EcoZD Research Units:Bridges & Barriers to

Integrative Research Approaches

Overview

• key ideas

• EcoHealth concept uptake review: assessment instrument & insights

• bridges & barriers

• discussion: onward toward outcomes

Key Ideas

• paradigm shifts & innovation

• critical self-examination during science-making process

• factors that hinder or facilitate

Thailand & Viet Nam improving slaughter-house hygiene

Chiang Mai University EcoHealth Resource Center

Chinazoonotic diseases - agroecological & ethnic diversity factors

Laos farmer practices, agroecology, zoonoses

Indonesia - Bali community-based rabies prevention

University of Gadjah Mada

EcoHealth Resource Center

Cambodia managing zoonotic causes of acute dysentery

Viet Nam survey of ZEIDS in Viet Nam

Eight (8) EcoZD Research Units

1

Focus Group

Discussion Guide

accepteddefinitio

n of

ideal exampl

e of

visionary

meaning

actual example

of

contextual

meaning

 actual,potenti

al strateg

y tomeasur

e 

history ofin

agency

new questio

ns shaped

by

newpractice

s,tools,

methods,

shapedby

cost/benefit of

doing or trade-

offs resulting

from doing

future of in

agency

transdisci-plinary

collaboration

 1  2  3  4  5 6   7 8  9 

equity  10 11   12 13  14  15   16 17   18participati

on19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27 

integrative

ecosystem approachEcoHealth

28  29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

1

strikingcharacteristi

c

actively constructing

transdisciplinary collaboration?

equity addressed?

participatory methods & issues

addressed?

EcoHealththeory-to-practice

strategy?

Unit 1

Unit 2 Detail 3

Unit 3Detail 1+

Unit 4Detail 1

Unit 5Detail 2+

Unit 6

Unit 7

Unit 8

Focus Group Discussion Summary

hierarchy

inter-group communication style

inter-group learning style

inter-group information sharing

adoption of concepts vs. terms

striking characteristics

1

strategies for:

assessing degree & quality of collaboration

neutralizing hierarchical information flow & reporting

assuring substantive collaboration at all research stages

harnessing & building on past collaboration

constructing transdisciplinary

collaboration?

2

strategies for:

equitable team decision-making

power-sharing on team

engaging field researchers & enumerators in instrument design

explicit consideration of ethnic minority issues

explicit integration of gender in PAR

equity addressed?

3

strategies for:

identifying information flow/hoarding for integrating research

assuring resources for PRA translation

monitoring quality of stakeholder engagement

explicit consideration of ethnic minority issues

explicit integration of gender in PRA

participatory methods & issues

addressed?

4

strategies for:

using mixed methods to cross discipline barriers

emulating identified models

defining structure & function of collaboration

assuring research is centered on stakeholder

EcoHealththeory-to-practice

strategy?

5

Bridges & Barriers toEcoHealth & OneHealth Practice

(D. Grace 2010)

1 - new structures & mechanisms

2 - changes in organisational culture

3 - new incentives & accountabilities

structure determines function strong leadership & buy-in from senior staff building on past successful models speeds processes need for sufficient human resources & sufficient budgeting

new structures &

mechanisms

1

strong cultures with visionary leaders co-operation and collegiality focus on outcomes not on outputs

innovation and different perspectives welcomed

changes in organisational

culture

2

performance measures that reflect goals of integrative research approach

research projects accountable upwards and downwards

focus on communication

new incentives & accountabiliti

es

3

Are these changes occurring in EcoZD research units for moving toward the following?

• paradigm shift & innovation

• critical self-examination during science-making process

• organizational mechanisms to facilitate EcoHealth research

Unit 1 expanding expert panel of advisors

Unit 5rotating team meeting chair

Unit 6bypassing rigid & slow inter-agency reporting process

Unit 2 institutionalizing non-hierarchical communication between junior & senior staff

new structures &

mechanisms

4

Unit 2 opening intra-agency

information flow

Unit 3moving from resource-

sharing to sharing ideas & research goals

Unit 1expanding community-based

action-research & integration of local champions

Unit 5increasing confidence in

exploring complex research questions

changes in organisational

culture

5

Unit 5collaboration with international partners & donors Unit 3recognition by central government on cost-saving & development impacts of successful collaborative research

Unit 4trust-building with new partners & networking

new incentives & accountabiliti

es

6

How can Research Units:1 - new structures & mechanisms

•mitigate hindering or harness enabling structures in their agencies?•secure solid senior staff buy-in for long-term commitment?•model research on successful past experiences in collaborative work?

2 - changes in organisational culture

•learn to integrate mixed research methods?•innovate for paradigmatic change in science-making?•institutionalize peer-learning and intra-team cross-disciplinary learning?

3 - new incentives & accountabilities

•align their outcomes with EcoZD expected outputs?•Insure stakeholder ownership beyond EcoZD?•broaden communication strategies?•identify rewards that mitigate perceived high time & funding costs

of collaborative research?

Implementing Lessons Learned & Onward to Outcomes

EcoZD Objective

Increase the knowledge, skills and capacity of research and infectious disease control personnel in SEA to understand risks and impacts of Zoonotic Emerging Infectious Diseases (ZEIDs) and best options to be implemented and adapted.

EcoZD Research Units:Bridges & Barriers to

Integrative Research Approachesfor references contact

Rainer Assé, PhD

r.asse@cgiar.org

Universitas Gadjah Madaมหาวิ�ทยาลัยเชี�ยงใหม�