ARISE (Accountability and Responsiveness in Informal Settlements for Equity) is a research consortium that studies the living conditions of people in developing countries and advocates for equitable access to goods and services, particularly health care.

Background

ARISE, or Accountability and Responsiveness in Informal Settlements for Equity, is a research consortium that studies the living conditions of people in developing countries and advocates for equitable access to goods and services, particularly health care. ¹

ARISE was formed in 2019 with funding by UK Research and Innovation’s Global Challenges Research Fund. The project is projected to run for five years, and at the time of launching was said to consist of ten partners. ²

Activities

ARISE’s research and networking initiatives seek to generate data relating to developing world populations and provide humanitarian aid to urban populations living in low- and middle-income countries. ³

It claims that a rapidly growing number of people worldwide are becoming urbanized, largely living in informal dwellings. ⁴ This allegedly puts them at great risks that need to be abolished in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a list of 17 objectives established by the United Nations that includes “no poverty,” “zero hunger,” “gender equality,” “affordable and clean energy,” “decent work and economic growth,” “reduced inequalities,” “sustainable cities and communities,” “climate action,” and “peace, justice and strong institutions.” ⁵

ARISE describes its practices as data collection, building the capacity of aid organizations, and supporting people in the developing world to “exercise their right to health.” ⁶ It compiles testimony from third world peoples about “their experiences of inequities, wellbeing, health and governance.” With this data, it then approaches governments and other institutions accountable for the wellbeing of said settlements to press for solutions. It also works with “private actors,” government officials, and non-governmental organizations to “test new solutions.” ARISE also claims to document policy “failures” and incorporate what it has learned into new methodologies .⁷

ARISE offers a Ph.D. program, which is administered and taught by faculty from its partner organizations. ⁸

Partners

As of 2023, ARISE’s formal partners included the Kenya-based African Population and Health Research Centre, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences at the University of Sierra Leone, the India-based George Institute for Global Health, the U.K.-based Institute of Development Studies, the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow, the James P. Grant School of Public Health at BRAC University in Bangladesh, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Kenya-based Liverpool VCT Health, the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre at Njala University in Sierra Leone, Slum/Shack Dwellers International, and the University of York in the U.K. ⁹

In 2022, ARISE gave a total of $3,708,960 to housing group Slum Dwellers International, according to Slum Dwellers International’s annual report. ¹⁰

Leadership

As of 2023, ARISE’s staff was made up of researchers from its partners. It was not clear who was the leader of the organization. ¹¹ It is sponsored by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), and features a quote from LSTM research director Rachel Tolhurst on its team page. ^{12 13}

1. “Home.” Arise. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://www.ariseconsortium.org/.
2. “About Us.” Arise. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://www.ariseconsortium.org/about-us/.
3. “Home.” Arise. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://www.ariseconsortium.org/.
4. “Home.” Arise. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://www.ariseconsortium.org/.
5. “The 17 Goals.” United Nations. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
6. “About Us.” Arise. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://www.ariseconsortium.org/about-us/.
7. “Our approach.” Arise. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://www.ariseconsortium.org/our-approach/.
8. “PhD Programme.” Arise. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://www.ariseconsortium.org/about-us/phd-programme/.
9. “Partners.” Arise. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://www.ariseconsortium.org/about-us/partners/.
10. “SDI Annual Report 2021-2022.” SDI. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://sdinetorg-1c78b.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Annual-Report-2021-22.pdf.
11. “Team.” Arise. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://www.ariseconsortium.org/about-us/team/.
12. “About Us.” Arise. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://www.ariseconsortium.org/about-us/.
13. “Team.” Arise. Accessed October 22, 2023. https://www.ariseconsortium.org/about-us/team/.