Balancing power dynamics in peer-research among forcibly displaced populations: participation, dilemmas and ethics

Rationale and purpose: This workshop seeks to open and nuance the debate on peer-research in humanitarian emergencies. Peer-research will likely become increasingly popular in future, especially as funding for humanitarian action and research is being reduced. But are we fit for this change? In this workshop we offer insights into practices and learning for shaping improved practices.

Process of workshop: The participants in the workshop will be introduced to two ongoing long-term research programmes that use peer-research in the same settings, but in different ways. They will be introduced to the CONTINUITY project implemented by University of Copenhagen and peer-driven research projects implemented by Danish Refugee Council’s participatory research team. Building on insights from these projects, the participants will discuss questions on practical, ethical and academic aspects and dilemmas in smaller groups. Key points will be discussed in plenary afterwards, bringing in examples from participants’ own experience with peer-research and local researchers.

Projected learning outcomes: The participants are expected to broaden their understanding of practices, opportunities, dilemmas and obstacles of working with peer-research by engaging with questions such as: What are the dilemmas emerging in different practices relating to peer-research? How could and should projects improve the inclusion and decision-making of people who are subjects of the research? How can efforts to professionalise the peer-researcher-approach contribute? And, how do we best understand and manage the power imbalance in research teams locally and in academia more broadly?