Includovate is a systems change research incubator. Like a business incubator that grows businesses, we develop research talent across low- and middle-income countries. Includovate’s methodology challenges traditional research assumptions by adopting feminist, inclusive, and participatory approaches that critically interrogate implicit biases and systemic inequities. Here are the key ways it does so:
1. Interrogating Traditional Constructs
Traditional research often relies on preloaded constructs (e.g., “high achieving” or “disabled”) shaped by social, historical, and cultural assumptions. Includovate challenges these constructs by questioning their relevance and ensuring they reflect the lived realities of marginalised groups. It emphasises the need to critically analyse research frameworks’ assumptions, moving beyond standardised definitions to contextualised understandings.
2. Contribution Analysis
Instead of focusing solely on causal relationships, Includovate employs contribution analysis to assign importance to various factors influencing outcomes. This method acknowledges complexity and avoids oversimplifying phenomena, which is common in traditional methodologies. Contribution analysis highlights interactions between variables, providing a nuanced understanding of systemic barriers and enablers.
3. Feminist Epistemology
Includovate applies feminist principles to reframe knowledge production, challenging patriarchal norms embedded in traditional epistemologies. This includes prioritising relational approaches and valuing diverse voices in the research process. By centring gender equality and social inclusion, it shifts research from hierarchical models to collaborative ones.
4. Participatory Methods
Traditional research often excludes marginalised groups from decision-making processes. Includovate integrates participatory methods that treat community members as co-researchers, ensuring their perspectives shape research design and outcomes. This approach dismantles power imbalances and fosters shared ownership of knowledge production.
5. Decolonising Research Practices
Includovate actively works to decolonise research by involving local researchers and ensuring findings are accessible to communities involved. This contrasts with traditional “extractive” research models that prioritise external expertise over local knowledge.Â
6. Storytelling and accessibility
Includovate wants research findings to reach more people excluded from mainstream messaging.
– Here is a YouTube video we worked on with our client to make an evaluation more accessible
–Here is a podcast we developed for a client on feminist storytelling
–Here is an example of us turning an evaluation report into an infographic that is easier to read.
–Developing toolkits to help others be more inclusive and intentional about their work.
7. Addressing Implicit Bias
By making assumptions explicit through critical reflection, Includovate avoids perpetuating biases that often go unchallenged in traditional methodologies.
This iterative process ensures that research outcomes are grounded in evidence rather than preconceived notions.
8. Systemic Change Orientation
Traditional research often focuses on theoretical contributions or isolated interventions. Includovate’s methodology aims for systemic change by addressing structural inequities and advocating for actionable solutions informed by inclusive data.
Figure 1 below shows how we pair researchers from the privileged research community for knowledge exchange.
In summary, Includovate challenges traditional research assumptions by emphasising inclusivity, feminist principles, critical analysis of constructs, and participatory methods that empower marginalised communities while driving systemic change in how research is conducted and by whom.
As a certified social enterprise, Includovate reinvests most of its profits to further its mission. Dr. Kristie Drucza was inspired to start Includovate due to her experiences working in Ethiopia and observing systemic issues in research practices and inclusion. She noticed that international researchers often conducted “fly-in, fly-out” studies without involving local communities, creating a neocolonial dynamic where knowledge was inaccessible to those it was meant to benefit. This lack of inclusion particularly affected marginalised groups, such as people with disabilities and female-headed households in agricultural sectors, who were often overlooked in data collection and analysis. Her passion for building partnerships and driving systems change to promote social inclusion motivated her to establish Includovate as a feminist research incubator. The organisation aims to decolonise research by empowering researchers from low-income countries and marginalised backgrounds, equipping them with analytical skills, writing techniques, and opportunities for collaboration. Dr. Drucza’s commitment to addressing exclusion and inequality through innovative research practices lies at the heart of Includovate’s mission.