Co-production for impact

Co-production is an effective way of working with people of lived experience to be able to influence change.

Co-production Guidance

We use the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) definition of co-production, which is an approach to research that enables researchers, practitioners and the public to work together, sharing power and responsibility from the start to the end of the project. NIHR underpin co-production by five key principals:

1. Sharing of power - the research is jointly owned by all stakeholders
2. Including all perspectives and skills - co-production needs to be accessible to include all those who can make a contribution.
3. Equality - everyone is of equal importance and everyone's contribution and knowledge is equally respected and valued
4. Reciprocity - everyone receives something back for putting something in.
5. Building and maintaining relationships - There needs to be an agreement over roles and responsibilities, with a continuing dialogue.

NIHR guidance on co-producing research

A short blog and infographic by UCLPartners on what co-production in health should look like based on the five principles of co-production described above. 

UCLPartners What should co-production in health look like?

The Research for Development Impact (RDI) Network provide guidance on how to approach co-designing research with stakeholders in a two-way exchange with shared roles, responsibilities and ownership.

RDI Network Top Guides for Co-design and Participatory Approches

Please note, there are many different definitions of the term 'co-production' so it's important to read any funding guidance for their interpretation of co-production

Co-Produced Pathway to Impact Model

Kids Brain Health Network are a Canadian network that brings together researchers and health professionals that want to help children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. They use a research framework that emphasizes interacting with stakeholders. While this model doesn't focus on the NIHR co-production principles, it's a useful real-world example of how working with people with lived experiences throughout the lifecycle of a research project can maximise impact.

Kids Brain Health Network Co-produced Pathway to Impact Model