Africa Launches World’s First Good Research Management Practice Standard

Africa has achieved a major milestone in research governance with the launch of the world’s first Good Research Management Practice (GRMP) Standard , ARS 1024:2025, developed by the Science for Africa (SFA) Foundation in partnership with the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO).

The launch, held on 16 October 2025, marks a turning point for research institutions across the continent, providing a unified framework to strengthen governance, ethics, accountability, and institutional performance.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Tom Kariuki, CEO of the SFA Foundation, described the GRMP Standard as “a landmark achievement that positions Africa as a leader in defining excellence in research management.” Dr. Evelyn Gitau, Chief Scientific Officer at SFA Foundation, added that the standard “reflects Africa’s growing capacity to set its own benchmarks for quality and impact.”

Dr. Jordan Kyongo of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) emphasized that the new framework builds funder confidence by ensuring stronger systems for accountability and resource management.

The standard aligns with the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (STISA-2024) and calls for greater investment in research infrastructure and compliance.

As a key partner in advancing research management excellence across West Africa, WARIMA commends this milestone, which reinforces Africa’s leadership in setting global standards for research governance and institutional integrity.

      The GRMP Standard represents Africa’s commitment to professionalism, sustainability, and self-defined excellence in science.