Internal Publication
Equitable scientific cooperation worldwide. Position paper of the German Commission for UNESCO
This position paper was developed over a period of almost two years by the Expert Committee on Science of the German Commission for UNESCO, chaired by Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge, primarily under the guidance of an editorial group set up for this purpose. The process has repeatedly drawn on the experience and expertise of partner countries around the world, including low- and middle-income countries. The Expert Committee on Science of the German Commission for UNESCO adopted the paper in May 2024 by a large majority, with all but one member supporting it; the Executive Board of the German Commission for UNESCO adopted the position paper on 20 June 2024.
Executive summary excerpt: This position paper puts forward concrete proposals to German science funding organisations on how to operationalise this “equality of opportunity” in funding lines and calls for proposals. This applies to basic, applied and problem-oriented research in all disciplines; for reasons explained later, the focus is on problem-oriented research. It is through such concrete proposals that this position paper hopes to make international scientific cooperation with LMICs truly equitable– moving from rhetoric to practice.
To achieve this, this position paper makes proposals at three levels.
First, on a cultural and structural level, the position paper recommends more openness to plural forms of knowledge and knowledge carriers. This includes the practice of plurality in evaluation and quality assurance, as well as structures for joint agenda-setting in the design of funding lines and calls for proposals. Another important lever for more plurality is the strengthening of partner countries and their institutions as well as their own funding structures.
Secondly, the position paper recommends that the German government and German science funding organisations take greater account of the interests of partner countries in STC or WTZ agreements and national strategies and operationalise equal scientific cooperation in funding lines and calls for proposals, for example along the lines suggested here. This should facilitate the joint formulation of applications and ensure a plurality of knowledge and knowledge carriers; extend project cycles and adapt projects more flexibly; make capacity development and institutional strengthening eligible for funding and enable or simplify the transfer of funds to partners; and, finally, enable joint project responsibility and links between partner countries. Although scientific cooperation with LMICs is regulated and organised differently in “donor” countries, many of the proposals can serve as inspiration for other countries in this group.
Thirdly, the position paper recommends enabling researchers in projects to negotiate and define equal roles and responsibilities, organising the scientific publication process in an equitable way, and rethinking science communication measures, particularly in terms of (local) effectiveness.
Author: German Commission for UNESCO
Co-author: Hornidge, Anna-Katharina (editor) | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9599-4348
Co-author: Müngersdorff, Maximilian (editor)
Institution: None | Centre: None
Type: Working paper | English
Subjects: Education, Development, Governance
Date: October 2024 | Pages: 50
https://www.unesco.de/sites/default/files/2024-11/Equitable_Scientific_Coop_2024_German_NatCom_UNESCO.pdf
Copyright: German Commission for UNESCO | License: Open Access (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license)
