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Navigating Power Differentials in Community-Based Participatory Research: A Case Study of the Design of a Governance Model for the Refugee States Project Cover

Navigating Power Differentials in Community-Based Participatory Research: A Case Study of the Design of a Governance Model for the Refugee States Project

Open Access
|Jan 2026

Figures & Tables

Figure 1

First and Second Governance Model Visualizations.

Figure 2

Refugee States Governance Model.

Figure 3

Taxonomy of Collective, Shared, and Distinct Spheres of Responsibility.

Table 1

Three Main Steps to the Spheres of Responsibility Decision-Making System.

Step 1Identify the issue for decision-making and note it explicitly as an agenda item. Clearly identify the issue for decision-making to avoid informal decisions.
Step 2Determine whether the issue falls under a distinct, shared, or collective sphere of responsibility based on accountability, using consultation process.
If the decision impacts institutions, organizations, or community members a collaborator is accountable to, then they must be part of the decision-making process as the issue falls under their sphere of responsibility.
Step 3Assign the Sphere of Responsibility to which the issue pertains:
  1. Collective issues. Decisions made through collective consultation with the purpose of achieving consensus.

  2. Distinct issues. Consensus and executive decision-making processes. When responsibilities fall under the purview of one stakeholder, the stakeholder can use consultation and consensus to arrive at a decision. However, the decision ultimately lies with the respective collaborator or organization.

  3. Shared issues. Consensus and executive decision-making processes. Decisions are to be made using consultation towards achieving consensus. However, the ability to veto decisions is crucially reserved for the most-affected and vulnerable stakeholders. Voting is reserved for matters of preference (ie. event poster colors).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33596/coll.140 | Journal eISSN: 2638-4396
Language: English
Page range: 1 - 1
Published on: Jan 29, 2026
Published by: University of Miami Libraries
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

© 2026 Maral Aguilera-Moradipour, Rui Liu, Moska Rokay, Caroline Keisha Foray, Thy Phu, Edward Ou Jin Lee, published by University of Miami Libraries
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.