topics and Collaborations

To truly decolonize, research must focus on what the global South needs. This means working with local communities, creating knowledge together, and making sure research addresses their main concerns13.

Equitable Funding and Editorial Practices

Changing how we fund and publish research is also crucial. Biases in assessing researchers’ connections to study settings often leave out the global South’s voice14. Steps like waiving fees for authors from low-income countries and offering editing help are good starts. But, we need bigger changes for fair access and representation13.

Approach Description
Metrics-oriented Creates new metrics to show power imbalances and inequities in global health14.
Pragmatic Urges quick action to decolonize global health, but making real changes is hard14.
Epistemology-oriented Looks at the norms and values that shape health knowledge, questioning Western views14.
Partnerships-oriented Works on building fair partnerships between North and South to make knowledge together14.

By focusing on the South’s needs and working on funding and publishing fairly, we can move towards decolonizing global health research131415.

Challenges and Biases in Assessing Decolonization

Decolonizing global health research means looking closely at old assumptions and biases. Researchers suggest we need to make global health more and focus on fairness. They want more diversity in leadership in education16. But, making this change is hard because old systems and power keep things the same.

Addressing Power Asymmetries and Structural Inequities

One big problem is the imbalance of power and unfairness in global health research. To fix this, we should put more value on indigenous knowledge and ways of thinking16. We also need to push for fair sharing of author credits, use knowledge in many places, and fight against racism in health organizations16.

But, plans to make global health less colonial are not clear enough, causing problems in putting them into action16. Editors might guess a researcher’s background by their name or where they work, which can be wrong. This can lead to unfair rules about who can be an author, instead of really making things more inclusive16.

Challenges in Assessing Decolonization

Decolonization is hard because of the long history linking education, healthcare, and colonialism. Schools in the past were made to prepare indigenous students for jobs that helped European interests, not their own culture16. Health systems were also shaped to see indigenous people as sick, aiming to make them work better for the economy16. These old ideas still affect health care today, making it hard to truly change things16.

Measuring Decolonization: A CFIR-Based Framework

Measuring the success of decolonization in global health research needs a careful approach. Current methods often miss the mark, leading to biased17. We suggest using implementation science, with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)18, to fix this.

The CFIR helps us look at programs and their settings. It looks at both the “Inner Setting” and “Outer Setting” of decolonization. This way, we can find better ways to see how well decolonization is working.

  • In the “Inner Setting,” we check things like the culture and readiness of organizations. This tells us if they really support decolonial ideas and actions.
  • The “Outer Setting” looks at big factors like the economy and politics that affect decolonization. It shows us what helps or hinders these efforts.

Using the CFIR framework helps us go beyond simple numbers. It lets us see the real challenges and successes in decolonizing research. This leads to better insights, improvement areas, and lasting change.

“Decolonization in global health research is complex. The CFIR framework is a key tool for measuring this important work.”

We aim to end colonialism and support justice in global health research. This framework guides us towards a more fair, effective, and inclusive research world1718.

Decolonial Research Partnerships: Principles and Guidelines

Looking into the decolonization process means checking our assumptions and values. This approach helps us adopt decolonized19. Even though we know we need to decolonize, we don’t have much guidance on how20. Yet, some efforts have made a big impact19. But, these efforts are still rare among funding groups, journals, and other key places in academia19.

To bring about real change, we need frameworks like the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)19. This helps set up clear rules for Decolonial Research Partnerships in Global Health Research.

Principle Guideline
Equitable Partnerships Make sure everyone in the research has an equal say1.
Inclusive Representation Look for diverse views, especially from groups that have been left out, to shape the research1.
Ethical Governance Have strong ethical checks that focus on what’s best for local communities20.
Capacity Building Put money into improving research skills and setup in the Global South for lasting growth1.
Contextual Relevance Make sure research fits the needs and reality of the local area1.
Knowledge Translation Spread and use research results to help policy and practice in the Global South1.

By following these rules, researchers can aim for Decolonial Research Partnerships. These partnerships can lead to real change and Global Health Research that’s more fair, inclusive, and effective19201.

“Decolonizing research partnerships is not just about changing the surface-level practices, but about fundamentally rethinking the assumptions, values, and power dynamics that underlie the entire research ecosystem.”1

Redefining Global Health Research: Inclusivity and Epistemic Justice

The push to decolonize global health aims to tear down old, unfair systems. These systems have been built on racism and the marginalization of many cultures. As a result, the views and experiences of the global South have been ignored, keeping a Eurocentric view alive. This has hurt health equity worldwide.

Decolonizing global health means facing the colonial and racist roots of the field. It’s about challenging the idea that progress only comes from the North to the South. This shift is key to fixing health gaps caused by colonialism and capitalism21.

  1. Learn and teach others about the colonial roots of global health and why we need to change22.
  2. Support changes that make research more fair and include everyone22.
  3. Help amplify the voices of communities from the global South in research22.
  4. Help local groups get stronger in research by involving them at every step22.
  5. Support partnerships that focus on learning together and sharing resources fairly22.

By adopting these new ways, we can make global health research more inclusive and fair. This change is crucial for real progress in health and solving ongoing health issues21.

Global Health Research Funding Challenges Decolonial Approaches
  • Most funding for global health research goes to the North, creating unfair power differences23.
  • Applicants from the South have a harder time getting funding than those in the North23.
  • Even though the South faces more health issues, they have fewer successful funding proposals23.
  • Support health solutions that understand local cultures and needs23.
  • Work to fix funding inequalities with a focus on decolonization23.
  • Fight against unfairness in research by questioning biases that favor some groups over others23.

By following decolonial ideas and focusing on fairness and justice, we can make global health research better for everyone.

Conclusion

In Africa, European thinkers still lead in school teachings, even though there’s a lot of deep thinking and moral systems from local stories abounding in oral literature24. The “Decolonise Our Minds” movement at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) in London shows a push against this. It started with students wanting more diverse ideas in their studies. They wanted to include thinkers from outside Europe, showing how European thinkers have shaped our views.

As we push for decolonizing research ethics and knowledge production in the Global South, it’s key to challenge Western views. The article’s authors used research from many sources25 to help with this. They suggest a way to do research that respects Indigenous rights and helps with healing. This method is based on values like honesty, respect, humility, and giving back.

We must listen to those calling for decolonizing approaches to research ethics in the Global South. It’s important to question Western dominance. By valuing different views and knowledge, we can make research fairer and more relevant. This way, research can help communities worldwide.

FAQ

What is the role of Research Ethics Committees (RECs) and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in the Global South?

In the Global North, RECs or IRBs review research ethics. In the Global South, ethics review is part of national and regional research permission processes. These groups were created to stop unethical research that harmed vulnerable people. They keep evolving to guide today’s research ethics.

How do the ethical frameworks used by RECs and IRBs reflect Western perspectives?

The ethics model for social sciences comes from the biomedical field. Social scientists question if this model fits well. They wonder about whose ethics are used, how approval works, and if ethics can change based on local research from the Global South.

How are the perspectives of Global South scholars on decolonial approaches incorporated into research ethics processes?

Global South scholars push for decolonial ethics in research. Yet, their ideas are often left out of RECs and IRBs. This issue also affects their work in university libraries.

What challenges exist in decolonizing academic curricula and knowledge production?

European thinkers dominate university curricula in Africa, despite Africa’s rich philosophies. The “Decolonise Our Minds” campaign at SOAS in London shows resistance to this. It calls for more diversity, including non-European thinkers.

How can the decolonization movement in global health address historical inequities?

The decolonization movement in global health challenges colonial and racist roots. It aims to move beyond Western dominance in health care. It seeks to give more influence to global majority settings.

What are some challenges in assessing and measuring decolonization efforts in research?

There’s a lot of talk about decolonization, but little guidance on how to do it. This leads to bias and uncertainty in decolonization efforts. It keeps the current unequal system in place.

How can a framework like the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) be used to assess decolonization efforts in global health research?

The CFIR offers a way to check programs and interventions. It looks at the “Inner Setting” and “Outer Setting” to help tackle decolonization in health research. This can suggest better ways to reduce bias.

What are the key principles and guidelines for developing decolonial research partnerships?

Decolonial partnerships should focus on inclusivity and fairness. They should aim to reduce power imbalances and inequities. This includes choosing research topics and collaborations that listen to global majority populations and ensure fair funding and editorial practices.

Source Links

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11042701/
  2. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/4/236
  3. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1233343/pdf
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10891260/
  5. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0003141
  6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11025232/
  7. https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/humanities/departments-2/philosophy/philosophy-centres/african-centre-for-epistemology-and-philosophy-of-science/
  8. https://academic.oup.com/jope/article/58/2-3/209/7664295
  9. https://www.prosocial.world/posts/decolonizing-science-means-taking-indigenous-knowledge-seriously
  10. https://www.ghspjournal.org/content/12/1/e2300269
  11. https://jme.bmj.com/content/49/5/325
  12. https://academic.oup.com/jhrp/article/15/2/347/7150658
  13. https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/9/e013696
  14. https://gh.bmj.com/content/7/3/e007811
  15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10770991/
  16. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/11/e006964
  17. https://health-policy-systems.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12961-021-00773-3
  18. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1233343/full
  19. https://academic.oup.com/book/56269/chapter/445196125
  20. https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/26/article/911264
  21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10021742/
  22. https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/11/e014298
  23. https://gh.bmj.com/content/7/4/e008950
  24. https://www.asist.org/am24/keynote-speakers/
  25. https://ecologyandsociety.org/vol29/iss2/art11/
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