To kick-start the project, Terms of Reference (TORs) for project staff recruitment, outlining the objectives, scope, and required expertise for each role, were successfully developed. Additionally, recruitment of project staff and the Secondment of staff were successfully carried out, creating a stable human resource for the successful implementation of the project. Monthly partner meetings were held to discuss the project's progress. To this end, each work package leader presented the status of deliverables and outcomes, enabling each partner to monitor progress and share feedback on how best to implement the project. CNESVS organised a kick-off meeting for partners in Abidjan, followed by an August 2025 workshop and face-to-face training sessions for CNESVS members. Additionally, CNESVS drafted the exploitation and dissemination plan, which all the partners validated. Face-to-face meetings helped partners stay fully involved in project implementation, while the dissemination plan provided a blueprint for communicating the project outputs. A questionnaire was developed and completed by all relevant participants, enabling a systematic analysis of stakeholders' views. Furthermore, a stakeholder consultation meeting was held in Abidjan in March 2025 to address diverse issues around clinical trial authorisation, Investigation sites, archiving, and drug safety, among others. At the same time, EthiXPERT reviewed local clinical trials regulatory tools, held a stakeholders’ engagement and consultative workshop to assess the domestication of the AVAREF tools. This assisted in developing a digital workflow to harmonise clinical trial regulatory tools. CNERS also organised online meetings following the Veritas International auditor's first visit. This helped streamline the CNESVS standard operating procedures and establish a well-equipped quality assurance team. In addition, CNERS supported CNESVS in achieving optimal functioning by adopting regulatory texts, granting the committee the autonomy required and transparent procedures. EthiXPERT also developed a harmonised workflow integrating CNESVS and AIRP activities, installed 6 RECs with the RHInnO Ethics platform and conducted training of the RECs on how to use the platform. The harmonised workflow was also integrated on the RHInnO Ethics platform, strengthening the capacity of ethics and regulatory processes in Côte d’Ivoire. Finally, AIRP developed the terms of reference for recruiting a consultant and conducted a situational analysis of current monitoring and inspection practices, in addition to preparing an information note for the entire management team regarding the launch of the CECABI II project, highlighting their potential involvement in the review activities, and defining the working methodology to be adopted. Through this process, key stakeholders in Côte d’Ivoire became aware of the CECABI II project, resulting in steady support throughout the project lifetime
