Participatory research: an opportunity to integrate communities and researchers
A blog post recently published on the Rising Scholars knowledge community—in a bilingual format—authored by the Antonio Vidal Institute of Infectious Diseases and Parasitology as part of The Global Health Network Latin America and the Caribbean Consortium, highlights the collaborative approach of participatory research, which equitably involves people affected by an issue in all stages of the research cycle. The post can be accessed at the following link: https://risingscholars.net/en/news/details/2190/
The post explains that this type of research involves people who do not necessarily have research training, but who belong to the groups under study or represent their interests, including stakeholders, communities, citizens, and end users. It emphasizes that the availability of online courses and practical guides contributes to the development of high-quality and ethical participatory research projects, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The paper refers to an online course offered by the Rising Scholars community and to five manuals/guides developed by the TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, co-sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as by various global partners—both individuals and institutions—including the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI, https://socialinnovationinhealth.org/). These resources are described in the image. We invite you to review, use, and share them within your networks.
Alger J. Participatory research: an opportunity to integrate communities and researchers. Rising Scholars July 24, 2026. Available at: https://risingscholars.net/en/news/details/2190/
Resources dedicated to improving capacity around methods and strategies for participatory research. 1) Working with Communities: Participatory Research for Policy Change, Rising Scholars call for enrolment 2026 online course, 2) Crowdsourcing in health and health research: a practical guide, 3) Social innovation in health monitoring and evaluation framework, 4) Public engagement and crowdfunding in health research: a practical guide, 5) Participatory health research and action: A practical guide on designathons, 6) Health research mentorship in low- and middle-income countries (HERMES): a TDR Global practical guide to spur mentorship institutionalization
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