Framework for extended community engagement in research: A lifecycle approach

Abstract

This report delineates a literature review and framework for extended community engagement with Indigenous Peoples within the landscape of biological and genomic research. The resultant framework aims to dismantle the extractive paradigms that have historically characterised scientific inquiry, when engaging with Indigenous populations. By prioritising community agency, data sovereignty, and reciprocal benefit-sharing, this framework establishes an ethical standard grounded in collaboration and mutual respect. To ensure both theoretical depth and practical utility, the framework is supported by synthesis of academic literature and an evaluation of existing international guidelines. This is further supplemented by a portfolio of global case studies, which provide empirical validation. By examining exemplars in the field, the framework offers a bridge between theory and the effective realities of community-based research. This approach provides researchers with an actionable methodology to align their work with the priorities and sovereignty of participating communities. Through this integration of rigorous analysis and real-world application, this review outlining best practice in community engagement aims to ensure scientific outcomes are not only valid but also ethically and culturally sustainable. For the purposes of this review, Indigenous communities refer to Māori, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and other Indigenous peoples who maintain distinct histories, cultures, governance systems, and rights, with this work paying particular attention to the unique frameworks relevant to research conducted in partnership with them.