How can you establish clear roles and responsibilities for each partner in a field research collaboration?

1 Define the scope and objectives

Before you start any field research collaboration, you need to have a clear and shared understanding of the scope and objectives of the project. What are the main questions you want to answer, the methods you want to use, and the outcomes you want to achieve? How do they align with the goals and interests of each partner? How will you measure and report the results? Having a written agreement or a project charter that outlines these aspects can help you avoid confusion and conflict later on.

2 Assign roles and tasks

Once you have defined the scope and objectives, you need to assign roles and tasks to each partner, based on their skills, availability, and preferences. Who will be responsible for what aspects of the field research, such as data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination? How will you coordinate and communicate with each other during the fieldwork? What are the deadlines and deliverables for each partner? Having a clear division of labor and a realistic timeline can help you optimize your resources and efficiency.

3 Establish norms and expectations

Another important step in establishing clear roles and responsibilities for each partner in a field research collaboration is to establish norms and expectations for how you will work together. How will you communicate with each other, and how often? What are the standards and protocols for data quality, ethics, and safety? How will you handle feedback, disagreements, and changes? How will you acknowledge and appreciate each other's contributions? Having a mutual respect and trust can help you foster a positive and productive relationship.

4 Monitor and evaluate progress

Throughout the field research collaboration, you need to monitor and evaluate your progress and performance, both individually and collectively. How are you meeting your objectives and deliverables? How are you addressing any challenges or issues that arise? How are you adapting to changing circumstances or new information? How are you learning from your experiences and feedback? Having a regular and honest review and reflection can help you improve your quality and effectiveness.

5 Share and celebrate results

Finally, you need to share and celebrate your results with each other and with your stakeholders, such as clients, funders, or communities. How will you present and disseminate your findings and recommendations? How will you acknowledge and credit each partner's role and responsibility? How will you celebrate your achievements and recognize your efforts? How will you sustain or end your partnership? Having a clear and fair closure and recognition can help you strengthen your reputation and relationship.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?