Written by The Pan-African Bioethics Initiative (PABIN), in collaboration with the Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Western Pacific (FERCAP) and the Strategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in Ethical Review (SIDCER), organized a training and survey workshop at Haramaya University’s College of Health and Medical Sciences in Harrar from March 3 to 7, 2025. The initiative aims to ensure that research ethics professionals and committees uphold the highest standards of knowledge and practice.
The workshop played a vital role in strengthening research ethics quality, with SIDCER leading a joint review and accreditation survey. Experts and trainees conducted the survey, while selected Institutional Review Board (IRB) members from AHRI, EPHI, EMA, SPHMMC, and AAU-CHS participated in the training. Meanwhile, Haramaya University’s IRB underwent an evaluation for potential SIDCER recognition.
Representatives from SIDCER facilitated the program as part of PABIN’s broader effort to build capacity among African IRB members and enhance national and continental ethics review systems. The SIDCER surveyors team was composed of three experts lead by prof. Juntra Karbwang president of the FERCAP-SIDCER while Dr. Supatra Porasuphatana and Dr. Chanika Ang were key facilitators of the training as well as the survey. The Haramaya University Research Ethics Committee highlighted the value of the training and expressed eagerness to collaborate with institutions like AHRI and PABIN to achieve international research ethics recognition.
Currently, three Ethiopian IRBs — AHRI, AAU-CHS, and EPHI — have achieved SIDCER recognition. This workshop contributes to expanding that success, strengthening ethics review practices, and fostering sustainable research governance across the region.
