Pamela Combinido of Humanitarian Advisory Group reflects on leading the review of the Ex-Border Local Research Network under the XCEPT programme. She highlights the value of locally-led research in gaining access to complex contexts and producing grounded, credible evidence.
She discusses how the network’s connections and trust have allowed researchers to capture the experiences of people often left out of policy conversations. These insights are already influencing how actors like FCDO understand and respond to conflict dynamics.
Pamela also shares lessons on power-sharing in research, calling for more equitable collaboration between Global South and North organisations. She emphasises that impact is a shared goal, best achieved through partnership, trust and long-term investment.
