AuthorAID: A global network for early career researchers from low and middle-income countries
News
By Jennifer Chapin
Jennifer Chapin is Programme Manager, Research and Communications at INASP, an international development charity based in Oxford, UK. INASP works with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia to support individuals and institutions to produce, share and use research and knowledge. Projects are running in 28 countries.
“…being an AuthorAID mentor goes beyond a conventional teacher-student relationship – it is a really stimulating and worthwhile learning process for both mentee and mentor”
Dan Korbel, UK
Researchers in the developing world have long been under-represented in published research. This is not a huge surprise. They face many of the same intense pressures to publish as academics in the UK, yet they lack access to the fundamental resources needed to communicate their research: information and training, writing support and mentorship. How can they manage the pressure of publishing rigorous scientific research and communicating findings in a way that meets publisher expectations?
In order to address some of these issues, the AuthorAID programme (www.authoraid.info) was launched in 2007 by the Oxford-based organisation INASP (www.inasp.info) to support researchers in low and middle-income countries to publish and communicate their work. It also serves as a wider global forum to discuss and disseminate research.
One of the cornerstones of AuthorAID is a popular online mentoring system (www.authoraid.info/en/mentoring) that allows volunteer mentors to use their crucial skills and experience to guide less experienced researchers through the challenges of publishing and communicating their research. Since the platform was set up in 2008, requests for mentoring assistance have intensified, and mentors are in demand. The platform is open to researchers from all subject areas and currently comprises almost 2,000 active mentors and mentees. Support is available in a number of languages, including English, French and Spanish.
The mentoring system helps pair together experienced mentors with researchers who need support at any stage of their writing project. It is easy to make contact with mentors or mentees: we have a ‘find a researcher’ search facility and our mentoring dashboard will automatically suggest suitable ‘matches’ based on subject and skills – rather like a dating website for researchers!
Fifteen of the most common types of support needed by new mentees include:
- Writing
- Article planning
- Proofreading
- Grant proposal development
- Language editing or proofreading support
- Career mentoring
- Theses and dissertation writing
- Literature reviews
- Study design
- Statistics
- Presentation planning
- Responding to peer review
- Publication ethics
- Technical reports
- Dealing with the publishing process
Over the years, AuthorAID has amplified its scope to provide support to researchers in a number of other ways:
- One primary aim is to embed research writing skills training in universities and research institutes, with the objective of building local training capacity face-to-face and online. We are currently working with ten partners in four countries: Ghana, Tanzania, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
- In recent years, AuthorAID has launched free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in research writing. So far, these courses have attracted over 2,800 researchers from 76 countries (www.authoraid.info/en/e-learning).
- Small grants to host workshops and travel to conferences are offered twice annually (www.authoraid.info/en/funding).
- Over the last year, AuthorAID has focused on supporting women in research to address gender inequalities they face in progressing in their careers. AuthorAID has recently produced a Gender Mainstreaming in Higher Education Toolkit (available online soon), which is hoped will be a valuable resource for universities and institutions tackling gender inequality in academia.
- AuthorAID also provides training materials and resources free of charge online. Resources are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish (www.authoraid.info/en/resources).
- An increasing number of our members also provide informal mentoring, advice and support by replying to questions about publishing on the Discussion Group, now numbering over 2,300 members.
Whether you’re an early career researcher in a developing country who could benefit from support and mentoring, an established academic with a strong track record who wants to give something back to the research community, or are just keen to get involved in some stimulating discussions, you can easily register now on the AuthorAID website at www.authoraid.info.
“My experience with AuthorAID has been great! Through the AuthorAID website, I met my mentor, a PhD student at the University of Michigan. She has been very dedicated in offering me guidance on how to improve my writing skills”
Rhoune Ochako, Kenya
More like this
FEX: “I’m courageous”: a social entrepreneurship programme promoting a healthy diet in young Indonesian people
View this article as a pdf Lisez cet article en français ici By Cut Novianti Rachmi, Dhian Probhoyekti Dipo, Eny Kurnia Sari, Lauren Blum, Aang Sutrisna, Gusta Pratama...
FEX: Treatment of malnutrition in Lebanon: Institutionalisation with the Ministry of Public Health – steps and lessons learned
By Linda Shaker-Berbari, Pressila Derjany Khoueiry and Dima Ousta View this article as a pdf Linda Shaker Berbari works with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)...
en-net: Research Advisor 14-637 - International Medical Corps
Essential Job Duties/Scope of Work: International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through...
FEX: JustWrite
an online course in effective writing If you find writing a chore, perhaps know what you want to say, but not how to say it, or feel you need to polish your writing skills,...
en-net: Nutrition Traineeship
Job Title:Nutrition Trainee Reports to:Nutrition Advisor Job Location: Months 1 to 3 - Dublin, Ireland Months 4 to 12 - a Concern working country to be decided Year 2 - a...
FEX: Summary of Field Exchange Evaluation
From July to November 2012, the ENN undertook an evaluation of Field Exchange (FEX) use amongst its readers. The aims were to establish how FEX is used to inform programming,...
New competition to encourage advocacy for better research
To highlight the critical role that doctors, researchers, policymakers and others play in advocating their leaders to support research in their institutions, Research4Life and...
FEX: INASP Health Directory 2003/2004
The International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) has launched the online INASPHealth Directory 2003/2004. The Directory is a networking tool...
en-net: Job vacancy: Health & Nutrition Advisor, Lilongwe, Malawi, Concern Worldwide
Job Title: Health and Nutrition Advisor Reports to: Assistant Country Director Programmes Job Location: Lilongwe, Malawi Contract Details: 7 month fixed term contract...
en-net: Nutrition Coordinator - DRC
COOPI is looking for a Nutrition Coordinator in the DRC General Responsibilities The Nutrition Coordinator is responsible for: Co-facilitation of the nutrition...
en-net: Health & Nutrition Director RWANU, Uganda, Concern Worldwide
Contract: Two (2) years, unaccompanied, based in Moroto, Karamoja, Uganda. Job Summary • Build a strong team by providing support in the form of coordination, planning,...
Calls for Tender
ENN aims to source the best value goods and services to meet our needs. This page highlights active tenders which are being advertised. We encourage suppliers who feel they...
en-net: POLICY COORDINATOR, SIERRA LEONE (IPA/JPAL PARTNERSHIP)
Job Location: Sierra Leone Contract Length: 1 year Start Date: ASAP Job Description Immunization is often claimed to be one of the most cost-effective methods to improve...
FEX: "Je suis courageux !": programme d’entrepreneuriat social en faveur d’un régime alimentaire sain pour les jeunes Indonésiens
Read an English version of this article here Par Cut Novianti Rachmi, Dhian Probhoyekti Dipo, Eny Kurnia Sari, Lauren Blum, Aang Sutrisna, Gusta Pratama et Wendy Gonzalez Cut...
FEX: Global Nutrition Cluster annual report
View this article as a pdf The Global Nutrition Cluster and the Technical Alliance (2021). Annual Report. Available from:...
FEX: Operational research in low-income countries: what, why, and how?
Summary of research1 A Lancet published article puts forward a definition of operational research, articulates its relevance to infectious-disease-control programmes, and...
en-net: Emergency Nutritionist with Concern Worldwide in South Sudan
Contract Grade: B Contract Length: 1 year Accompanied / Unaccompanied: Unaccompanied Exact Job Location: Bentiu Reports To: Area Coordinator Responsible For: Staff of 10-12...
FEX: How to ensure quality research uptake
By Stephanie Stern Stephanie Stern leads the Action Against Hunger LAB project which aims to reinforce the impact and uptake of knowledge. Before joining Action Against...
en-net: Technical nutrition online courses
Which online short courses and links can benefit a non-nutrition technical staff supporting the scaling up nutrition? For example, technical knowledge on SAM, MAM, CIMAM and...
en-net: ACF is looking for a A NUTRITIONAL CAUSAL ANALYSIS EXPERT - YEMEN
We are looking for A NUTRITIONAL CAUSAL ANALYSIS EXPERT Country: Yemen, based in Sana’a Length of Contract: 5 months from the 15th of April Responsibilities: In that...
Reference this page
Jennifer Chapin (). AuthorAID: A global network for early career researchers from low and middle-income countries. Field Exchange 53, November 2016. p53. www.ennonline.net/fex/53/authoraid
(ENN_5382)