This brief synthesizes the findings of a recently conducted workshop that identified the challenges of uniting practitioners, researchers and funders for better Water, Sanitation & Hygiene programs outcomes.
Global Practice, Research & Funding for WASH Workshop 1f4wash
1. Workshop Brief: Research, Practice & Funding Nexus for WASH
Workshop #1
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Breaking Barriers: Uniting Funders, Researchers, and Practitioners in Water, Sanitation, and Solid Waste
Initiatives
The interaction between funders, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of water, sanitation, and solid waste
presents specific challenges that impede societal outcomes of their interventions. This brief presents the
knowledge co-creation outcomes of the first global workshop that interrogated these interactions setting pace
for a way forward to resolving existing and emerging challenges.
To help you navigate, this brief is divided into seven sections starting by outlining the barriers and then an
overview of opportunities. It then presents specific recommendations for funders, practitioners, and researchers,
and the next steps for future workshops. It concludes with information about the workshop series and how you
can be involved. Let us dive in.
i. The barriers
Funders often struggle to identify suitable implementers
or researchers, resulting in projects being led by
individuals who lack a deep understanding of the
geographical and cultural context in which the initiatives
are intended to take place. Moreover, there is a prevalent
bias among funders towards funding implementation
activities rather than research, which limits the
availability of resources for post-project activities for both
researchers and practitioners.
Both researchers and practitioners encounter difficulties
in securing funding for their work. Smaller organizations,
particularly in low and middle-income countries, face
limited capacity in developing fundable proposals and
often lack awareness of potential funding sources.
Additionally, there is often a tendency among funders to
favor funding new projects at the expense of supporting
the implementation of existing known solutions,
hindering the adoption and scaling up of proven
approaches.
Another area of concern is the limited availability of
funding specifically targeted toward youth-oriented
initiatives, which hampers the involvement of young
people in addressing water, sanitation, and solid waste
challenges.
Summary of barriers:
1.Funders hurdles in identifying suitable
implementers or researchers
2.Researchers and practitioners difficulty in securing
funding
3.Project implementation funds often lack an
embedded research component
4.Limited funding targeted to the youth
5.Researchers difficulties in locating funders
6.Research questions that misalign with the
context-specific questions and challenges of
practitioners
7.Funders overlook the uncertainties and potential
opportunities that researchers face.
8.Research context and object biases are also
prevalent (urban vs rural or water vs sanitation)
9.Difficulties in sustaining awareness of existing
knowledge from science to practice
10. Knowledge appropriation and ownership claims
from commons to private
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The relationship between practitioners and researchers is
also constrained. A key barrier here is the perception that
practitioners often have that research results are too
abstract, too ivory tower, not directly relevant for them.
They therefore abstain from engaging with research
outputs.
The relationship between funders and researchers also
presents challenges. Researchers often struggle to locate
funders, especially in low and middle-income countries,
resulting in limited financial support for their work.
Funders, on the other hand, may overlook the
uncertainties and potential opportunities that
researchers face, particularly the "unknown unknowns."
There is a need for funders to acknowledge and support
research that explores uncharted territories and has the
potential to uncover innovative solutions.
Researchers face their own set of challenges within this
dynamic. Research questions do not always align with the
context-specific questions and challenges faced by
practitioners, leading to a gap between research findings
and practical applications. There is also a bias against
rural-oriented research in water, sanitation, and solid
waste, often neglecting the unique challenges faced
there. Researchers further struggle to sustain awareness
of existing knowledge, and there is a need to establish
impact pathways beyond traditional academic journals to
ensure that research findings reach the intended
audience and are translated into practice effectively.
Additionally, there is a wealth of decentralized and
unpublished research in Africa that often is claimed by
others through publications, leading to a loss of local
ownership and recognition.
ii. The opportunities
Moving forward, addressing the barriers presented
requires reflection and collaboration within each group.
Involving practitioners and those facing the challenge in
question in the research design stage can ensure that
research is relevant, contextualized, and addresses real-
world challenges.
There is potential for establishing and maintaining
innovative approaches for ensuring active and passive
networks between researchers, practitioners, and
funders.
Researchers further need to simplify and translate their
findings into actionable and accessible formats for
practitioners, while utilizing communities of practice
platforms both online and offline to facilitate knowledge
sharing and collaboration. It is crucial to prioritize the
implementation of research outputs.
Building local capacity and fostering collaboration
between implementing organizations and research
institutions are essential to bridge the gap between
research and practice. Examples of organizations
attempting to bridge this divide in the water, sanitation,
and solid waste sector include WSUP, KFPE, AfWaSa,
RWSN, and Sandec-Eawag.
In this multidisciplinary world, it is important to promote
interdisciplinary teams that can bring together diverse
perspectives and expertise. Understanding the
relationship between research and practice in the
operational context is crucial for effective decision-
making and impact.
There is opportunity for targeted dissemination of
research findings to stakeholders. Professionals working
at the interface of research and practice play a vital role
in bridging the gap, facilitating knowledge exchange, and
ensuring that evidence-based solutions are implemented
on the ground.
Overall, addressing the challenges between funders,
researchers, and practitioners in the water, sanitation,
and solid waste sector requires collaborative efforts,
context-specific approaches, and sustained commitment
to building partnerships that foster innovation,
knowledge exchange, and impactful implementation.
This workshop was not exhaustive, however, it provided
the basis for a way forward in promoting discussions that
foster productive partnerships and impactful programs
between the three parties.
Recommendations for breaking the barriers for
each actor group
iii. Researchers:
1. Contextual Alignment: ensure that research questions
align with the practical challenges and needs of
practitioners and communities in the water,
sanitation, and solid waste sectors.
Summary of opportunities:
1.Involving practitioners and research subjects in
early designs stages of research
2.Reinforcing active and passive relationships with
all three parties
3.Translating research to actionable and accessible
formats for practice
4.Building local capacity for collaboration between
research and implementing organizations
5.Promoting interdisciplinary teams for diverse
solutions
6.Targeting research findings to relevant
stakeholders
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2. Dissemination Beyond Journals: actively seek avenues
beyond traditional academic journals to disseminate
research findings. These includes engaging with
practitioners and the public through various channels
such as conferences, workshops, community events,
and collaboration with journalists.
3. Collaborative Partnerships: actively engage
practitioners and other stakeholders in the research
process from the design stage. Collaborative
partnerships can enhance the relevance and
applicability of research and facilitate its translation
into actionable solutions.
4. Capacity Development and or Alignment: prioritize
foster local research capacity, particularly in low and
middle-income countries. This can be achieved
through training programs, mentorship, and
knowledge sharing to empower local researchers and
practitioners to address water, sanitation, and solid
waste challenges effectively.
5. Interdisciplinary Approaches: embrace
interdisciplinary collaborations, bringing together
experts from different disciplines to address complex
challenges in water, sanitation, and solid waste. This
can foster innovative thinking, promote holistic
solutions, and provide a comprehensive
understanding of the issues at hand.
iv. Practitioners:
1. Engaging in Research: actively engage in research
activities, collaborating with researchers to
contribute their practical knowledge and experience.
Involvement in the research process from the design
stage can ensure that research aligns with the on-
ground challenges and facilitates the adoption of
evidence-based solutions.
2. Knowledge Translation: advocate for the translation
of research findings into accessible and actionable
formats. They should work closely with researchers to
develop practical tools, guidelines, and
recommendations that can be readily implemented in
their work and shared with relevant stakeholders.
3. Networking and Collaboration: actively participate in
networks and communities of practice, both online
and offline, to foster collaboration, share
experiences, and learn from peers. Collaborative
partnerships with researchers and other practitioners
can enhance knowledge exchange and promote
innovative solutions.
4. Awareness of Existing Knowledge: stay updated on
existing knowledge and research in the field of water,
sanitation, and solid waste. This can be achieved by
actively engaging with academic literature, attending
conferences, workshops, and learning events, and
leveraging platforms that facilitate knowledge
sharing. Some go-to platforms include SuSaNa,
RWSN, Sanihub among others.
5. Advocacy for Funding: advocate for increased funding
opportunities for research and post-project activities.
They can collaborate with researchers and other
stakeholders to highlight the importance of investing
in research and evidence-based practices for
sustainable water, sanitation, and waste
management.
v. Funders:
1. Contextual Understanding: understand the
geographical and cultural context of the projects,
ensuring that stakeholders who possess a deep
understanding of the context-specific challenges and
needs lead the project or research implementation.
2. Balanced Funding Approach: aim for a balanced
approach between funding implementation activities
and research. Allocating resources for research and
innovation can drive evidence-based solutions while
supporting implementation ensuring the scaling up of
proven approaches and the adoption of existing
knowledge.
3. Funding Opportunities for Youth: avail funding
opportunities specifically targeted toward youth-
oriented initiatives in the water, sanitation, and solid
waste sectors. Supporting young innovators and
practitioners can bring fresh perspectives, drive
innovation, and empower the next generation to
address the pressing challenges in these areas.
4. Support for Research Translation: allocate resources
for research translation and the dissemination of
findings into practical and accessible formats. This
includes supporting researchers and practitioners in
