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This blog was co-authored by Dr Seona Meharg (CSIRO), Natasha Begum (SPC) and Dr Ramona Stephanie O’Connor Sulifoa (SPC).
Long-term relationships are essential for impact
Creating an enabling environment for resilient food systems is crucial to addressing the interconnected security and resilience challenges faced by Pacific communities. Tackling these issues is complex and requires coordination across knowledge, sectors, scales and stakeholders. Partnerships, especially research collaborations, underpin lasting impact. Through longer-term investment in regional priorities, such collaborations ensure that solutions are tailored, sustainable and locally relevant.
Pacific communities are some of Australia’s closest neighbours, and therefore, it is in Australia’s interests to foster a resilient and connected region. Australia shares a vision for a peaceful, prosperous, and unified region, and recognises its role in contributing to a stronger Pacific family.
Robust partnerships between Australian research organisations, such as CSIRO, and Pacific partners are vital for addressing complex food system challenges. As Fekadu et al, (2021) reminds us, projects alone have limited duration and scale if not embedded within long-term, value-driven engagements.
In the Pacific, the value in relationships stems from the concept of vā in which the interconnectedness between communities, families, space and the environment are seen as important. Iese et al., (2025) have developed the-Va Research Framework (VRF), which lays a structure for more effective multidisciplinary research in the Pacific Islands grounded on the core values of vā. Having Pacific principals guide research is important to build genuine partnerships and achieving more impactful and meaningful research.
A long-standing and well-recognised issue that has yet to be addressed
The first Pacific Regional Research Symposium held in Nuku'alofa, Kingdom of Tonga, in May 2025 reinforced the Pacific Regional Research Agenda’s mandate: collaboration and partnership on Pacific identified priorities.
While the need for long-term relationships and partnerships is well recognised, barriers remain – from power dynamics, resource constraints, competency and capacity gaps, infrastructure limitations, as well as geographic distance. Addressing these challenges means supporting relationships that:
- enhance capacities and competencies on all sides
- value Pacific expertise,
- and prioritise research with the Pacific, not just about the Pacific.
This calls for investment in necessary infrastructure, including telecommunications, to develop and maintain relationships over long distances and provide cross-cultural and interdisciplinary training and creating time and incentives for collaboration.
Current enablers are limited, but there are promising initiatives. CSIRO’s self-funded Pacific Agrifood Futures initiative, provides resources to strengthen relationships with regional and national stakeholders. SPC is championing collaboration through its Food Systems Flagships, which seeks to mirror the interconnectedness of food systems themselves.
Leading principles of impactful research relationships
Building strong relationships requires mutual respect, understanding and collaboration (see Figure 1 for a visual representation of the elements of enabling relationships). Five guiding principles help to achieve this:
1. Understanding cultural context
Effective research relationships begin with understanding cultural context, which can be achieved through active listening, observing and clear communication. It's essential to understand the multiple contexts of the history, culture, and practices that shape the place. This understanding forms the bedrock of a collaborative and respectful relationship.
2. Building trust and genuine engagement
Building trust and genuine engagement takes time, skills, and practice. Researchers must invest time in cultivating mutual respect. This involves acknowledging the value and contributions of all partners and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. Trust is not built overnight; it requires consistent effort and genuine engagement.
3. Developing shared goals
Shared goals drive successful research partnerships. It's crucial to develop work that tangibly addresses Pacific priorities. By aligning objectives and working towards common goals, researchers can ensure that their efforts are both impactful and relevant. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of purpose and direction.
4. Achieving impact through diverse strengths
Two-way capacity building is the foundation of effective research relationships (Meharg, 2023). Working together allows each partner to bring their strengths to the co-creation and co-implementation of projects. This collaborative effort enhances the capabilities of all involved, leading to more robust and innovative solutions. By leveraging each other's expertise, researchers can achieve greater success and make meaningful contributions to their field.
5. Systems and learning approach
Systems and learning approaches are crucial for achieving a lasting, tangible impact. Systems thinking enhances our understanding of the interactions across the food system and among key actors. Strong relationships provide the space for people to learn and grow together. By adopting a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability, researchers can refine their methods and strategies over time. This approach fosters resilience and innovation, ensuring that partnerships remain dynamic and effective.
Further good practice principles for quality research relationships can be found in the Pacific Regional Research Agenda, Australian guidelines for working with Indigenous communities, and the Research for Development community.
What’s at stake?
Strong relationships require:
- Time and perspective: Effective relationships require a long-term perspective and commitment, recognising that meaningful connections cannot be rushed.
- Adequate resources and support: Long-term commitments are essential yet challenging for researchers who are often funded on a project-by-project basis. Bridging this gap requires innovative solutions and sustained support.
- Resource allocation: It's crucial to allocate resources for initiating and maintaining relationships, not just within projects, but also between them. This ensures continuity and depth in collaborations.
- Cultural awareness and contextual understanding: Supporting research teams in building their cultural awareness and contextual understanding is vital for fostering respectful and effective partnerships.
- Reciprocal knowledge sharing: Strengthening research collaboration through reciprocal knowledge sharing enriches the partnership, allowing all parties to benefit from shared insights and expertise.
In essence, they demand patience, dedication, and mutual growth, but the payoff is resilience, innovation and lasting impact.
Call to action
In the Pacific, enduring and high-quality relationships are powerful tools for mutual capacity-building and influence. They enable research that has real impact and scalability, while also strengthening cultural diplomacy and strategic alliances.
The question remains: How can we, as researchers and organisations, shift resources and funding to support long-term relationships beyond individual projects?
Answering this will help lay the foundation for sustainable and impactful research collaborations that drive meaningful change in the Pacific region.
References
Karen Bell, Mark Reed, The tree of participation: a new model for inclusive decision-making, Community Development Journal, Volume 57, Issue 4, October 2022, Pages 595–614, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsab018
ESSENCE on Health Research and UKCDR (2022) Four Approaches to Supporting Equitable Research Partnerships. Available at https://tdr.who.int/publications/m/item/2022-09-07-four-approaches-to-supporting-equitable-research-partnerships
Fekadu, A., Assefa, E., Tesfaye, A., Hanlon, C., Adefris, B., Manyazewal, T., Newport, M. J., & Davey, G. (2021). Towards effective and sustainable global academic partnerships through a maturity model informed by the capability approach. Globalization and Health, 17(1), 131. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00785-2
Meharg, S. (2023). Catalysing Change Agents: Enabling Impact Through Research for Development. Springer.
Iese, L.V., Hoffmann, L., Gupta, D., Patolo, S., Reeves, T., Chauhan, S.S., Ugalde, D., Mekala, G., Nishi, M., Halavatau, S., Veitayako, J., Diarra, S., Amosa, F., Lameta, S., Ubaub, L., Kader, A., Savou, V., Molimau-Samasoni, S., Tukia, T., Veisa, F., Wairiu, M., Holland, E., Havea, R. Connecting-the-Va (space/gap): A framework to build relationships for effective partnerships and multi-disciplinary agricultural-climate-livelihood research in Pacific Island Countries. (Powerpoint Slides). Regional Research Symposium. Kingdom of Tonga, 22-23 May 2025.
