Third world non-governmental organizations and US academics: Dilemmas and challenges of collaboration

Can scholars based in Northern academic institutions really collaborate with non-governmental organizations in the rural South? We draw upon our fieldwork in north India to reflect on the key factors that create diverse agendas, priorities, and commitments in the context of such collaborations, leading to ethical and political dilemmas for researchers. We suggest that social science epistemological norms and accountability structures underlie some of these dilemmas. To change such norms and structures, we must recognize the centrality of collaboration between stakeholders and researchers in all stages of the research process, from formulating the research agenda on through fieldwork, analysis, dissemination, and evaluation.