Why South-led research collaboration matters more than ever

If today’s global challenges are shared, the systems that generate solutions cannot remain fragmented. Climate change, pandemics and technological disruption do not stop at borders. Yet South-South collaboration, remains limited, and global research systems still reflect longstanding imbalances in influence, funding and visibility. 

That is what made the recent Global Research Council (GRC) meetings in Bangkok --- where IDRC convened discussions with science granting councils and other stakeholders from across the Global South – so important. What emerged was not just a call for more collaboration, but for a different approach: one that is Southern-driven, rooted in context and reflects the realities and priorities of the Global Majority. 

The issue is connection, not capacity

Across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, research communities are vibrant and deeply engaged with pressing societal challenges. The issue is how this capacity is connected, supported and recognized within global systems that still concentrate influence and resources in the Global North. 

South–South collaboration is not just a matter of inclusion; it is a matter of effectiveness. When countries facing similar development challenges exchange knowledge, test solutions and build joint agendas, they accelerate learning and produce insights grounded in context. Substantial potential remains untapped when these connections are weak or underfunded. 

From ad hoc partnerships to lasting systems

A central lesson from Bangkok was the need to move toward more intentional, structured forms of cooperation. Too often, collaboration is project-based and short-lived. What is needed are longer-term platforms: shared research agendas, coordinated calls and ways for countries to pool expertise while maintaining flexibility in how they engage. 

Experience shows that this is achievable. The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), funded by the Government of Norway, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Wellcome Trust and IDRC, has evolved from a push to strengthen individual institutions to fostering a more connected ecosystem of councils, partners and shared priorities across sub-Saharan Africa.  A single SGCI project supported 18 research and innovation initiatives that involved regional or international partners, helping to build stronger global and intra-African linkages. Across the SGCI network, councils are playing an increasingly active role in convening partnerships. Examples from Côte d’Ivoire and Rwanda, as well as Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe, illustrate a broader trend of expanding engagement. In short, when councils lead, collaboration can move beyond one-off projects and begin to reshape the wider research system. 

Collaboration, however, cannot be one-size-fits-all. Regions and communities are experimenting with diverse models, from pooled funding to aligned national investments, and from formal alliances to flexible networks, allowing countries to engage at different speeds and scales while contributing to a broader shift toward more connected research ecosystems. 

The need is now to translate dialogue into progress that can shift the global research landscape and reduce inequalities. Several priorities stand out. 

Turning dialogue into practical progress

An emerging priority is the importance of strengthening Southern-led research agendas: moving beyond participation to shaping what matters most, from climate resilience to education systems to inclusive economic growth. This means investing in the next generation of researchers through mobility, regional networks and opportunities for early-career scientists to collaborate across borders. To design effective research portfolios and partnerships, funders in the Global South also need better tools and data, including a clearer picture of the funding coming into their countries and what gaps remain. 

Financing, too, is part of the story, but not only in terms of volume. How resources are tracked and used matters just as much. Improving transparency in funding flows, developing shared tools and investing in regional data systems can help countries identify gaps, coordinate investments and better understand what works. In a resource-constrained environment, this clarity is a strategic asset.   

This also requires a broader rethinking of what constitutes research excellence. More inclusive approaches are needed to reflect diverse realities, recognizing that barriers linked to language, geography, institutional prestige and gender continue to shape who participates and who benefits. Building more inclusive systems not only reduces barriers to participation, it is essential for generating knowledge that is relevant, credible and widely applicable.    

Rising disinformation and geopolitical tensions create both an opportunity and a responsibility for scientists and research councils to play a more active role in shaping policy debates. That means equipping researchers with the skills and incentives to engage in policy processes, while also ensuring that decision-makers can access timely, relevant and credible evidence. More intentional science diplomacy and stronger STI engagement mechanisms will be key to enhancing the visibility, uptake and impact of research. 

Collaboration as core infrastructure

What makes recent GRC discussions so significant is the momentum behind them. They signal a shift: a growing recognition that global research systems must evolve to better reflect the distribution of both challenges and capabilities. This contributes to a roadmap for collective action and greater visibility and influence for Southern councils on the global stage. 

Sustaining that momentum will require more deliberate, system-level action for:  

• better mapping and coordination of funding flows to address persistent imbalances (as highlighted in recent analyses of STI funding in Africa);  
• stronger support for emerging platforms like PILAR and ARICA (collaborative, multilateral R&D funding mechanisms among Latin American and Caribbean, and Arab countries); and  
• greater recognition of and collaboration between Indigenous researchers and knowledge-holders all over the world.  

Most importantly, collaboration must no longer be treated as an add-on. It must be understood as a core function of effective research systems. 

In an increasingly uncertain world, no country can address complex challenges alone. The question is not whether collaboration is necessary, but how it is structured, and who leads it. 

A more connected, more balanced and more inclusive approach is within reach. Realizing it will require persistence, investment and a willingness to rethink established models and question power structures.   

The payoff is clear: stronger research systems that are better equipped to deliver solutions where they are most needed. 

That is not only a vision for the Global South. It is a foundation for a more effective and truly global research system that can benefit countries like Canada and the world.