Recent developments in our global research initiative

Hello, I hope you are all keeping well. In this month’s newsletter I am going to provide a few updates and aspirations for our Global #DisasterRiskManagement Research Programme.?

Our aim is to conduct robust, ethical research, where data can be used as a tool in the ‘real world’ to bring about change for horses, donkeys and mules and the communities who rely on them. To do this, we are engaging with key stakeholders to understand their evidence needs; this is crucial to allow us to work together to design and conduct research which can result in meaningful impact.?

This month my colleagues across Africa, Asia and Latin America have been interviewing and conducting focus groups with decision makers at both the government and community level. The goal is to understand their views on the contribution of working equids to communities and the impact this has on their welfare during all four stages of disaster risk management (prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery). Our aim is to gain decision maker’s perspectives on what the current barriers are and what evidence is needed to bring about change at a policy and community level. Our teams will finish the interviews and focus group discussions this month, and our collaborator Integrated Risk Management Associates will analyse and interpret the data.??

Our team will share findings from the study early next year, please look out for further updates! If you would like any further information in the meantime please contact me - @GemmaCarder .?

Our intention is that the findings will be used to inform planning for the rest of the research programme, including the research questions, locations for data collection, and methods for communicating and using the findings.?

Our research impact goals are focused on generating research that can be used as a tool to support our advocacy work, which aims to have working equids included in disaster risk management policies and guidelines, and to inform actions at the community level.??

Collaboration and taking a co-designed approach are key to planning and conducting research which can be used to generate change. If you would like to collaborate with Brooke and our partner Professor Ilan Kelman at University College London on this research programme, please do get in touch. All Ideas are welcome!?