Why locality matters
At PRALOLEOR, locality is not a slogan, it is the foundation of how we choose questions, how we work, and how we judge the value of research. We are a tri-country alliance (DR Congo, Ethiopia, and Uganda), but our starting point is always the same: local realities shape the research agenda.
Locality means we take seriously the everyday contexts in which people live and institutions operate, villages and neighborhoods, markets and schools, clinics and local offices, community groups and informal networks. It also means recognizing that “local” is not one thing: it varies by language, history, political economy, ecology, and social norms, and it can change quickly in moments of crisis or transition.
What “local” means in our work
For PRALOLEOR, locality includes:
1) Locally defined questions
We prioritize research questions that emerge from communities, practitioners, and local institutions, not only from external debates. Our work begins with careful listening: what problem is being experienced, by whom, and why now?
2) Context-sensitive methods
We match methods to context. Sometimes locality requires qualitative depth (interviews, observation, community conversations. Sometimes it requires measurement) surveys, administrative data, or mixed methods that connect experiences to patterns. We choose designs that are realistic, ethical, and accurate for the setting.
3) Language and meaning
Locality is often carried through language: how people describe power, wellbeing, risk, trust, opportunity, or harm. We work across languages and ensure key concepts are not “lost in translation.” When possible, we use local-language tools and involve researchers who understand the social meanings behind words.
4) Ethical relationships and respect
Locality requires trust. We take consent seriously, protect participants, and avoid extractive practices. We are transparent about purpose, risks, benefits, and limits. We aim to do research with people, not on people.
Local researchers, local institutions, shared umbrella
PRALOLEOR is built around researchers who are embedded in local realities, often scholars who began as research assistants in local institutions and grew into independent researchers. Many of our members are temporarily or flexibly affiliated with universities and organizations in their countries. This allows them to stay close to local field realities while connecting through PRALOLEOR for peer support, shared tools, and joint opportunities.
Importantly, locality does not mean isolation. By collaborating across DR Congo, Ethiopia, and Uganda, we learn from differences and similarities, without assuming that one model fits all. Our cross-country exchange strengthens local work by improving methods, sharpening analysis, and widening the evidence base.
Locality in practice: how we work
To protect and strengthen locality, PRALOLEOR commits to:
- Co-design when possible: involving relevant local stakeholders in shaping research questions and instruments.
- Local feedback loops: sharing findings back with communities and partners in accessible formats (briefs, discussions, community summaries).
- Capacity strengthening: peer learning, mentorship, and practical training that builds long-term local research leadership.
- Responsible dissemination: communicating results carefully to avoid harm, misinterpretation, or stigmatization.
Our promise
Locality is how we stay honest and useful. We aim to produce evidence that reflects real conditions and supports equity and opportunity, because research matters most when it is grounded, respectful, and connected to the people and places it describes.