Navigating the Gap: An Examination of Funder Rhetoric and Reality Regarding Community-Research Partnerships

Partnerships between researchers and consumers-specifically, people who use drugs in the context of our research co-production-can significantly enhance the relevance and impact of research. Funders increasingly emphasise the value of community-researcher collaborations, yet translating this commitment into effective practice remains challenging. This commentary draws from our experience in developing an application for a collaborative grant with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in Australia, focusing on issues that impact people who use drugs. We reflect on four key insights that emerged from the grant-writing process: (i) expectations and resources, highlighting the gap between the expectations of funding bodies, the way resourcing is used in academic contexts and the resources required for meaningful community involvement; (ii) grant success metrics, examining the disconnect between funding criteria and the realities of co-production; (iii) representation, addressing the challenges of ensuring equitable and authentic consumer participation; and (iv) sharing power, discussing how power dynamics between researchers and community members influence the research process. In conclusion, we propose that researchers must work with consumers to foster more equitable working relationships and ensure there are adequate resources to support meaningful collaborations. Funding bodies, in turn, need to reconsider success metrics and ensure that their processes are mindful of the practical requirements that are necessary to facilitate genuine, equitable partnerships between researchers and consumers.