When “We Know Nothing” Recommendations for Ethical Research and Learning with and for LGBTQI People in Humanitarian Settings Acknowledgements This report was written by Danielle Roth, Alexandra Blackwell, Mark Canavera, and Kathryn Falb. With deep gratitude for participation in our study: • Alba Reyes • Alesandra Ogeta With thanks for review and input to Meghan • Alexus D’Marco, UCTRANS Executive Director O’Connor, Rebecca Gang, Sarah Mosely, • Amy Ritterbusch Annalisa Brusati, Serwah Asante, Jennate • Andrés Ignacio Rivera Eoomkham, Giorgos Papadimitriou, Helena Minchew, Kristin Kim Bart, Undariya • Badr Baabou Tumursukh, Elizabeth Norman, Molly • Beth Waruiru Ndonye Schneider, Lara Sulzman, and Nicole Behnam. • Chakkrid Chansang, Protection and Livelihood Coordinator, International Rescue Committee The IRC would like to express its deep • Emily Dwyer, Edge Effect gratitude to Mark Canavera whose knowledge • Gabriela Arguedas and leadership has brought this study to fruition, as well as Munjireen Sifat and Evelyn • Hester Moore, Edge Effect Marquez who put in the hard groundwork in • Jérémie Safari, Rainbow Sunrise Mapambazuko the lead up to this report. • Juliana Martínez, Assistant Professor, World Languages and Cultures, American University With appreciation and thanks to United States (Washington, D.C) Sentiido, Research and Agency for International Development Consultancy Director. (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance • Joseph Samuel Aoun for their interest in this study and in promoting more inclusive humanitarian • Julia Sequeira protection responses globally. • Justin Francis Bionat, Executive Director, Youth Voices Count, Inc. The Safe at Home Program and this report is • Md. Nazmul Haque, Bandhu Social Welfare Society funded by USAID Bureau for Humanitarian • Sanjay Sharma, Program Director, Blue Diamond Assistance. The views expressed within do not Society Nepal necessarily represent the views of USAID. • Sarah Chynoweth, Women’s Refugee Commission Suggested Citation: Roth, D., Blackwell, A., • Sarah Martin, Independent Consultant Canavera, M., & Falb, K. (2021). When “we know • Shamsa Kanwal Qureshi, International Rescue nothing”: Recommendations for ethical research Committee and learning with and for LGBTQI people in • Syed Wajid Ali Shah Alias Namkeen, International humanitarian settings. New York: International Rescue Committee Rescue Committee. • Tatenda Ngwaru, She/Hers, intersex activist • Uzma Yaqoob, Executive Director, Forum for Dignity Layout & Design: BakOS DESIGN Initiatives (FDI) Pakistan * This list of study participants does not represent the entirety of people who participated in the study as some people chose to participate anonymously, while others did not confirm their interest in acknowledgement, or could no longer be reached through their work contacts. Table of contents Executive Summary ..........................................................................................................................................................................................4 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................................................................6 Our Study ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................7 How International Humanitarian Agencies Can Transform Themselves to Better Learn about and Support the Needs of LGBTQI People Affected by Conflict and Displacement .....................................................................................8 Developing Partnerships .........................................................................................................................................................................8 Equitably Partner with Local, National, and Regional LGBTQI Organizations, Groups, and Networks .....................8 Conducting Research with LGBTQI People .....................................................................................................................................9 1. Setting the Stage: Understand the Context ................................................................................................................................9 2. Study Design: Take a Participatory and Capacity-sharing Approach ...............................................................................11 3. “Recruitment”: Become a Safe and Welcoming Place for LGBTQI People to Approach ............................................12 4. Sampling: Consider Diversity and Intersectionality ..............................................................................................................13 5. Measurement & Data Collection: Systematic, Thoughtful, and Led by LGBTQI Partners .........................................14 6. Ethical Considerations: Do No Harm, Protect Confidentiality and Safety, and Secure Referral and Response Processes ...............................................................................................................................15 Organizational Change for LGBTQI People’s Rights ................................................................................................................19 Ensure Humanitarian Organizations Have Inclusive and Supportive Policies in Place to Support LGBTQI People. .................................................................................................................................................19 Call to Action .....................................................................................................................................................................................................21 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................23 Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................................................................24 References ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................27 WHEN “WE KNOW NOTHING” 3 There is a dearth of rigorous and ethical research to Executive Summary inform the policies and programs of humanitarian actors, and significant gaps remain in evidence on how to safely, ethically, and equitably learn about and support LGBTQI individuals and communities. To begin to address this gap, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) undertook research with 35 actors, researchers, and activists from LGBTQI-led and LGBTQI-serving organizations in humanitarian contexts in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Through in-depth interviews with key informants, the IRC gathered suggestions on how humanitarian actors can ethically and equitably conduct research on the issues facing LGBTQI people in conflict and humanitarian settings to increase learning and thereby improve programming to better support LGBTQI people across diverse contexts. This report presents recommendations from key informants for how international humanitarian agencies can transform themselves to better learn about and support the needs of LGBTQI people affected by conflict and displacement in three main areas: Developing Partnerships: Partner equitably with local, national, and regional LGBTQI organizations, groups, and networks. Key informants emphasized the need for international actors to foster long-term and non-extractive partnerships to avoid perpetuating unintended harm with local communities. To do so, they recommended conducting power analyses within the contexts they work to understand existing power dynamics as they relate to the financial, convening, and decision- making power that international agencies hold over local actors, policies, and practices. In addition, power analyses should engage local LGBTQI serving organizations to examine local dynamics of power and agency within the LGBTQI community within a specific context. Recommendations from key informants also underscored that international humanitarian organizations such as IRC must recognize and value the expertise that LGBTQI people have on their own realities, and therefore elevate their lived experiences of risk to their safety and wellbeing, as well as the barriers and facilitators to access within each context. 4 WHEN “WE KNOW NOTHING” • Research with LGBTQI people must also include Conducting Research partnerships with and resources for local with LGBTQI People: LGBTQI groups that have expertise in risk mitigation and protection, to ensure sufficient • Take a participatory and capacity-sharing procedures around consent, confidentiality, approach; invest in becoming a safe and data protection, and referrals to services, as welcoming place for LGBTQI people; consider these will differ significantly within each diversity and intersectionality in sampling; context. engage LGBTQI partners as decision-makers for measurement and data collection; and ensure the protection of individuals and communities. Organizational Change for Key informants emphasized that international actors must