Today we published a blog post about institutional review board (IRB) approvals, which are a necessary part of every research study/evaluation that includes human subjects. Based on recent experience, Khulisa evaluators provided several tips for how to put together a successful IRB application and implement an IRB protocol over the course of a project. Our first and most important IRB tip is: Plan ahead.
The IRB approvals process can be long and involved – sometimes several months or more, especially when approval is needed from several countries or government agencies – so it’s essential to prepare as far in advance as possible. Most IRB applications require detailed documentation of a project’s design and methodology, and data collection can’t start until the IRB approval is complete. To avoid wasting time and money, it’s best to meet with the IRB institution before submission to ensure the guidelines and application requirements are clear
To learn more how Khulisa planned ahead for its most recent IRB approvals, including the multi-country Schools2030 project and the Prevalence and Scope of Trafficking in Persons in South Africa project, which includes data collection from highly vulnerable populations, read the full blog post.
Stay tuned for more IRB #EvalTuesdayTips in the coming weeks.
