From evidence to influence: The policy dimensions of engaged research

admin October 9, 2025 No Comments

By Yoliswa Sikhosana

The first blog in this series explored the power of working with communities to create research that matters. The second focused on people and partnerships as the foundation of engaged research. This next conversation looks at where that journey can lead; into the policy spaces where knowledge meets power, and where evidence can influence the decisions that shape our everyday lives.

At its core, the policy dimension of engaged research is about connection; the connection between what we learn through collaborative research and how that knowledge is translated into tangible change. Policy doesn’t emerge in a vacuum; it is shaped by the voices, relationships, and insights that feed into it. Engaged research offers a way to ensure that those voices include the communities and stakeholders who live the realities that policies seek to address.

When researchers work alongside policymakers from the outset, evidence can be co-produced with an understanding of political and social context. This shifts the dynamic from researchers presenting findings to decision-makers, to working with them to generate knowledge that responds to shared priorities. It’s a process that values dialogue over data-dumping, and influence through trust rather than authority.

Within the Engaged Research Project, this theme invites reflection on how such relationships are built and sustained. It recognises that influencing policy isn’t about lobbying or persuasion alone, it’s about cultivating spaces where evidence is credible, relevant, and grounded in the realities of people’s lives. The goal is not to claim ownership over outcomes, but to open up possibilities for policy that is informed by genuine engagement and co-creation.

Doing this work well takes time, patience, and institutional support. It requires rethinking how engagement is valued within research careers, how funding streams enable collaboration, and how evidence is communicated in accessible and inclusive ways. The ER project continues to explore these questions, acknowledging that the bridge between research and policy is still under construction, and that the process of building it is just as important as the outcomes it may produce.

Ultimately, the promise of policy-engaged research lies in its potential to make knowledge matter where it counts most: in decisions that affect people’s lives. By connecting evidence with policymaking in thoughtful and participatory ways, engaged research can help move us closer to a society where policies are not just informed by data, but shaped through dialogue, reciprocity, and shared understanding.

Impactful community partnerships

admin October 2, 2025 No Comments

By Nonkululeko Dlamini

As part of our ongoing blog series, we are unpacking the Engaged Research Conference’s main themes. We move on to the second theme, Impactful Community Partnerships, and turn our attention to research that goes beyond collaboration to show what happens when partnerships are built on trust, reciprocity, and shared purpose.

Leading the way in community engaged research is the HSRC’s Centre for Community-Based Research (CCBR), which places collaboration and partnerships at the heart of its work. By ensuring that research is not only conducted in communities but also with communities, the CCBR has been able to deliver projects that are both impactful and sustainable.

A pioneer in implementation

On the research front, the CCBR has pioneered implementation studies such as Do PrEP, SMART ART, and BIYELA, these projects brought services closer to where people live, used trained community health workers, and designed care in ways that respect local culture and reduce stigma. By making healthcare more practical, local, and patient-friendly, CCBR has helped more people start and stay on treatment, while also generating evidence-based research to guide national health policies. These interventions have improved health outcomes while making services more accessible and acceptable to locals.

Collaboration and partnership are central to this effort. CCBR works directly with community members, providing training for local fieldworkers, supporting grassroots projects, and creating opportunities for employment and skills development. At the same time, it partners with government, non-governmental organisations, and health systems to ensure that research findings are translated into practice and policy. This creates mutual benefit where communities gain improved services, capacity, and empowerment, while researchers gain deeper insights and stronger evidence for scalable interventions.

Through its sustained presence and dedication to co-creation, the CCBR has demonstrated how partnerships based on mutual respect, trust, and shared goals can transform both science and society. Its work continues to set an example for how engaged research can bridge scientific knowledge and lived experience, building stronger and healthier communities.

Co-creation and participatory research approaches: Designing research with the community

admin September 19, 2025 No Comments

By Thatohatsi Madumo

We’re kicking off a new blog series that unpacks the big ideas from the Engaged Research Conference. First up is Theme 1, which explores the power of working with communities and stakeholders to create research that truly matters.

Before we depart, let us take a look into what exactly is co-creation and participatory research. Participatory research and co-creation focus on the collaboration between academic researchers and non-academic stakeholders to adapt, or in certain instances, to even completely change the way we do traditional research (Greenhalgh et al., 2016; Blumenthal et al., 2013).  

So, what role co-creation and participatory research have in engaged research?

When we talk about engaged research, one of the most important ingredients is participation. Research isn’t just about academics sitting in an office crunching numbers—it’s about people, communities, and the real-world impact that knowledge can have. This is where co-creation and participatory research step in.

Participatory research is built on relationships and trust. It means that the people most affected by a research topic are not just “subjects” of the study, but active voices in shaping it. When individuals and stakeholders are part of the process right from the beginning—and when they feel truly heard and seen—they tend to have much more positive experiences with the research (Benjamin et al., 2023).

And here’s the real beauty of it: co-creation doesn’t just make people feel included; it makes the outcomes stronger. By involving stakeholders in meaningful ways, researchers and communities together can design services, solutions, or interventions that actually work in practice. As Benz et al. (2024) highlight, this kind of collaboration leads to better and more satisfying results for everyone involved.

So, what does this mean for engaged research? Quite simply, it means moving beyond the “us versus them” divide. It’s about researchers walking alongside communities, building knowledge together, and ensuring that the work contributes meaningfully to the lives of those it touches. In the end, co-created research isn’t just more ethical—it’s more impactful.

Conference structure and guidelines

admin May 13, 2025 1 Comment

As part of the Engaged Research Conference, we invite contributions across a variety of engaging and impactful presentation formats. Explore the options below and submit your abstract by 30 May 2025.

🔹 1. Keynote speakers (By invitation only)

Keynote sessions set the tone of the conference with high-level insights from leading academics, policymakers, and practitioners. These thought leaders will explore the evolving role of engaged research in addressing societal challenges.

  • Format: 45–60-minute plenary talk + moderated Q&A
  • Themes May Include:
    • Bridging knowledge and society through engaged research
    • Best practices in multi-sectoral research collaborations
    • Policy influence and social justice impacts of research

🔹 2. Panel discussions

Panels bring together diverse voices to explore practical challenges and opportunities in engaged research. These interactive discussions will highlight real-world applications and foster inclusive debate.

  • Format: 90-minute moderated session with 3–5 panellists
  • Themes may include:
    • Community-led knowledge production
    • Research and policymaking
    • Digital tools for inclusive research
    • Ethics and inclusivity in practice
  • Abstract Requirements:
    Up to 500 words, including topic, objectives, panellist bios, and key discussion questions.

🔹 3. Research papers & case study showcases

Share your latest findings, methodological innovations, or real-world case studies. These sessions offer a platform to contribute to the scholarly and practical knowledge base of engaged research.

  • Format: 20-minute presentation (incl. 5 minutes for Q&A)
  • Themes may include:
    • Community partnership case studies
    • Epistemic and social justice
    • Research translation and brokering
    • Evaluating the impact of engaged research
  • Abstract Requirements:
    Up to 500 words, covering background, methodology, key findings, and relevance.

🔹 4. Interactive workshops

Workshops are designed for experiential learning, skills development, and practical tool-sharing. These sessions should be interactive and promote collaborative problem-solving.

  • Format: 90-minute interactive session
  • Themes may include:
    • Tools for participatory research
    • Navigating ethics in institutional settings
    • Digital platforms for collaboration
    • Impact assessment strategies
  • Abstract requirements:
    Up to 500 words, including objectives, format, engagement methods, and outcomes.

🔹 5. Networking sessions

These facilitated sessions aim to spark new collaborations and knowledge exchange among engaged research stakeholders.

  • Duration: 60–90 minutes
  • Structure:
    • Intro (10–15 min)
    • Focused discussion (30–45 min)
    • Collaboration mapping (15–20 min)
    • Wrap-up (10 min)
  • Themes may include:
    • Cross-sector partnerships
    • Funding and grant collaboration
    • Regional and global networks
    • Early career researcher support
    • Sector-specific engagement (e.g., health, education, environment)
  • Abstract requirements:
    Up to 300 words, including:
    • Title
    • Facilitator(s) & affiliation
    • Objectives & target participants
    • Session format & outcomes
    • Any technical/logistical needs

📝 Abstract submission

All abstracts should be submitted via the conference website by 30 May 2025.
👉 Submit your abstract

For queries, contact:
📧 Akhona Mncadi: amncadi@hsrc.ac.za
📧 Marilyn Couch: MACouch@hsrc.ac.za