Exclusion of Global South Researchers from Economic Development Consulting? Challenges and Implications

Abstract

We investigate recent experiences with processes of how southern researchers are hired to participate in economic development research consulting projects and obstacles hindering participation. Although acknowledging that neither residence nor ethnicity in a particular region necessarily equates to being an expert on economic development issues in that region, the article explores the need for more southern researchers to lead and participate in economic development consulting research. We used descriptive methods that included semi-structured interviews with selected knowledgeable participants and public document analysis. The findings reveal three types of bias against higher participation of southern researchers. First, while many southern researchers serve northern organisations as employees and have achieved success; their peers who remain in southern countries are viewed with less professional respect. Second, southern researchers may have been successful in getting commissioned research, but their role in agenda setting is missing, which implies missing understanding of important aspects pertaining to the assignment. Third, the inequality of opportunity is coupled with the inequality in remuneration, which, in turn, leads to longer-term problems of poor morale and motivation. We recommend a more direct effort to use these findings in efforts to address southern researchers’ under-representation in economic development consulting.

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