By Fatoumata Joof
The Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), Professor Pierre Gomez, on Wednesday, 23 April 2025, presided over the validation of the draft National Research, Development and Innovation (NaRDIC) Bill, Research Excellence Assessment Framework (REAF), and the National Research Regulations.
The validation workshop brought together various stakeholders to review and endorse three critical instruments designed to strengthen national research regulation and governance.
In his opening remarks, the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, revealed that the National Research Regulations represent a transformative step in their collective mission to establish a robust, ethical, and forward-thinking research and innovation ecosystem in The Gambia.
He added that the research regulationsaddress the urgent need for clarity, coordination, and consistency in research governance, a need that has long been evident in the nation.
He noted that in recent years, The Gambia has faced significant challenges in research, including limited funding, inadequate regulatory oversight, and the detrimental effects of unregulated research publications.
These issues he said has underscored the necessity for decisive action, and that The Gambia government, through MoHERST, has responded by drafting these instruments to foster a future built on trust, transparency, and research-driven development.
He advanced that his Ministry’s role in research governance is threefold, focusing on Policy Leadership, Strategic Coordination, and Capacity Building.
Through these pillars, he said MoHERST has provided strategic direction, united diverse stakeholders from academia, government, civil society and the private sector, and laid the foundational framework for research excellence and innovation.
He further highlighted key instruments and their Impact, which the NaRDIC Bill 2025 seeks to establish the National Research, Development and Innovation Council as the apex body for coordinating and regulating research and innovation in The Gambia.
He pointed out that NaRDIC will oversee stakeholder engagement, manage the National Research Fund, ensure compliance with ethical standards, and promote international research partnerships.
He further highlighted that NaRDIC’s leadership will align research with national development priorities. He advanced that the REAF is designed to evaluate and elevate the quality and impact of research across higher education and research institutions in The Gambia.
Hon. Prof. Gomez revealed that the REAF sets benchmarks for excellence, ensuring thatresearch outputs meet global standards, adding that The Gambia Research Regulations (GRR) provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for the ethical governance of all research conducted in the country.
The primary objective of the GRR is to safeguard the dignity, rights, and welfare of research participants, particularly vulnerable populations, while ensuring scientific and legal rigour.
He assured that MoHERST is committed to fostering collaboration across borders, sectors, and disciplines and will continue to build partnerships with universities, innovation hubs, industry stakeholders, and international research networks.
He said that this collaborative approach will integrate research into every facet of national development, ensuring it is a cornerstone of our sustainable future.
The Permanent Secretary at MoHERST, Ambassador Jainaba JAGNE, in her welcome remarks indicated that MoHERST developed a National Research Policy (NRP 2024–2029), which establishes the “what” and “why” of national research regulation.
She underscored that the three research governance frameworks are strategically aligned to the NRP and clearly outline the “how” they regulate, assess, support, and collectively ensure the highest standards of research excellence, ethics, and innovation.
The Director of Research at MoHERST, James Gomez revealed that the validated documents are interlinked and were developed in alignment with the goals and strategic priorities outlined in the National Research Policy 2024–2029, the latter which envisions a well-governed research landscape anchored on regulated and well-established research ethics, excellence, innovation, and inclusivity.
