The grantee community finds itself following multiple standards as it seeks to ensure that its research systems keep pace with changing requirements. At the same time, funders seek efficient and effective implementation of research practices. To address these challenges, the SFA Foundation, in partnership with the African Organization for Standardization, is developing an African Standard for Good Research Management Practice (GRMP) to address the needs and expectations of both the grantee and grantor communities for rigourous and efficient research management across Africa.
A current Technical Draft GRMP standard was developed through consensus among multiple stakeholders including over a hundred research managers from different institutions in 25 countries. It specifies the requirements for organisations of any type, size and complexity to meet the established standards for good research management practice. The GRMP standard can also be used:
Members of the REMACS Africa steering committee provide strategic guidance for programmatic implementation to address systemic challenges stymieing the creation and sustenance of enabling research environments at African institutions.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and Data Science policy gaps from an African perspective. The African STI landscape is witnessing the emergence of AI and Data Science across various sectors. However, for these technologies to have their full positive impact, it is crucial to develop trust among stakeholders and formulate contextualized policies that support their implementation in the region. This grant aims to address these areas by:
" If scientific results are not shared broadly, then the societal benefits are significantly limited. We have a responsibility to ensure that policymakers have access to the best, relevant and up-to-date knowledge available. To achieve Africa’s sustainable development goals, it is critical that policy decisions are informed by contextually relevant evidence”. - Uzma Alam, SPEAR programme lead.