Experiences in Research Partnerships and Capacity Strengthening: Lessons from Honduras

Partnering authentically is messy work. In global health, multi-lateral and interdisciplinary partnerships are touted as the means to stimulate collaborative and meaningful engagement between partners, which most often involve one or more low- and middle-income country (LMIC) partnering with one or more high-income country (HIC). These LMIC-HIC dyads are inextricably characterized by histories and legacies of colonialism, influencing all aspects of partnering. In this chapter, we offer critical reflections from two global health partnerships aspiring to center equity in their processes and outcomes, one North-South and one South-South. With candor and humility, we reflect on the complications and disincentives – and ways to mitigate both – in global health research partnerships.