Ensuring Research Ethics During Rapid Assessments in Conflict and Crisis Environments
In “Ethics Abroad: Fieldwork in Fragile and Violent Contexts,” Kate Cronin-Furman and Milli Lake write:
“The diversity of political spaces, availability of cheap labor, ease of access to powerful figures, and safety net of a foreign passport attract researchers to the developing world. However, environments of extreme state weakness and ongoing conflict permit research behavior that would be frowned on in the global north.”
Researchers who work in crisis and conflict contexts delve into sensitive issues with young and vulnerable people in order to create effective education programs, but how do we make sure we are following ethical research standards? ECCN’s two main assessment tools, the Safer Learning Environment Assessment Toolkit and the Rapid Education and Risk Analysis include guidelines on how to conduct field research in an ethical manner, but what are the implications when collecting data rapidly?
This webcast brings together panelists from EDC, FHI360, ACRUG, ECCN, and USAID who have worked with the SLE Toolkit or the RERA. They will talk about the challenges their teams faced and how they addressed them.
Resources
Speaker(s)
Dr. Gwen Heaner
A researcher with over 15 years of practical and academic experience in qualitative and quantitative research in international development with a focus on social change, education, and gender in fragile states. Heaner has led research and evaluations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria, Papua New Guinea, and elsewhere. She is USAID ECCN’s Research Manager and the primary author of the SLE Toolkit. She is also the founder and managing director of GK Consulting, LLC.
Dr. Apollo Nkwake
The senior monitoring and evaluation specialist for the Accelerated Quality Education for Liberia’s Children Activity. He has worked for international agencies across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Development from the University of Cape Town and is Canadian Evaluation Society’s designated credentialed evaluator. Nkwake is a recipient of the American Evaluation Association’s 2017 Marcia Guttentag Promising New Evaluator Award.
Edwinio Hne Bowman
Works as Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator for the Accelerated Quality Education for Liberia’s Children Activity. He previously worked for the USAID Advancing Youth Project as Learning Agenda Research Assistant/Monitoring and Evaluation Officer. He holds a B.B.A. degree in Management from the United Methodist University.
Frank Kiyingi
The founder and executive director of Advocacy for Child Relief Uganda. He has worked with both international and national NGOs, including CDC, USAID, FHI360, and UNICEF. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Makerere University and a master’s degree in Project Planning and Management from Uganda Management Institute. He is also the recipient of a certificate in child protection and child rights from University of Geneva.
Deus Ampwera
The M&E specialist and data manager of Advocacy for Child Relief Uganda. He has served as research assistant, supervisor, data quality controller/team leader, data manager, and M&E specialist with many local and international organizations, including USAID, World Vision Uganda, Save the Children, FHi360, and UNICEF, among others. He has a bachelor’s degree in Computing from Makerere University, is a member of the Uganda Statistical Society, and has received certification in research ethics.
Sarah Gates
A technical officer with FHI 360’s Research and Evaluation Department in the Global Education, Employment and Engagement Business Unit. She is an experienced researcher with expertise in education in conflict-affected contexts, youth development, and violent extremism. Gates earned a Master’s in International Development from the University of Denver, where she researched youth political participation and education in conflict-affected countries.
Jim Rogan
Has over 25 years of experience, holding senior management roles with international organizations, consulting firms, and NGOs. Over the last ten years, Rogan has focused on the intersection of conflict, violence, and disasters, as well as humanitarian and development coherence. He is principal and owner of Exterion, LLC, a development consulting firm, and the author of USAID’s Rapid Education and Risk Analysis Toolkit. He holds a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and an M.A. in International Political Economy from the University of Chicago.
Ashley Henderson
An education specialist with the Education in Crisis and Conflict team in USAID’s Office of Education. Henderson focuses on Rapid Education and Risk Analysis, adaptive management, social emotional learning, and safe learning environments, as well as field support to USAID education programs, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean region. She holds a B.A. in English and Spanish Literature from the University of Virginia and an M.P.A. from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.