The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) has completed the process of developing a POPIA Compliance Framework for Research, following extensive consultation and engagement with the research community. Initially conceived as a formal Code of Conduct under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), the initiative was adapted into a voluntary Framework to provide broader applicability and greater flexibility across diverse research contexts.

ASSAf convened multiple national stakeholder events attended by scientists and researchers from a wide range of disciplines, and established both a Steering Committee and a Drafting Committee to guide and develop the content. The final Framework serves as a practical resource to support ethical and lawful processing of personal information in research, and is freely available for use by all researchers and institutions in South Africa.