Inspiring research in and for Africa.

Who is EthiXPERT

EthIXPERT is a non-profit Pan African organisation, which aims to build responsible and ethical research capacity in and for Africa.

Our contribution is centred on a vital global objective: to ensure that everyone in every African country can attain better health and an improved quality of life, with a strong emphasis on fairness and social justice. We empower the continent by promoting responsible and ethical research practices. Our core mission is to enhance the capacity for research ethics throughout Africa.

We acknowledge that research is dynamic, expensive, and competitive. As such, no single individual, organisation, or government can single-handedly realize the desired optimal health standards, quality of life and social development without the support of other institutions and the society at large. EthiXPERT therefore partners with relevant role players including decision-makers, research institutions, implementing agencies and funding organisations to identify important research gaps and to develop and deliver sustainable and culturally acceptable evidence-based solutions.

What is our impact?

The impact of EthIXPERT's work is profound and far-reaching. By championing ethical research, we contribute to saving lives and improving the overall health of the African continent. Our efforts resonate with the fundamental goal of achieving health equity and social justice. We believe that our commitment to ethical research can catalyse positive change, fostering a future where better health and improved quality of life are accessible to all across Africa. We are dedicated to improving the quality of life and health across Africa by promoting ethical research practices, ultimately saving lives and achieving better health for all.

Vision

Inspiring responsible and ethical research capacity in and for Africa.

We envision a future where:

  • Africa has a robust research ethics capacity, enabling local solutions to address health, quality of life, and social challenges.

  • We aim to facilitate partnerships with decision-makers, research institutions, agencies, and funders to create evidence-based solutions.

Mission

Our mission at EthIXPERT is to empower Africa by building the capacity for responsible and ethical research addressing critical health and social challenges through comprehensive training and tools for researchers, institutions, integrity officers, ethics committees, and administrators across the continent.

Values

At EthIXPERT, our core values form the foundation of our mission. We prioritise ethics, collaboration, and sustainability because we understand their pivotal role in promoting individual and societal well-being. Our commitment to research ethics is unwavering, recognising it as a cornerstone of progress. Collaboration drives our collective efforts, and sustainability guides us to create culturally relevant, evidence-based solutions.
  • Ubuntu: We embrace the spirit of Ubuntu, emphasising the interconnectedness of all people and the importance of collective well-being.

  • Care: Our deep care for individuals and communities is evident in every action we take, ensuring that the well-being of all is at the forefront of our mission.

  • Integrity: We uphold the highest standards of integrity in all our endeavours, fostering trust and transparency in every interaction.

  • Collaboration: Collaboration is the heartbeat of our work, as we believe that progress is best achieved through the collective strength of diverse perspectives and talents.

  • Fairness: We are unwavering in our commitment to fairness, advocating for equal opportunities and equitable outcomes for all, especially in the realm of research ethics.

Our Origin

The Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) is an international organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, with its main objective to strengthen research ethics capacity in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and to enable governments and institutions to find solutions for their health challenges. EthiXPERT has come to fruition as a result of COHRED’s dream for Africa, namely their desire to build the capacity of African institutions, enabling them to have adequate local knowledge, skills and expertise, and the tools to develop locally relevant solutions.

Founded by two former directors Prof Carel IJsselmuiden and Mrs Marzelle Haskins and the current CEO, Mr Francis Kombe, EthiXPERT was officially registered on 11 May 2018 in the Republic of South Africa under registration number 2018/289583/08. This Not-for-Profit Company has its head office in Pretoria, South Africa and is now driven by a new board of directors. This group of five experienced and committed non-executive directors will guide the work of EthiXPERT as it prepares for a new phase of development and growth under the leadership of the CEO.
COHRED is an international Not-for-Profit Company based in Geneva, Switzerland whose main objective is to strengthen research system capacity in LMICs and to enable governments and institutions to find solutions for their health, equity, and development challenges through research. COHRED does this through several initiatives, including the strengthening of the capacity of research ethics committees by enabling administrators, researchers, and reviewers to comprehensively manage the entire review cycle, including protocol submission, reviewing and approving protocols, and facilitating information management of RECs through an on-line platform called RHInnO Ethics. (https://www.cohred.org/).
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