Humanitarian and Developmental Research Engagement during COVID-19

A Remote Research Approach

Abstract

Background: Floods and storms are the most common natural hazards. Communities in remote, riparian areas are the most vulnerable in such disasters, particularly when local populations lack reliable energy and early warning systems for hazard response. Our study will investigate energy and flood resilience issues in such communities and use remote methods to enable research continuity in intra and post-pandemic contexts.

Methods/Design: A two-round Delphi process will be used to interview 16 participants from Nepal and Greece to understand their priorities and preferred solutions for energy and flood resilience issues. In Round One we aim to understand the current capabilities and vulnerabilities of our focus communities in these areas. In Round Two, we seek feedback on potential options that are either market-available/evidence-informed solutions or co-developed conceptual systems. Remotely deployed semi-structured interviews are the principal method for both rounds. The Round Two structured comparative review also employs choice-based conjoint analysis and SCORE analysis.

Discussion: By collecting information from both professionals and non-experts, we aim to understand what options are perceived as reliable, realistic and appropriate for flood-prone communities. The remote research design enables continuity and community access to development-focused research and its outputs, and a flexible, cost-effective approach for researchers and partner organizations.