Engaging Discussions and Key Insights

The discussions highlighted several critical gaps in current research ethics systems:
🔎 Ethics Capacity Gaps: The need to strengthen and update ethics training curricula to address emerging research areas.
🤖 Emerging Technology Challenges: Rapidly advancing fields such as AI, genomics, mental health, environmental ethics, and data governance require expanded expertise among committees and regulators.
⚖ REC System Disparities: Differences in review timelines, charges, and committee capacities present challenges for consistent ethical oversight.
📊 From Gaps to Frameworks: There is a shared recognition of the need to move beyond gap identification to developing practical frameworks, standards, and implementation mechanisms.

Outcomes of the Visit
The visit strengthened engagement between national oversight structures and continental bioethics initiatives. Key outcomes include:
1. Enhanced understanding of priority areas for ethics training and capacity development.
2. Agreement on the need for practical frameworks to guide responsible and impactful research.
3. Identification of opportunities to support robust research oversight and ensure ethical standards across institutions.
Looking Ahead
This engagement marks an important step in ABN’s ongoing efforts to support ethical research practices, policy development, and governance frameworks in Africa. The network will continue to work closely with NACOSTI to address these gaps and promote systems that uphold research integrity, national development, and protection of citizens.
                                            “We need to put a standard on ethics nationally”