Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

The Young Africans Research Academy (YARA) is a Pan-African initiative designed to train and mentor undergraduate students in Ghana and across Africa in research across various disciplines. Our mission is to develop the next generation of indigenous researchers committed to solving Africa's most pressing problems through high-quality, ethical, and relevant research in any field of study.

2. Information We Collect

We collect personal information to process fellowship applications, communicate with applicants and fellows, and manage the program effectively. The types of information we may collect include:

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Application Processing: To evaluate your eligibility for the YARA Fellowship Program and communicate with you regarding the selection process (e.g., interviews, assessments, or research proposal submissions).
• Program Administration: To manage your participation in the fellowship, including mentor matching, scheduling training sessions, and coordinating summer research programs or boot camps.
• Communication: To send updates, announcements, and feedback related to the fellowship or future opportunities.
• Research and Improvement: To analyze application trends and improve the fellowship program (data will be anonymized where possible).
• Networking and Career Development: To connect fellows with mentors, industry professionals, and organizations for collaboration and internship opportunities across various research fields.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal requests.

4. Legal Basis for Processing Your Information

We process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: You provide consent by submitting your application and agreeing to this Privacy Policy.
• Legitimate Interest: We have a legitimate interest in managing the fellowship program and supporting your research and career development.
• Contractual Necessity: Processing is necessary to fulfill our obligations to you as part of the fellowship agreement.
• Legal Obligation: We may process data to comply with legal requirements under Ghanaian law or other applicable regulations.

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We may share your data with:

• Selection Committee and Mentors: To review applications and provide mentorship during the fellowship, regardless of your research discipline.
• Service Providers: Third-party vendors (e.g., cloud storage providers, email services) who assist us in operating the website and program, bound by confidentiality agreements.
• Partners: Universities, research institutions, or organizations for networking, internship placements, or collaborative opportunities, with your consent where required.
• Legal Authorities: If required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of YARA, its fellows, or others.

6. Data Retention

We maintain the following retention policies for your information:

• Application Data: We retain unsuccessful applicants' data for one year after the application cycle for potential future opportunities, unless you request deletion. Successful applicants' data is retained for the duration of the fellowship and up to five years post-completion to support career development and alumni networking.
• Research Outputs: Research papers, presentations, or abstracts may be retained indefinitely for academic purposes, with personal identifiers removed unless you consent otherwise.
• Website Usage Data: Anonymized data may be kept indefinitely for analytics; identifiable data is deleted within one year unless needed for legal purposes.

You may request deletion of your data at any time (see Section 10: Your Rights).

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our website:

• Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality (e.g., form submissions).
• Analytics Cookies: To track website usage and improve performance (e.g., Google Analytics).

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings, though disabling essential cookies may affect website functionality.

8. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including encryption, access controls, and secure storage. However, no system is completely immune to risks, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please notify us immediately at yafricaresearch@gmail.com if you suspect a breach involving your data.

9. International Data Transfers

If your data is transferred outside Ghana (e.g., to cloud servers or international mentors), we ensure compliance with applicable data protection laws and use safeguards like standard contractual clauses to protect your information.

10. Your Rights

Under applicable data protection laws (e.g., Ghana's Data Protection Act, 2012), you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data we hold.
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information.
• Deletion: Request removal of your data, subject to legal retention obligations.
• Restriction: Limit how we process your data in certain circumstances.
• Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Withdraw Consent: Revoke consent where processing relies on it, without affecting prior actions.

To exercise these rights, contact us at yafricaresearch@gmail.com. We will respond within 30 days. You may also lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission of Ghana if you believe your rights have been violated.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external sites (e.g., universities, research journals). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review their policies before providing personal information.

12. Children's Privacy

The YARA Fellowship Program is intended for undergraduate students aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect data from individuals under 18. If we discover such data has been collected, we will delete it promptly.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review it periodically.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, please reach out to us:

• Email: yafricaresearch@gmail.com
• Phone: +233 55 393 0543
• Address: 6 Fifth Avenue, Haatso-Accra. Ghana

Thank you for trusting the Young Africans Research Academy with your personal information. We are committed to safeguarding your privacy as we work together to advance research across all disciplines in Africa.