The UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) has established a set of draft principles and good practice guidance in relation to safeguarding in international development research during their first phase of consultation with UK research organisations and research funders.
You can find more information about phase 1 of this work here: https://www.ukcdr.org.uk/resource/safeguarding-in-international-development-research-briefing-paper/ Within this UKCDR define safeguarding as preventing and addressing:
‘any sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment of research participants, communities and research staff, plus any broader forms of violence, exploitation and abuse… such as bullying, psychological abuse and physical violence.’
UKCDR is now seeking feedback from stakeholders across the international development research community working in Lower and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). This stage of the consultation has been designed by a team led by Professor Alex Balch and Dr Leona Vaughn (Department of Politics), partnering with researchers in the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and experienced UK and international practitioners. The survey is available here and you are encouraged to complete this if you are working in the field of international development research, as it is an important opportunity to shape and influence how future international research will be expected to address and prevent harm to participants, researchers and communities:
https://www.ukcdr.org.uk/resource/survey-safeguarding-in-international-development-research/
The UoL team will gather and analyse data from this survey alongside key informant interviews in LMICs undertaken by international partners and UK-based UKCDR consultation events. The team will then collaboratively identify practice issues for safeguarding in these contexts and develop a revised set of safeguarding principles for international development research.
If you would like further information, please contact Leona.vaughn@liv.ac.uk