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Zimbabwe is in the process of developing new medical research legislation aimed at modernizing its approach to health research. This initiative seeks to address concerns such as outdated laws, lack of data transparency, and dependence on foreign funding. By fostering local research initiatives and collaborations between academia and industry, Zimbabwe aims to enhance its capacity for medical research and innovation, aligning with national priorities and advancing towards its Vision 2030 goals.

Ofsted inspectors are reportedly fabricating evidence due to frequent crashes in the electronic evidence gathering (EEG) system introduced in 2018. The Observer's investigation reveals anonymous claims that senior Ofsted leaders have known and covered these technical problems. Critics argue that inspections over the past five years should be invalidated if widespread evidence fabrication is true. Ofsted insists that judgments are backed by sufficient evidence, but the Observer found evidence of potential issues in Ofsted's written response to a school's complaint about missing evidence.

According to the UNDP, corruption costs the world roughly $2.6 trillion annually. The Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime acknowledged that current methodologies to measure corruption are often unclear, with questions around the accuracy and reliability of available numbers and statistics. Estimates are based on limited indicators, while some frameworks prioritize narrow groups of stakeholders and their perceptions. UNODC is developing a comprehensive statistical framework to enhance accurate corruption measurement, supporting countries worldwide with capacity-building and technical guidance to combat corruption.

A new study highlights the necessity of training Research Ethics Committees (RECs) in Sub-Saharan Africa to manage the ethical and legal complexities inherent in data-intense research, particularly concerning data protection and sharing. Findings reveal a lack of awareness among REC members regarding existing laws at the national level, possibly resulting in research data crossing borders without appropriate agreements or permits. Establishing transparent and standardized data governance could foster shared ethical values and ensure responsible big data research practices across the subcontinent.