​​​Ethics Review Committee, Tanzania

Chair: Dr.​ Fortidas Bakuza​

Secretary: Rickyo Kiwia​​​​​​​​​

The Aga Khan University – Tanzan​​​ia; Ethics Review Committee (ERC) provides an independent, competent and timely review of proposals intending to use human participants in research. It ensures that the research projects undertaken by AKU in Tanzania are of the highest ethical standards in relation to protecting the dignity and rights of human participants in the study. The committee draws its mandate via the accreditation of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COST​ECH). The committee received full accreditation in 2012. The AKU Tanzania’s ERC functions as per the COSTECH and National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) approved Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and Terms of Reference (ToR) with regards to its objectives, functions, the scope of responsibility, composition and documentation.​

​​​Members of the ERC 

The AKU Tanzania ERC is a multidisciplinary team of experienced professionals who are sensitive to gender issues. It comprises medical scientists, clinicians, public health specialists, sociologists, laypersons, education experts, theologians, lawyers, and health system management specialists. The members are carefully selected and appointed for a term of two years, while the chairperson serves for three years and may be reappointed at the university's discretion.​

​​Review Process

The committee convenes quarterly but may hold additional meetings based on the volume of submissions received. Depending on the level of risk involved, research proposals undergo either a full commit​​tee review, an expedited review, or an exempt review process. Full committee review applications must be submitted to the research office at least two weeks before the meeting date.

ERC Forms

​​​Application form Social Science and Humanities

Application form Health Sciences

​Procedure for Ethics Clearance

ERC Members

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For submissions and queries related to ethics review, please contact Ms. Rickyo Kiwia, ERC Secretary.​