Impact Case Study: Community researchers’ roles in achieving ARISE outcomes and legacy

ARISE aimed to explore and understand the health and well-being of people and communities working and living in informal spaces, which can be influenced by a combination of factors such as residence, environmental conditions, financial status, educational attainment and social connections with friends and family. There is evidence that the close involvement of co-researchers at every stage of research projects from inception and construction, through execution, to dissemination, can help to ensure that research conducted is relevant to and owned by communities involved.

ARISE used community-based participatory research (CBPR) with co-researchers, which aims to improve accountability, and promote health and well-being as well as develop alliances for new governance arrangements for people living and working in informality. CBPR emphasises building strengths and resources by collaborating with the community in every stage of knowledge building and interventions to address genuine local concerns and problems.