Africa has set a new global precedent in science governance with the launch of the world’s first Good Research Management Practice (GRMP) Standard, a transformative milestone that positions the continent as a leader in defining excellence for the global research enterprise.

The ARS 1024:2025 GRMP Standard, developed by the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) in partnership with the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), was officially launched today, marking the beginning of a new era in how research institutions are governed, managed, and evaluated. The standard, first published in June 2025 during the 31st ARSO General Assembly in Zanzibar, codifies for the first time a unified, contextually relevant framework for the governance, ethics, infrastructure, and accountability of research.

“This is a landmark achievement for Africa’s science leadership,” said Prof Tom Kariuki, CEO of the SFA Foundation. “The GRMP Standard represents seven years of collaboration and dedication by experts across the continent. It is a strategic asset that strengthens the foundations of our research systems and ensures that African institutions not only meet international benchmarks but set them.”

Developed through a consensus-building process involving more than 150 experts from over 25 countries, the GRMP Standard provides a holistic, eight-component model covering governance, leadership, infrastructure, finance, training, monitoring, compliance, and ethics. It is designed to bring transparency, professionalism, and impact to research management, areas long constrained by fragmented systems and external dependencies.

“For too long, Africa has been a recipient of frameworks defined elsewhere,” noted Dr. Evelyn Gitau, Chief Scientific Officer at the SFA Foundation. “The GRMP Standard turns that narrative on its head. It is a benchmark of excellence defined by us, for us, and now, for the world. Africa is not just participating in the global research agenda; we are shaping it.”

The launch was officiated by Prof Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, Republic of Kenya, who urged African governments, universities, and research councils to be early adopters.

“Good research is a product of good management. This Standard sets a benchmark for how we conduct science that serves society. Let us take it not merely as a document but as a discipline, one that will redefine Africa’s place in global science.”

Prof Shaukat emphasised that the standard aligns with the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (STISA-2024) and called for renewed commitment toward allocating at least 1% of GDP to research and innovation, underpinned by strong accountability systems.

Across the continent, the GRMP Standard is seen as a response to long-standing systemic gaps that limit Africa’s research capacity. For example, with an average of only 20 health researchers per million people in Africa, compared to 246 per million in Europe, many institutions struggle with mentorship, infrastructure, and career development. The new Standard directly addresses these barriers by offering a clear framework for institutional growth, sustainability, and accountability.

“Modern research demands more than scientific expertise,” said Allen Mukhwana, Head of Programmes at the SFA Foundation. “It requires systems that ensure quality, trust, and impact. The GRMP Standard equips African institutions to grow sustainably, manage resources responsibly, and meet the expectations of funders, policymakers, and communities.”

International development partners have welcomed the standard as a powerful tool for assurance and collaboration.

“For funders like us, this is a game-changer,” said Dr Jordan Kyongo, Representative of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in Kenya. “It gives us confidence that institutions are ready to manage resources effectively and deliver meaningful results. It speaks to value for money, trust, and the promise of impact.”

Yolisa Nalule, Research Ecosystem Lead Africa, Wellcome described the GRMP as “the invisible architecture of research” made visible. “For years, due-diligence frameworks have been imported from the Global North, often ill-suited to African realities. This standard is catalytic — it allows funders to align assurance and accountability with local context, and it signals Africa’s growing capacity for self-defined excellence.”

Philip Okungu, Documentation and Information Manager at ARSO, noted that reaching consensus across such a wide range of experts was no mean feat in standardisation. “Defining the scope and building consensus is usually difficult,” he said. “This is the world’s first research management standard, an international benchmark built from African expertise, that is fit for purpose. We have every reason to celebrate.”

The SFA Foundation has announced a suite of tools to accelerate adoption, including a GRMP Implementation Guide, tailored training programmes, a self-assessment portal, and a certification scheme to reduce audit burdens and strengthen institutional trust.

“This launch is not the end; it is the beginning,” said Prof. Kariuki. “We will lead from the front in implementing this standard across Africa and beyond.”

With the GRMP Standard, Africa stands at the forefront of redefining what excellence in research management looks like, rooted in professionalism, local ownership, and global relevance.

Media Enquiries
SFA Foundation | Natasha Kiiru | [email protected]  
African Organisation for Standardisation | Nadine Umutoni | [email protected]