Experience of the National Research Fund of Mozambique

Abstract

The rapid growth of research units on the African continent has been identified as a preponderant factor in achieving their development. However, this assumption remains a mirage and demands from science managers a deep reflection on the practices of integrity and ethics in research in order to reinforce the quality of its results. Our reflection on the relevance of Integrity and Ethics in research practice, taking the case of Mozambique as an example based on the analysis of legislation and experiences of the National Research Fund (FNI) of Mozambique. The results demonstrated a commitment by the government to boost research based on integrity and ethics, which is evidenced by the fact that in 2007 the country approved the Code of Ethics for Science and Technology through Decree n. 71/2007, of December 24th. However, the rapid growth of research institutions (Universities, institutes and research centers) in the last ten years and the promotion of research by the FNI and other organizations has raised the largest scientific production in the country, with emphasis on the health area that between 2014 -2018 concentrated 60% of all publications in the country. In this way, several government initiatives (MCTES-FNI) and with partners such as UNESCO, are underway to boost national ethics committees in Mozambique.