Preamble
Research ICT Africa (RIA) undertakes rigorous research to inform digital policy and data governance to develop a reliable and valid body of scientific knowledge to accelerate economic inclusion and social justice in Africa.
This code of ethics aims to protect the welfare of groups and individuals with whom and on whom we conduct research as well as to guide the behaviour and expectations of our researchers, research partners and other stakeholders.
RIA’s researchers are guided by values that foster curiosity, civility, compassion, courage and collaboration, as well as aiming to be critical and provide credible evidence.
RIA commits to:
- Conducting research with integrity;
- Conducting research with compassion and care for the individuals and groups involved in our research;
- Conducting our research with dignity by protecting the rights of individuals and groups involved in our research; and
- Upholding ethical standards of conduct and proper procedures to ensure accountability and transparency.
Protection of individuals and groups involved in the research process
Individuals and groups involved as research participants should not be harmed in the course of or as a consequence of RIA’s research.
RIA’s researchers respect the autonomy of research participants, and obtain their informed, voluntary consent, when appropriate, to participate in the research.
RIA’s researchers respect the right of individuals to refuse to participate in research and to withdraw their participation at any stage.
The privacy and confidentiality interests of research participants must be taken into account and information obtained in the course of research that may reveal the identity of a participant or an institution should be treated as confidential unless the participant or institution agrees to its release.
Publication and communication of data
RIA has the right to ensure that our research results are not manipulated or taken out of context by funders or users of our research.