10 years: exploring change over time
New long-term research study from Christian Aid’s Research, Evidence and Learning team
By Hilary Cornish, Research, Evidence and Learning Adviser, Christian Aid
At Christian Aid we believe in building strong relationships and working with our partnerships and communities long-term.
Working together, we believe our shared projects, policy, advocacy, campaigns, and solidarity will bring about positive change and challenge the power relations that keep people in poverty.
Of course, there are many factors that impact us all — including global and national political shifts, climate change and technical advances. These factors interact with the work we do and can help or undermine positive change.
To understand how change happens over the long-term, and how we contribute to end poverty more effectively, we’ve started a long term research study called 10 Years.
In the study we will be working with communities in three countries — Colombia, Kenya and the UK. Our aim is to support them to document, explore and communicate what change looks like, and the role Christian Aid plays.
Tracing the impact in Colombia
In Colombia we are working with two communities in the Cauca Valley, an area in the country’s west, which has been deeply affected by decades of conflict.
The first is the indigenous community of Agua Clara on the San Juan river and the second the Afro-Colombian community of San Francisco on the Naya river.
After more than 50 years of war, a national peace agreement has been signed and the communities will trace the impact on their lives and their experiences of poverty, violence and activist struggle.
They’ll be using community driven methods, such as life histories, audio for radio broadcasts and video-clips, to document their lives and share their analysis.
Together with our national partner ‘Justice and Peace’ they’ll reflect on their joint work and the role of the projects Christian Aid supports.
Health care in Kenya
In Kenya, we will work with communities in Narok County. The county is perhaps best known for the Masai Mara game reserve, but it also has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Kenya.
Christian Aid’s partners in Narok work hard to support better care for mothers and children. This including ensuring mothers have safe clinics to give birth in, and access to contraception and better nutrition for their children.
In Kenya, recent changes in the way the country is governed mean responsibility for health and other services is now in the hands of county level officials.
This could have a big impact on local access to essential services.
We’re going to explore what our partners work, and our support, means for poorer communities’ health and well-being in the context of these wider government changes.
We’ll be collecting data about shifts in health, as well as community led reflections on change.
Understanding global relationships in the UK
Finally, we are also working with communities of supporters in the UK.
While we are still finalising this part of the study, it is likely to include one community in Scotland and one in England.
In the UK, changes over time impact how people understand global poverty, charities and overseas aid; and their role as global citizens.
Britain’s leaving of the EU may also change our global relationships. We are interested in understanding how these shifts influence how our supporters give, act and pray in solidarity with our partners and the communities we work with globally.
This research will be coordinated by the Research, Evidence and Learning team based in London, pulling together the common themes and connections between each of the three countries and telling the global story.
However, the study in each country will be directed by local and national research leads to make sure they reflect the local context and relevant for the participants.
While this is a 10-year study we aim to produce interesting learning throughout the process, which our partners and communities will be able to use directly to strengthen and adapt their work.
And don’t worry — we won’t be waiting for the end of the 10 years to bring you news, updates and learning. We will be checking in regularly along the way.
You can get regular updates by following the @caid_research twitter account and finding updates on the 10 Years website.
