In 2022, World Pulse embarked on a months-long public review process to create ethical guidelines for our monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) efforts.

With overwhelming community support, World Pulse has approved our Ethical Guidelines for Research and Evaluation. You can read more about the process we conducted to get to this point here.

World Pulse is committed to ensuring that the way we conduct evaluation and research reflects the interests and values of our community members. The guidelines define the key qualities and principles that should direct any research or data collection in the World Pulse community. The principles outlined include Voice; Transparency; Safety; Inclusion; Care; Change.

Read the full guidelines and their definitions here.

The Importance of Ethical Guidelines for Research and Evaluation World Pulse

As part of our work, we collect data about the World Pulse community for reports like our annual Impact Review and in our annual planning feedback cycles. We also use data to share the World Pulse community’s impact with supporters like you. In addition, World Pulse occasionally runs campaigns to crowdsource the wisdom and knowledge of the community to inform the international development sector on women’s views and opinions on issues like Peace and Security; Technology; and the Covid-19 pandemic. Sometimes, external researchers contact World Pulse about doing research involving our community. These efforts inspired us to embark on a process to create ethical guidelines.

New Research Evaluation Group Formed

Along with approving the guidelines, a group of community members shared recommendations and will form a new Research Evaluation Group (REG). The World Pulse REG will be a community-led body that holds World Pulse and/or external researchers accountable for conducting ethical and meaningful research with the World Pulse community in line with the guidelines.

The World Pulse Research and Evaluation Group will:

• Review research proposals that involve World Pulse member participation and provide approval and/or input-
• Request and/or receive updates and reports regarding research conducted with members of the World Pulse community
• Participate in, collaborate on, and/or lead research relevant to World Pulse community interests

Are you interested in conducting research with the World Pulse community? Reach out by sending an email to Research@WorldPulse.org.