A key element of the Wash'Em process is to ask for consent before beginning any activity.
How might you respond to someone who felt that asking for informed consent was too formal and not really necessary?
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25 of 32 replies
In such intervention during the emergency context, we need to identify ourselves and inform people that we are here to support them and meet their urgent needs by asking some key questions on the hygiene conditions, availability of supplies and services, like hand washing stations. Taking into our consideration do no harm their social norms and affect on their privacy, dignity and rights of every child are to be respected.
Yes, and while taking consent for the interview, we should also prepare for and take it as the opportunity for showing our organizations’ and the donor’s concerns for them, and present ourselves in ways such as in terms of the dress we wear and how we speak, building rapport so that we are taken positively as doing something totally for them, also explaining how the work that will be done using the outcomes of our interview will help them. This should also reduce the number of cases where consents are not received and in executing the task/interview in an interesting way for both the parties.
I agree, Laxman, that sharing about our organizations' goal to support the community can be quite helpful. As is the case with most people, we always like to know the "why" behind an interview like this.
I am sorry that I slightly disagree with @Hussein Al Azzawi as there are many times we do interviews/FGDs knowing that there will be no further assistance will be provided. For example, Endline survey Interviews/FGDs, PDMs, project Evaluation interviews/FGDs. So, telling them that we re here to support them to fulfil their unmeet needs would not be the right approach as we can't commit fake to people. That will lead mistrust and have hue impact on our further programming.
the question her, are the people in emergency or in crisis will be ready to answer questions or survey????
Good question Ihab - indeed, they may not be ready or willing to speak to anyone. What should be our course of action if most of the people we approach do not want to speak with us?
There is an issue with the formality. Often in research projects the ethical requirements stipulate that people must sign to show informed consent. This formal recording may be useful for monitoring purposes but this can put people off unnecessarily. People can show their agreement by being given the opportunity to walk away - or more positively, walk towards a meeting. We need to make sure that they show their consent in a way that is suitable to them, not convenient for an ethics committee.
Personally I think the bigger challenge is not the formal consent, but the ”informed“ aspect. This is where thought needs to be given to how we can inform people appropriately. People do need to be able to ask questions about the activity. .
To your first point--I resonate with this even in my own experience outside of my work. Once you have the formality attached to consent it makes one's flags go up and double think what they're signing.
To your second point--yes! And with providing opportunity for questions, we need to cultivate an environment where people feel comfortable asking those questions without being made to feel silly or stupid.
I think one of the most important things in obtaining informed consent is making sure that we are not unintentionally creating an expectation of reciprocity or applying implicit pressure to participate in the activity. For example, telling someone that our organization is collecting baseline data in order to do a handwashing distribution/intervention in their community - and thus implying that they will benefit as a result of participating - is a form of using implicit pressure. They may think they have to participate in order to receive a handwashing station, even if we explain that there are no consequences of not participating. This is why I really like this statement from the Wash’Em Handwashing Demonstrations Guide, “We are not here to judge your behavior, just to learn from you. The things we learn will be used to design programs to help people in communities/camps like yours.” It explains our motive, and it empowers the individual to be a part of the larger solution, rather than someone who needs to change their practices or behaviors.
I would say that it does not necessarily need to be a formal process, but when you are providing aid to a community who just experienced some sort of crisis, they are already in a vulnerable state. Outsiders might not be trusted and it is important to say who you are, what you are doing and why - and explain it in a way that is easily understandable. It is also important for it to be a two way dialogue so community members can ask questions. In order to have an effective intervention you need community buy-in to understand the needs and they need to trust you.
Additionally, some questions might bring up past experiences of trauma so it's important that they understand they can withdraw at any point without consequence.
Informed consent is also a part of building positive rapport and empowering the community members.
Thanks for sharing, Lara. There is definitely a cautious line to walk as outsiders. Especially in the first few interactions where people are still getting to know each other. I think building rapport is so important and is more easily accomplished when there is a consistent face representing an organization. If there is always someone new asking for consent it can cause a person to feel like their vulnerable situation isn't being respected.
I think informed consent is important, not just because we need it for data protection but because we want to reflect our desire to include people input in the design and implement of programs. Starting with informed consent shows we want people input. How do it can also show our intent. if its a paper work exercise our attitude will demonstrate it. If we use local staff and properly explain our intent as part of people right, for accountability purposes as well our desire for people to be fully involved in any subsequent programs then it can be a helpful process.
I would explain to him/her that asking for informed consent shows that I respect their right and that demonstrates to him/her that participation is voluntary. I would also point it out to him/her that asking for consent ensures that I am adhering to safeguarding, he/she should feel safe, not intimidated or forced to speak what he/she is not comfortable with.
Yes, Priscilla! It's so important to cultivate a space where people do not feel intimidated or forced to speak.
I think one of the most important thing is voluntary informed consent shows that I respect their right and she/he is comfortable to participate in our activities.
Informed consent may appear too formal but it is of paramount importance to seek consent before any activity in fulfilment of the humanitarian principle "do no harm". Seeking consent is vital in cases where the respondent's name, image or information acquired from the interview is bound to be used by the organisation or other partners. This will make the participant give an informed, voluntary and free consent without reservations.
Yes, there is a balance between the process of informed consent that we might need for our purposes (formal paperwork) and the need to ensure people are clear on who we are, on what we are asking them and their rights. The balance should be more towards the latter rather than the former but we still might need to have a minimum formality to assure our organisation (and donors?). Even the informality might seem strange to those we are speaking to and an understanding through working with local partners, trained staff from the area and possibly key informants will help to get the informality right.
Informed consent is paramount in any formative research process or community enquiry process. It helps to clear the air for both the investigator and respondent, it builds trust, confidence, encourages transparency. It also protects the investigator incase the client in the future makes claims of their interest not being met by the enquiry. It gives the client right to freedom, autonomy and dignity by the fact that it’s up to them to take part in the event or not basing on their judgement of the available information.
I will tell them, I know it's more formal, but some people annoyed if we take from their time and also to know why I'm asking why what is the benefit from this. because some people don't have time to ask them.
There are some really valuable thoughts in this discussion - which has also brought to mind some of the benefits for the person asking for consent. Besides just ticking a box so we can get on with our work, informed consent could go a long way to build a positive relationship with the community, and may even contribute to the safety of ourselves and our colleagues in tense or unstable environments. Making the effort to do informed consent could really aid our longer-term work in the community - you never know when you will be back.
I totally agree with you!
I think informed consent is important and should be formal, hence I will explain our organizational goals and objective of the informed consent, plus shows my respect for their social norms, privacy and also guaranteed for them the right to stop at any time without any negative consequence.
Yes! These are all such important points to remember--as someone who has participated in surveys it is always reassuring to know that it is totally fine to quit at any point...without consequence!
In this situation we should give them kind of feeling to see us part of their community and we should act like we feel the same pain or situation that they have been experiencing.
Besides, we should not use quite formal language but use local and friendly words and intonation and put us in their place than engage with this population.
I agree, Samim, being empathetic to people's situations can go a long way.
informed consent is especially important now in the digital age. People have rights surrounding the fair use of their data in all circumstances. We also as NGOs have to sign up to digital data management polices.
I will inform the respondents that we emphasize on Do no Harm policy where the privacy and acceptance of the respondents is paramount. That they need to know what we are intending to do and how the information will be used. And also at any point he/she will choose to stop incase of discomfort. That it is not a formality but a prerequisite to gain acceptance or readiness of the respondent to participate.
In such a scenario, i will explain to the person that it is our obligation they know where we are coming from. Again it is his/her right to know how we will use the information we are collecting. Also as the information will be used programmatically to better the area/ improve peoples life it is good to know that he/she has played a positive role in this. As an accountability aspect, there is need to explain that it is good to be transparent at all aspects of the project assessment, design and implementation thus this is one of the stages and the views of the respondents are respected.
If faced with such a scenario, I will calmly explain to the person the reason (s) why it is important to ask for consent,. To ensure that their understand their rights as respondents. I will also take time to break ice so as to assure the person that whatever, they say shall be confidential and at no time will their person details suffice in public.
This might be due to fatigue, especially in emergency context, where different organizations have conducted different assessments and maybe nothing is forthcoming
Informed consent is non-negotiable for UNICEF, so this would not be an acceptable response :) it is part of ensuring that we do no harm and are using rights based approaches in all of our actions. This doesn't have to be 'formal' in a format that people wouldn't understand or would be uncomfortable with, but it does need to be clear who we are, what the purpose is, whether there are incentives for participating, and that there are absolutely no consequences of not participating or ending an interview or activity early.
The information obtained from an individual might be too personal and thus it may hamper their life/ life style or an individual. Thus, in order to prevent such incident informed consent is necessary.
The community under any disaster or outbreak are mentally and physically retarded and they need someone to come and give support in a good manner. Asking consent one of the polite behavior that the data collection staff may ask that will not only make them realize that the staff is here to support them as well as will build confidence at both sides.
One cannot determine that the interviewee is educated person and knows a lot about the response or may be illiterate person but in both cases the consent are mostly welcomed and is good gesture to collect data.
Similarly, in few instances, the sequence of questions and the expertise of the data collector matters. The data collector must be well oriented about the questions, the agenda and the final support that is planned. Do No Harm is one of the aspect that the data collector must know and know the prevailing culture and traditions of the displacement people and disaster affected community.
One must know the religious beliefs, the way of greetings, communications and the on ground Governmental bodies responding to the affected community at that point in time.
To conclude, the consent must be taken as it is ones right and the culture that the women need to be photographed is highly important so that they women may not be targeted as wrong practice.
It will be crucial to know, if the consent form are legally binding?
Sometime we land up being being very casual and not using consent form while taking pictures for reports, donor reports and others. It will be important to know when do we use consent from beyond WASH'em assessment.
Informed consent is important to ensure that the beneficiaries participate voluntarily to design context-based interventions. In human rights-based programming, we must genuinely put people at the center and that is not possible without the informed consent. In pursuit of obtaining the accurate information it is utmost important to make the intentions and objectives clear to the respondents through the informed consent. Even if it seems too formal, it protects both the investigator and the respondent by ensuring well informed and understood responses.
Couple of points from experiences at the field level. Firstly, while obtaining Informed consent, - formal or otherwise, one needs to ensure that the participant fully understand the objectives of the survey; and his/her role in it. Often, this is not the case, because of many barriers that may exist, which results in an incomplete comprehension of the process. This is incorrect and should be avoided at all costs. The involvement of a locally engaged surveyor, - someone whom the respondent is familiar with; or at least someone who speaks the local language dialect, is helpful in this. Second is the issue of expectation of assistance by the respondent, who may be in a difficult situation from the disaster. One can say 'dont expect any help from us' , but this is a very sensitive manner, and often surveyors themselves are not able to respond with adequate sensitiveness.
In such a case I would ask them to place themselves in the interviewee's shoes and how they would feel if a random researcher just suddenly came asking all these information from them without a proper explanation, during a time when they are vulnerable. Informed consent shows respect for the person being interviewed and assures them that the data will be used to help the community and that they can withdraw participation at any point. Informed consent must be explained in an easy to understand manner to help build trust and rapport which is very important in doing interviews and research.