The traditional health research paradigm has positioned communities, particularly those experiencing health inequalities, as passive subjects rather than active partners. At Mabadiliko CIC, we’re challenging this outdated model by demonstrating the transformative power of equitable research partnerships that position communities as co-creators of knowledge rather than mere subjects of study.

The Legacy of Extraction

Historically, health research has often been extractive—researchers enter communities, collect data, and leave without sharing findings or ensuring communities benefit from their contributions. Communities tell us they have concerns about research conducted “into us, by others,” citing lack of cultural sensitivity, inadequate attention to trauma associated with the subject matters under investigation, and fear of extraction without reciprocal benefit. This approach not only fails to address the real needs of communities but can actively reinforce power imbalances and erode trust—particularly for communities that have experienced historical mistreatment in medical and research contexts.

Equitable Partnerships: A New Model

Our Community Research Collaborative model offers a fundamentally different approach. This innovative framework addresses the foundational issues of power imbalances, institutional inertia, and historical exclusion that have led to widespread mistrust and disengagement from research among marginalised communities.

Through this model, we transform the research relationship by:

• Positioning communities as experts with essential knowledge derived from lived experience
• Involving community partners at every stage—from setting priorities to implementing findings
• Creating structured collaborative spaces where all partners work as equals
• Providing appropriate compensation for community expertise
• Establishing clear pathways for community influence on decision-making
• Ensuring benefits flow back to communities in tangible, meaningful ways

Shifting the Research Landscape

When communities move from subjects to co-creators, the entire research landscape changes:

• For researchers: Equitable partnerships transform research practices, fostering innovative, culturally-appropriate methodologies that capture community complexities. Researchers develop enhanced cultural competence and apply anti-racist principles, leading to more nuanced data interpretation and impactful knowledge translation.
• For communities: Equitable partnerships empower participants, transforming them from passive subjects to active collaborators. Their experiential knowledge is valued, leading to co-produced research that accurately reflects community realities. Participants develop research skills, influence priorities, and gain platform to challenge systemic racism and social injustice.
• For research institutions: New ethical frameworks address historical injustices, while collaborative networks expand research opportunities. These partnerships build long-term sustainability through sustained community engagement, creating a more diverse and inclusive research ecosystem.

A Paradigm Shift

Transforming communities from research subjects to co-creators represents more than a methodological refinement—it’s a paradigm shift in how we understand expertise and create knowledge. By recognising that lived experience is a crucial form of expertise and creating pathways for its integration with academic approaches, we produce research that is both scientifically rigorous and culturally relevant.

The result is research that actively works to dismantle systemic barriers to health equity rather than inadvertently reinforcing them—creating knowledge that leads to more effective and sustainable health solutions for all communities.