//SNECFA project conclusion workshop in Cameroon

SNECFA project conclusion workshop in Cameroon

The project “Strengthening National Ethics Committees in West and Central Francophone Africa (SNECFA)” concluded with a successful workshop in Yaoundé, Cameroon on 1-3 October 2024. The workshop brought together representatives from the national ethics committees of Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Niger, as well as experts from the Cameroon Bioethics Initiative (CAMBIN). Ms Nuraan Fakier, Project Officer, EDCTP Association, attended virtually.

The workshop, led by Dr Mbih Jerome Tosam, the Project Coordinator, reviewed and highlighted the project’s achievements, challenges, and future perspectives in strengthening the capacity of national ethics committees in Francophone West and Central Africa.

Key achievements of the SNECFA project:

  • Capacity Building: CAMBIN organised training workshops on the principles of health research ethics in the four countries involved in the project (Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Niger).
  • Standard Operating Procedures: CAMBIN worked with Chad, Mali and Niger to develop standard operating procedures for the review of research protocols during routine and emergency health situations.
  • Collaboration: The participating countries developed collaboration plans, engaged in collaboration, and sharing of experiences in the domain of health research ethics.
  • Clinical Trial Community: All countries involved in the project have provided information on the Clinical Trials Community online platform.

Overall, the closing workshop provided a valuable platform for participants to share experiences, identify challenges, and discuss strategies for improving the collaboration between national ethics committees and researchers in the region. The workshop concluded with discussions on potential areas for future collaboration, including the publication of a special issue on strengthening health research capacity in Francophone West and Central Africa, and aims to expand the SNECFA project to include more countries.