Conflict of Interest Policy

1. Purpose

iRead To Live Initiative’s influence depends on the trust of the people who read its research. This policy protects that trust by requiring everyone who shapes our work to identify, disclose and manage any interest that could affect, or appear to affect, their judgement. A conflict of interest is not in itself wrongdoing. Failing to disclose one is.

2. Who this policy covers

This policy applies to members of the Board of Trustees, members of the Academic Advisory Council, the Executive Director, staff, fellows, interns and volunteers, and outside authors and reviewers who contribute to iRead publications.

3. What counts as a conflict of interest

A conflict of interest arises when a person’s private interests, or those of a close family member, could influence their work for iRead or give a reasonable observer cause to doubt its independence. Examples include:

• Financial interests: salary, fees, shares, grants, contracts or other payments from an organisation connected to the subject of the work.
• Employment and appointments: current or recent employment by, or appointment to a board, council or committee of, a body whose policies the work examines, including any federal or state agency responsible for tertiary education in Nigeria, such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND); the Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE) or a state ministry of education; a university, polytechnic or college of education; or a political office.
• Professional roles: consultancies, advisory roles, legal representation or expert testimony for a party with an interest in the work.
• Personal relationships: a close family or personal relationship with a person or institution the work evaluates.
• Political roles: a public role in a political party or campaign.
• Gifts and hospitality: gifts, travel or hospitality above nominal value from a body connected to the subject of the work.

4. Disclosure

Every person covered by this policy completes the iRead Disclosure Form:

• on joining iRead or the Advisory Council;
• every year by 31 January;
• before writing or reviewing any publication, for interests connected to that publication; and
• within 30 days of acquiring a new relevant interest.

When in doubt, a person should disclose. An interest that is disclosed and managed rarely damages trust. An interest that is discovered later almost always does.

5. Review and management

The Executive Director reviews disclosures from staff, fellows, interns, volunteers and outside contributors. The Chair of the Board of Trustees reviews disclosures from the Executive Director and from members of the Board and the Academic Advisory Council. The Chair’s own disclosures are reviewed by the Board.

Depending on the nature of the interest, the reviewer may decide that:

• no action is needed beyond recording the disclosure;
• the interest is stated on the relevant publication;
• the person steps back from a specific piece of work, review or decision; or
• the person gives up the interest or the role that creates the conflict.

Decisions are recorded in writing and kept with the disclosure.

6. Review of publications by the Academic Advisory Council

Because the Academic Advisory Council reviews and approves our research for publication, its members take particular care. A Council member does not review or vote on a publication that evaluates an institution where they are employed or hold an appointment, or a matter in which they have a financial or personal interest. Another member takes their place for that review.

7. Disclosure on publications

Where an author or reviewer has a relevant interest, the publication states it, for example: “The author serves on the governing council of a federal university. This interest was disclosed and reviewed under iRead’s Conflict of Interest Policy.” Where there is no relevant interest, the publication states: “The authors report no conflicts of interest.”

8. Confidentiality and records

Disclosure forms are held securely by the Executive Director and the Board Secretary and kept for six years. Their contents are shared only with those who need them to apply this policy, and published only as described in section 7.

9. Breaches

A person who fails to disclose a relevant interest, or who acts in a matter where they should have stepped back, may be removed from that work or role. Publications affected by an undisclosed conflict will be reviewed and, where necessary, corrected or withdrawn. Concerns may be reported to the Executive Director or in confidence to the Chair at chair@ireadtolive.org.

10. Approval and review

This policy is approved by the Board of Trustees and reviewed every year.