NRF GRC Working Group Leadership Advances Global Responsible Research Assessment

The NRF has played a leading global role in the advancement of responsible research evaluation following the successful launch of two major international tools at the 14th Global Research Council (GRC) Annual Meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand.

The GRC Responsible Research Assessment (RRA) Working Group launched the:

• Practical Guide for Implementing Responsible Research Assessment, published on 11 May 2026, and
• RRA Self-Assessment Tool, published on 12 May 2026.

These resources support research funding organisations worldwide to strengthen, modernise and align their research assessment systems.

The launch reflects the NRF’s wider role in the GRC as a platform for science diplomacy, where South Africa contributes to global research funding norms; strengthens international partnerships; and supports more inclusive approaches to research governance.

NRF Leadership at the Forefront of Global Reform

The Working Group is co-chaired by Ms Nosisa Dube, Director of Evaluation and Impact Assessment at the NRF, and who represents the Global South, alongside Dr Shawn McGuirk of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canada, as representative of the Global North.

Through this role, the NRF contributes directly to global efforts to strengthen how research is assessed, supported and recognised across diverse research systems.

Under this joint leadership, the Working Group brings together over 25 members from 24 countries to ensure that its outputs reflect a truly global perspective. The group is supported by a distributed secretariat from NSERC in Canada; UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in the United Kingdom; and the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) in Namibia, reinforcing inclusive global representation and collaboration.

The GRC RRA Working Group aims to position research funders as leading voices in the promotion and implementation of responsible research assessment across the global research and innovation system.

The work of the GRC RRA Working Group is significant because research assessment shapes what institutions value; what researchers are rewarded for; and how excellence, impact, integrity and inclusion are understood across research systems.

From Dialogue to Action: Side event drives global engagement

The official launch at the Annual Meeting followed a high-level side-event held on 18 May 2026, titled Enhancing and Navigating Global Initiatives: The role of research funding organisations in international R&I movements on research assessment reform.

The event was convened in collaboration with Science Europe, represented by Dr Lidia Borrell-Damian, General Secretary, along with Dr James Morris, Senior Policy Officer, and the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), represented by Dr Giovanna Lima, Project Manager. The session brought together

global leaders, including Ms Nosisa Dube of the NRF, to explore how research funders can better coordinate and engage in the growing landscape of research assessment reform initiatives.

The side-event featured a presentation session which introduced the Self-Assessment Tool and Practical Guide; a high-level panel discussion and Q&A examining global initiatives, challenges and opportunities in advancing research assessment reform; an interactive Mentimeter survey gathering real-time insights from participants on engagement with RRA initiatives; and breakout group discussions where participants explored the value, challenges and future role of the GRC in supporting reform efforts.

The discussions highlighted both the opportunities and challenges associated with the expansion of the ecosystem of international RRA initiatives, including the need for stronger alignment, reduced duplication, and enhanced collaboration among funders.

Advancing Responsible Research Assessment Globally

RRA promotes fairer, broader and more responsible evaluation of research with recognition of diverse contributions, strengthening of research integrity, and support for inclusive research cultures.

Since its establishment in 2021, the GRC RRA Working Group has contributed significantly to building a shared global understanding of RRA and to the support of its practical implementation.

The newly launched tools mark an important shift toward operationalisation. The Practical Guide, developed in collaboration with DORA and Science Europe, provides step-by-step guidance and showcases tested practices from funders worldwide.

The RRA Self-Assessment Tool enables organisations to evaluate their current practices, track progress, and identify priority areas for reform using a structured framework aligned to the 11 dimensions of RRA.

Used together, these tools provide a coherent pathway for research funders to move from commitment to implementation.

Strengthening Global Partnerships for Impact

The development of these resources reflects strong international collaboration across the global research funding ecosystem. They build on a growing body of work by the GRC RRA Working Group, including the Transforming Assessment Survey Report, developed with the Research on Research Institute; the 11 Dimensions of RRA launched by the group in Switzerland in 2024; and a Global Digital Case Study Library that showcases RRA implementation by participant funders, launched in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2025.

The NRF, as a signatory to DORA and co-chair of the Working Group, continues to play a pivotal role in shaping and advancing the global research assessment reform agenda.

Through this work, the NRF demonstrates how its technical and policy expertise contributes to global science governance, while it strengthens institutional learning for South Africa’s own research and innovation system.

Driving Future Action

The GRC RRA Working Group is committed to sustaining momentum through the support of research funders globally to adopt and adapt these tools, share experiences, and collaborate across regions.

The GRC continues to serve as a key convening platform that enables coordinated global action to advance responsible research assessment and strengthen research systems worldwide.

For the NRF, this work reflects the value of sustained participation in the GRC as a platform for science diplomacy, peer learning, and global norm-setting. Through its leadership in the RRA Working Group, the NRF helps to shape practical tools that support fairer, broader and more responsible research assessment, while it contributes to stronger and more inclusive research systems worldwide.