Africa-Press – Gambia. In a decisive move to modernize and regulate the country’s research landscape, The Gambia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) on Wednesday hosted a validation workshop for three key policy instruments designed to enhance the governance, ethics, and quality of scientific inquiry nationwide.
The workshop, held at a hotel in Kololi, brought together policymakers, academics, and institutional stakeholders to finalize the Draft National Research Bill, the Research Excellence Assessment Framework (REAF), and the National Research Regulation—documents that officials describe as cornerstones of a new era in Gambian research and innovation.
At the center of the draft legislation is the proposal to establish a National Research, Development, and Innovation Council, envisioned as the apex coordinating body for research in the country. The Council would oversee ethical compliance, manage a national research fund, engage with stakeholders, and promote international collaboration, all while aligning research priorities with national development objectives.
Flanking the legislative effort is the REAF, which seeks to implement a standardized evaluation system to measure the quality, impact, and relevance of research outputs at higher education institutions. The framework is intended to raise academic standards and ensure that research conducted in The Gambia meets both local and global benchmarks.
Complementing these initiatives is the National Research Regulation, a policy document that establishes guidelines for the ethical oversight of research involving human subjects. Officials emphasized that the regulation is particularly focused on protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring legal accountability, while fostering a culture of scientific rigor.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Higher Education underscored the historical gaps in the country’s research governance and called the new policy instruments “transformative.”
“These documents represent a transformative step in our collective mission to establish a robust, ethical, and forward-thinking research and innovation ecosystem in The Gambia. They address the urgent need for clarity, coordination, and consistency in research governance, a need that has long been evident in our nation,” He Said.
The Ministry’s Director of Research emphasized the alignment of the three instruments with the 2024–2029 National Research Policy, which outlines a vision of an ethical, inclusive, and excellence-driven research environment.
“Today is a day of work. A day of critical thinking, discussion and deliberation. As we validate the three instruments, I urge stakeholders to take time to review using the critical eye of a researcher and the patriotic heart of a nation-builder. Your contributions will ensure that we build a governance structure that is robust, visionary, compliant, and enabling for generations of researchers to come,” He Said.
The Permanent Secretary praised the initiative as a product of homegrown expertise and national commitment, noting that the policy drafts were developed internally with contributions from Gambian scholars and collaborators.
“This work was neither done overnight, nor was it outsourced. It was developed by the hands and minds of Gambians and friends close to The Gambia, who favourably responded to theHonorable Minister’s urgent call for concerted action. And what a remarkable response we received. Work began in earnest at the Ministry’s modest Conference Hall,” She Said.
MoHERST now plans to deepen its partnerships with universities, innovation centers, private industry, and international research networks. According to officials, the overarching goal is to embed research across all sectors of national life and position it as a driver of sustainable development.
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