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Research for Health Justice Framework
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About
Why is the framework needed?
As a matter of health and social justice, global health research should generate new knowledge to improve the health and well-being of those considered disadvantaged and marginalised, foster their participation in decision-making about its conduct, and build research capacity in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). It should contribute to reducing health disparities between and within countries. Global health research is defined as research focused on health problems typically (but not exclusively) experienced in low and low and middle-income countries. It encompasses research with groups considered marginalised or vulnerable in high-income countries as well as research in LMICs.
Yet simply undertaking global health research will not necessarily generate the knowledge needed to help improve health care and systems for those considered disadvantaged and marginalised. Global health research grants programs and projects must be structured in a particular way to generate that type of information. But how exactly should they be designed to do so?
What is the purpose of the framework?
The aim of this ethical framework is to guide funders in their design of grants programs so that they are better structured to incentivize and support global health research that promotes global health equity. It also aims to guide researchers in their design of global health research projects so that they are better structured to generate new knowledge to promote global health equity. The Research for Health Justice framework provides funders and researchers with guidance on what features of grant programs (selection criteria, requirements, budget support) and research projects to include in relation to:
a. Research populations
b. Research topics and questions
c. Research capacity development
d. Ancillary care
e. Knowledge translation
The Research for Health Justice framework consists of two guidance documents, one for funders and one for researchers.
Who should use the framework and how?
The Research for Health Justice Framework provides a guidance for individual reflection and for collaborative research team discussions and decision-making. It is to be used by those responsible for designing global health research projects and grants programs. The central questions to ask when reading through the framework’s guidance individually or collectively are: how well does the grant program or research project we’re developing align with its guidance and, if there are areas of weakness, is it possible to strengthen that alignment?
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Research for Health Justice Framework
Guidance document for researchers
Guidance document for funders
Key Publications
Pratt, B. (2021). “Research for health justice’: An ethical framework linking global health research to health equity.” BMJ Global Health 6: e002921.