| Some problems are far more difficult to solve than others. Development experts call these “wicked” problems: challenges that are so tangled up in incomplete, contradictory and constantly changing conditions, that a single fix rarely holds. South Africa has plenty of these. |
| To make matters worse, solutions to wicked problems in developing countries are often sought in evidence from somewhere else entirely, specifically, from WEIRD countries (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic). At Beam, we understand the importance of contextually relevant research and clear communication of evidence. But we also ask an important question: how can research evidence be translated into real-world solutions for South Africa’s wicked problems? This has led us to Impact Science. More on that in our Innovation Update below. |
Spotlight
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| South Africa’s high rate of violence is a textbook wicked problem, and parenting programmes have emerged as one way to strengthen families and reduce interpersonal harm. |
| A recent study, published by the South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network (SAPPIN), asks whether parenting programmes rooted in evidence-based research are the only way to achieve successful interventions in South Africa. Evidence-based research is a systematic and objective approach to testing whether an intervention works, often using randomised control trials (RCTs) to minimise bias and measure outcomes. |
| Interestingly, the findings point to four reasons why leaning exclusively on evidence-based approaches may not fit South Africa: |
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| Change is good: Evidence-based programmes are usually tested in tightly controlled settings. Real communities aren’t controlled: they shift, adapt and surprise you. Thoughtful adaptation, can make programmes more relevant, not less rigorous. |
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| Evidence isn’t a guarantee: A programme that works in one place, at one time, with one population doesn’t automatically transfer. Evidence is specific — to a place, a time, a group of people. |
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| Evidence comes at a cost: Requirements for certification, licensing, specialised training, programme materials, etc. means evidence-based programmes carry a price tag, and that cost can eat into the budget for actual service delivery. |
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| Researchers aren’t the only experts: The organisations doing the work every day hold practical knowledge that rarely makes it into an academic journal and gets undervalued because of it. |
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| “evidence of efficacy only yields results that are highly specific, i.e. for a specific population in a specific setting at a specific time, and cannot claim efficacy for diverse populations and contexts at different times” |
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| Striving for Programme Excellence in South Africa: An Alternative to the WEIRD Evidence-based Agenda |
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Showcase
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| So, if evidence is only relevant for the population it was tested on, what could we do to reduce our reliance on evidence from WEIRD populations? |
| Findings from these populations are often generalised and applied to people living with very different social and cultural circumstances. For example, WEIRD societies, such as the US and Western Europe, tend to value independence, emphasising autonomy, personal choice and self-reliance. Much of the Global South runs on interdependence; where relationships, tradition and collective wellbeing steer decisions. |
| A 2023 paper unpacks why development programmes based on assumptions from WEIRD societies do not always work as intended in developing countries. |
| One case study describes how starving villagers in Sudan received food rations from aid organisations, but instead of consuming the food, the villagers passed it onto their chief to distribute among the community. The aid programme assumed that individuals would make decisions independently, but the community instead followed cultural norms that prioritises hierarchy, shared responsibility and collective decision-making. |
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| “In many current-day low-income and Global South contexts, and historically for most societies, local cultural ideas and practices construe a person not as an independent and separate entity but instead as a part of a larger encompassing social whole—an extended kinship structure, a village, a community” |
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| Thomas, C. C., & Markus, H. R |
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| The lesson here is that the contextual relevance of evidence always needs to be considered to avoid unintended consequences or disappointing intervention results. |
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Innovation Update
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| Last month we highlighted that researchers in South Africa need better communication tools, stronger communities and more funding opportunities to expand the reach and impact of their research. Curious about research impact more broadly, we explored Impact Science, an emerging field that focuses on how research evidence can be used in practice to improve lives. |
| In short, increasing the real-world impact of research requires greater data standardisation, improved access to data and establishing communities of practice where the private, public, government and non-profit sectors actively collaborate to put evidence into action. |
| So, what does this mean for solving wicked problems in Southern Africa and beyond? More evidence on what works in these contexts need to be generated in general, but implementing this evidence may be the key that unlocks development impact and change. |
| Over the coming months we will be reaching out to our networks, asking if a bespoke, action-oriented Community of Practice is of interest and what it could involve? Please contact us if you want to discuss this and have some ideas or experience to share. |
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Links we love
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- This short video effectively explains the concept of WEIRD. It explains where the participants come from and asks the important question, “How representative are they of the broader population?”
- What’s a Wicked Problem? This article unpacks the concept of wicked problems and outlines the 10 characteristics that set them apart from more straightforward challenges.
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