The three-year agreement creates the first regional parliamentary framework dedicated to advancing evidence-informed clinical research policy, healthΒ innovationΒ and stronger health systems across the Great Lakes Region.Β
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and HARARE, Zimbabwe, July 16, 2026Β β The Forum of Parliaments of the Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) and the Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic framework for parliamentary cooperation on clinical research, health innovation and evidence-informed policymaking.Β
Signed Β byΒ Ambassador Dr. Deo Mwapinga, Secretary General of FP-ICGLR, andΒ Dr. Tariro Makadzange, Chief Executive Officer of ACRN, the partnership represents one of the first structured regional parliamentary initiatives in Africa dedicated specifically to strengthening legislative engagement on clinical research governance and health innovation.Β
The agreementΒ establishesΒ mechanisms for parliamentary dialogue, technical cooperation, peerΒ learningΒ and country-level initiatives that will support Member Parliaments in developing legislative and policy environments that enable responsible clinical research while protecting research participants and strengthening public accountability.Β
Clinical research is increasingly recognised as a strategic pillar for resilient health systems, pharmaceutical manufacturing, regulatory development, healthΒ securityΒ and sustainable economic growth. Yet despite carrying a significant share of the global disease burden, AfricaΒ remainsΒ underrepresented in clinical research, limiting opportunities to generate locally relevant evidence and health innovations.Β
Building sustainable research ecosystems therefore requires more than scientific excellence. It also depends on strong legislative frameworks, effective public oversight, ethical governance and sustained public investmentβall areas in which parliaments play a fundamental constitutional role.Β
As the parliamentary institution of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), FP-ICGLR is uniquely positioned to facilitate regional cooperation among its twelve Member Parliaments, promoting the exchange of experience and encouraging evidence-informed approaches to legislation, oversight and public policy while fully respecting national constitutional processes.Β
“Parliamentary leadership is indispensable in creating the legislative and policy environments that allow responsible clinical research to flourish while protecting participants and ensuring accountability for public resources,”Β saidΒ Ambassador Dr. DeoΒ Mwapinga, Secretary General of FP-ICGLR.Β “Through this cooperation, our MemberΒ Parliaments will gain greater access to technical expertise, comparative regional experience and practical tools that strengthen evidence-informed policymaking, while continuing to exercise their constitutional responsibilities according to their respective national legislative processes.”Β
Areas of CooperationΒ
The Memorandum of UnderstandingΒ establishesΒ a comprehensive framework for collaboration centred on strengthening parliamentary capacity and regional cooperation.Β
A key feature of the partnership is the establishment of aΒ Joint Clinical Research and Health Innovation Task Force, anchored under the FP-ICGLR Committee on Humanitarian and Social Issues. The Task Force will bring together parliamentary leaders and technical experts toΒ identifyΒ emerging legislative and policy challenges affecting clinical research and to develop practical resources for consideration by FP-ICGLR and Member Parliaments.Β
The partners will alsoΒ establishΒ aΒ Parliamentary Awareness,Β ChampionsΒ and Peer Learning PlatformΒ to provide structured capacity-building for parliamentarians, parliamentaryΒ staffΒ and FP-ICGLR personnel. The platform willΒ facilitateΒ exchanges with clinical research institutions, medicines regulatory authorities, ethics committees, universities, industryΒ representativesΒ and other stakeholders involved in health innovation across Africa.Β
Recognising the importance of translating regional cooperation into practical outcomes, FP-ICGLR and ACRN will jointlyΒ identifyΒ twoΒ initialΒ country-level pilot initiatives. These pilots will test innovative parliamentary approaches, generate practicalΒ lessonsΒ and inform future regional policy engagement.Β
βScientific expertise alone is not sufficient to build a sustainable research ecosystem,β Makadzange said. βCountries also need institutions, policies and public decisions that are informed by evidence. Parliamentarians haveΒ an important roleΒ through legislation,Β oversightΒ and budget scrutiny. This regional cooperation creates a practical way to connect technical knowledge with parliamentary processes and strengthen the institutions that support health innovation over time.βΒ
The cooperation will consider a broad range of policy issues affecting responsible clinical research, including regulatory and ethics governance, participant protection and informed consent, research financing, governance of health data and biological samples, post-trial access, local manufacturing, pandemicΒ preparednessΒ and broader health system resilience.Β
The Memorandum of UnderstandingΒ establishesΒ a framework for long-term cooperation. Financial arrangements for individual activities will be agreed separately by the parties.Β
About ACRNΒ
The Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) is an African-led organisation dedicated to strengthening the continent’s clinical research ecosystem. Working with healthcare institutions, investigators, regulators,Β industryΒ and public-sector partners, ACRN builds capacity for high-quality clinical trials through workforce development, site readiness, regulatoryΒ coordinationΒ and data-driven research delivery. Its mission is to expand access to clinical research while accelerating the development of medicines and health innovations that respond to Africa’s health priorities.Β
About FP-ICGLRΒ
The Forum of Parliaments of the Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) is the inter-parliamentary institution of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, comprising the national parliaments ofΒ Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic ofΒ the Congo, the Republic ofΒ the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.Β
Headquartered in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, FP-ICGLR promotes parliamentary cooperation in support of the implementation of the ICGLR Pact on Peace, Security, Stability and Development. The Forum advances harmonised legislative action, parliamentary oversight, regionalΒ integrationΒ and dialogue to foster peace, democratic governance, sustainableΒ developmentΒ and resilience throughout the Great Lakes Region.Β
Media ContactsΒ
Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN)
coms@acrnhealth.com
FP-ICGLR Secretariat
secretariat@fpcirgl.org
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