What Does Equitable Co‐Production Entail? Three Perspectives

Abstract

Unlike basic science, studies conducted for the purpose of societal decision-making require the involvement of broad publics (Gibbons, 2000). The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), mandated by Congress in 1990 to provide decision-relevant climate science, spurred the establishment of some of the longest-running and most geographically diverse programs to conduct these types of applied research. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Adaptation Partnerships (CAP), Department of the Interior (DOI) Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Climate Hubs (Pulwarty et al., 2009; USGCRP, 2023) represent some of the most prominent examples. These federal programs may shed light on an issue that is increasingly recognized as a significant challenge to decision-relevant scientific research: the involvement of people who historically have been underserved by government programs and/ or have experienced discrimination and exclusion (Early & Kotzebue, 2021). Public administration and political science scholars have long warned that conditions of social inequity and inequality may worsen if the quality of governance and public services is dependent on community participation (Einstein et al., 2019(Einstein et al., , 2022Rosentraub & Sharp, 1981). When the voices of marginalized groups are unlikely to be heard and to influence policy

Advancing a collective vision for equity‐based cocreation through prototyping at an international forum

“…These changes may facilitate the advocacy needed to enable the systemic and pragmatic changes that are required to conduct sustainable and impactful cocreation (e.g., demonstrated commitment to co-creation via grants that will compensate members of EDGs for their involvement, timelines that allow for relationship building, recognition for nonacademic outputs of cocreation work that benefit communities). This aligns with the redistribution of power in equity coproduction described by Akerlof et al, 22…”

“…These changes may facilitate the advocacy needed to enable the systemic and pragmatic changes that are required to conduct sustainable and impactful cocreation (e.g., demonstrated commitment to co‐creation via grants that will compensate members of EDGs for their involvement, timelines that allow for relationship building, recognition for nonacademic outputs of cocreation work that benefit communities). This aligns with the redistribution of power in equity coproduction described by Akerlof et al, 22 such as diverse representation on the leadership team, compensation for those who participate, providing information and resources to people who participate, and ensuring the political leaders are involved. These broader changes in structures and policies were seen as the groundswell that could topple traditional hierarchies that exclude and exploit EDGs.…”

“…This may include ‘super patients’ who are frequently engaged in research projects and have been socialised to the research process, raising questions about whether their experience is typical of service users and potentially overrepresented in cocreated services and research 3,19 . Limiting opportunities for engagement to those who are familiar with the team or privileged risks absolving researchers of their responsibility to address the needs and priorities of EDGs and may reproduce the inequalities that exist in health and social systems in cocreation processes and outcomes 5,22,23 . Therefore, evidence is needed to guide the philosophy and methods that can promote equity in the cocreation of health and social services.…”

“… 3 , 19 Limiting opportunities for engagement to those who are familiar with the team or privileged risks absolving researchers of their responsibility to address the needs and priorities of EDGs and may reproduce the inequalities that exist in health and social systems in cocreation processes and outcomes. 5 , 22 , 23 Therefore, evidence is needed to guide the philosophy and methods that can promote equity in the cocreation of health and social services.…”

Co-Production for Equitable Governance in Community Climate Adaptation: Neighborhood Resilience in Houston, Texas

“…The efficacy of co-production lies in its ability to foster grassroots participation, adapt to shifting policies, and undertake strategic institutional actions. Building local capacity is crucial to incorporating community perspectives within decision-making processes and tackling systemic inequities (Akerlof et al, 2023;Jagannathan et al, 2020).…”