Global health collaborations aimed at addressing public health needs in low-resource settings can be influenced by power imbalances among participants. This can result in individuals from low-resource settings having limited opportunities to contribute to decision-making, leading to outcomes that may favor those with more resources. Researchers from Yale School of Medicine and the University of Liberia’s College of Health Services conducted a study to explore the experiences of collaborators involved in global health work in post-war, post-Ebola Liberia.
Through interviews with participants, the researchers found that the power to set priorities for the work was primarily held by those with financial resources. Plans and implementations were geared towards meeting the expectations of donors, highlighting a lack of input from low-resource participants. The study also examined factors contributing to this imbalance, including the donors’ history of engagement, transparency, and accountability levels.
The authors emphasize the need to reevaluate accountability in global health partnerships to promote equity for low-resource participants. The study, titled “Exploring equity in global health collaborations: a qualitative study of donor and recipient power dynamics in Liberia,” delves into these power dynamics and their impact on collaboration. For more information, you can access the full study in BMJ Global Health.