Insider-outsider reflections: researching disaster risk management and climate change adaptation in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Abstract

Purpose In this paper, I critically reflect on my research positionality in conducting disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) research in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Positioned both as an insider, due to my cultural and contextual familiarity, and as an outsider, due to my academic and professional affiliations, I explore the complexities of navigating this dual identity. This reflection examines how my positionality influences the research process: access to data, interactions with stakeholders, trust-building and the interpretation of findings. Design/methodology/approach The design is rooted on a critical reflexive examination of how my positionality influences the research processes, stakeholder engagement, data interpretation and overall knowledge production. Findings My dual insider-outsider status brought both advantages and challenges. As an insider, cultural familiarity, local knowledge and shared identity facilitated trust, access to key stakeholders and deeper contextual understanding, while my outsider positionality, influenced by academic affiliations ensured research rigor but sometimes led to power imbalances and scepticism among local participants. Navigating this required reflexivity to balance engagement, minimise bias and uphold ethical knowledge production. The findings underscore that researcher positionality is dynamic and context-dependent, shaping data collection, stakeholder interactions and research interpretation. Originality/value This paper acknowledges power dynamics, ethics and biases in research, promoting methodological transparency. It contributes to discussions on positionality and reflexivity in disaster risk and climate change adaptation studies, with a focus on urban African contexts.