Advocate Bokang Moshoeshoe, Lesotho: New legal mind strengthening the African Independent Ethics Committee for improved safe research in Africa

ASWDNet appointed Advocate Bokang Moshoeshoe to the African Independent Ethics Committee (AIEC) as its legal member. Advocate Moshoeshoe is a lawyer and Advocate of the High Court of Lesotho, practising with Rasekoai, Rampai & Lebakeng Attorneys in Lesotho. The AIEC was established in 2020 to provide ethics advice and clearance grounded in African values, particularly Ubuntu philosophy, and is guided by the San Code of Research Ethics and the African Research Ethics and Malpractice Statement (AREMS). The committee has long identified a legal member as a priority appointment, and Advocate Moshoeshoe’s expertise in law brings an important dimension to the committee’s work, particularly in relation to legal frameworks affecting research participants, community rights, and ethical accountability. This is a voluntary, unpaid position for an initial two-year term, renewable thereafter. More information about the AIEC is available at africasocialwork.net/ethics-committee.

Congratulations to Advocate Bokang Moshoeshoe for this achievement.

Ethics advice, clearance and approval – what are the differences?

These three outcomes or communication tools are often confused but they are distinct in both meaning and authority.

Ethics advice is guidance given to a researcher about how to design or conduct their study ethically. It is consultative and non-binding. It does not authorise anything. A researcher can receive advice and still choose not to follow it. It requires no formal committee structure, only knowledgeable advisors.

Ethics clearance is a formal review by a recognised committee confirming that a study meets ethical standards. It is binding in the sense that a researcher needs it before proceeding, but the committee’s standing may be limited to a particular institution or context. Some funders, journals and universities accept clearance from independent committees; others do not.

Ethics approval is the highest tier. It is formal, institutionally or nationally recognised authorisation to conduct research. Journals, funders and regulatory bodies typically require approval from an accredited or recognised ethics review body, not simply any committee.

Characteristic	1. Ethics advice	2. Ethics clearance	3. Ethics approval
Nature	Consultative	Formal review	Formal authorisation
Binding?	No	Yes (to proceed)	Yes (required by funders/journals)
Issued by	Advisor or committee	Recognised committee	Accredited/authorised body
Output	Guidance email	Clearance letter	Approval certificate
Requires accreditation?	No	No	Yes
Accepted by journals/funders?	Mostly	Mostly	Yes
AIEC currently offers?	Yes	Yes	Not yet