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Opinion: It’s time to prioritize ethical practices in global development research

As the development community rethinks how to improve the lives of people in low- and middle-income countries, so too must researchers and research funders. Unequal academic partnerships and weak data protection are undermining the quality of research and harming the welfare of communities and research collaborators.

For far too long, researchers from renowned universities or organizations in the Global North have come to Global South countries to conduct research, using local resources for their personal academic gain. Often, the research findings or data collected have not been shared with the local academic community and are locked behind a journal paywall. 
Another concerning, and growing, issue in global development research is academics’ use of sensitive personal information, such as health records, without appropriate measures to protect that data – or the people behind it.

For research to truly benefit the Global South’s development and support global knowledge production, these practices must end. 

Exploiting local resources without giving back

One of the most overlooked issues in academic partnerships between Global North and South countries is the exploitation of local knowledge and data, often with little to no benefit for the local research communities. 

This practice, known as helicopter research, has led to local communities and researchers being sidelined, while their data is extracted and used to benefit foreign institutions. Worse, researchers from Global North countries sometimes exploit the less regulated research environments in low-income settings to engage in unethical practices they would not be able to carry out at home.

These practices not only confer an unfair advantage to Global North researchers, but also undermine the integrity of their research and the welfare of the communities and partners involved. They also undermine trust in global academic partnerships, leaving local communities and institutions out of the equation.

Infographic: What is helicopter research?

Moving beyond data colonization

Knowledge is power and, as such, demand for data in low- and middle-income countries has increased significantly among both Global North and Global South researchers. For example, administrative data, such as individual tax records and personal health information, have become increasingly popular for research. The data holds much promise for providing evidence-based solutions to countries’ critical development challenges.

However, and unlike high-income countries, many low-income countries and research environments lack tightly controlled systems to protect access to sensitive information. There are several instances of privileged data access granted to research teams where appropriate data management and protection structures have not yet been developed.
Weak data protection measures in some low-income countries have led to unauthorized access and misuse of sensitive personal information, such as health records, voter registration data, and biometric information collected by humanitarian agencies. For instance, in Kenya, voter data was reportedly used for targeted political advertising without consent, and in Afghanistan, biometric data risks were exposed when unauthorized parties gained access.

Such incidents underscore the urgent need for stronger data protection laws to safeguard individuals’ privacy and prevent exploitation. In the meantime, researchers and their institutions in both the Global North and Global South need to prioritize the security and privacy of the data they use.

The critical role of funders in fostering ethical research

Research funders have a significant role and responsibility in promoting ethical research practices, and with simple steps, they can ensure that research benefits are shared equitably.

For example, funding agencies play a crucial role in fostering equity in academic partnerships. However, they often exacerbate global inequalities with structural imbalances, power dynamics, and procedural issues. 

Resources are sometimes disproportionately allocated to Global North institutions, dismissing Global South partners and perpetuating dependency cycles. Application processes can be exclusionary, with complex requirements, language barriers, and misaligned timelines that hinder equitable participation. Additionally, funding mechanisms often focus on short-term outputs rather than long-term capacity-building or process-oriented equity measures.

This does not have to be the case. Some funding agencies have already taken proactive steps: Newton Fund (UK), for example, focuses on equitable partnerships by funding research that addresses global challenges, requiring collaboration between UK institutions and Global South partners, with shared leadership in project design and implementation. The International Development Research Centre (IDRC, Canada) on the other hand, advocates for locally driven solutions by directly funding Global South researchers and prioritizing projects that respond to regional priorities.

Time for stronger ethical considerations

A higher commitment to research ethics is required when the stakes are high and the resources low. Researchers must go beyond merely extracting data and instead explore opportunities for collaboration, such as sharing roles and responsibilities with local peers, inclusive decision-making, and data-sharing. In many cases, local partners have a far deeper understanding of local issues that will lead to better quality and more nuanced work.

The solution lies in fostering a culture of agency, accountability, and leadership, where researchers in local institutions can collaborate meaningfully with their counterparts, share resources, and access learning opportunities. Coherent and cohesive efforts by researchers, funders, institutions, regulators and policymakers, across the North and South, are essential to ensure systems and incentives support ethical research practices. 

Research practices must genuinely engage local communities by involving local researchers from the outset, integrating local institutions in data analysis and dissemination, and making research outputs accessible to policymakers. Strengthening legal frameworks for data protection and ethical oversight is critical, particularly in low-income settings where these structures are often underdeveloped.

Beyond guidelines

Resources to foster equitable and ethical research collaborations are already available. Ethical guidelines for researchers and for funding agencies are particularly relevant for researchers from the Global North operating in and with the Global South, where challenges abound, and resources are limited. In these situations, mutual respect, transparency, and shared benefit in global research partnerships are critical for ensuring that research in Africa is conducted responsibly. But guidelines alone are not enough. The role that institutions and funding bodies play in the ecosystem is crucial to improving research practices, especially in global research collaborations.

Only by holding ourselves accountable to the highest ethical standards can we dismantle the enduring legacies of exploitation in global research, ensuring that our pursuit of knowledge genuinely serves and empowers the communities at its heart.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute or the United Nations University, nor the programme/project donors.