Table 4: Potential roles of community engagement at different points throughout the IR cycle Adapted from (25).
Phase in the IR cycle Input on key problems or issues to be addressed
Problem identification Understanding context, needs and priorities of the community; conceptualizing key issues; identifying key stakeholders to involve; conducting stakeholder mapping and intersectional analysis.
Design and planning Shaping key research aims; questions to meet local objectives; input into methodology especially contextually appropriate approaches for data collection (including those for intersectional analysis); review of research documents and tools (e.g. protocols, consent forms, instruments that include intersectional variables).
Implementation Generating awareness and ownership of research project; potential involvement in an intervention being studied; pilot testing of instruments; participating as data collectors or respondents; formal partnership and collaboration with community groups that go beyond single or favoured social categories/identities.
Analysis and interpretation Interpreting findings; discussing implications; adding contextual depth and sensitivity to recommendations.
Knowledge translation Discussing implications of findings; issue prioritization, planning and implementation of follow-up actions; tailoring evidence to enhance community voices of diverse social identities.
Iteration and adaptation Establishing ongoing community participatory monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and social accountability mechanisms to increase transparency of key service delivery outcomes.