United States- Francophone Africa Research Ethics Training Program (US-FA RETP)

Project Summary/Abstract The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWSPH) has vast experience in international research ethics education, training, and research in research ethics in Africa. The main aim of the US-FA RETP project is to strengthen research ethics education and research in Mali, Guinea, and Francophone African countries to prepare the next generation of ethics researchers. Our approach will be based on continuing close collaboration between GWSPH, USA, and the University of Science, Techniques & Technologies of Bamako (USTTB) Mali as a hub to support USTTB’s vision of becoming a regional focus for research ethics in French-speaking countries in West Africa. USTTB is the premier health professional education and training institution in Mali and is the major center for ethics research in the region. The overall goal of the United States- Francophone Africa Research Ethics Training Program (US-FA RETP) is to strengthen research ethics education and research in Mali, Guinea, and Francophone African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo) through an innovative model of sustainable capacity development to prepare the next generation ethics researchers. The aims of the program are, Aim 1: To enhance the pedagogical and curricular strengths of faculty at a selected Francophone African institution to deliver a short-term, hybrid research ethics course and mentoring. Aim 2: To expand the research ethics specialization within the existing USTTB Master of Public Health (MPH) program to train a core group of professionals with expertise in research ethics in Mali, Guinea, and Francophone Africa. Aim 3: To promote research around key priorities for research ethics in Francophone West Africa. Aim 4: To hold a dedicated “Francophone Africa Research Ethics Conference” in Mali. The US-FA RETP program will be implemented by GWSPH faculty in collaboration with USTTB faculty and other regional experts. The ethics research will align with the national and regional priority national research agenda, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases. The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree training program with a concentration in research ethics will include mentorship/multiple mentorships, coursework, mentored research projects, and training in grant and scientific writing and presentation skills. The degree program is designed to run for 2 years. Three cohorts of 6 students each will be recruited over the 5-year grant period. The short-term workshops will be run once each year, while the faculty development programs will have health research ethics components embedded in them.