1. Programme purpose and pilot status
The programme enables eligible ResearchBridge Africa members to invite genuine students and emerging researchers and earn approved research-support benefits. It is a controlled three-month pilot and may be modified, paused or concluded following evaluation. Participation does not create employment, agency, partnership or authority to bind ResearchBridge Africa.
2. Eligibility and activation
Applicants must hold one genuine member account, provide accurate profile information, remain in good standing and accept these terms. ResearchBridge Africa may verify identity or institutional affiliation before activating a referral link. An application, reserved code or prior participation does not guarantee approval.
3. Qualified referrals
A referral is ordinarily qualified only when a new person uses the ambassador’s link, signs in with a unique account, completes a research profile and undertakes a meaningful activity such as saving a topic, completing a learning lesson, creating a submission or requesting an approved service. Registration alone does not qualify. A person may be attributed to only one ambassador.
4. Rewards
Pilot rewards are non-cash, non-transferable research-development benefits. They may be subject to eligibility, availability, redemption and expiry conditions stated when issued. They cannot be exchanged for cash, sold, combined without approval or used to obtain assessed academic work produced by another person. The pilot recognises no more than the first ten qualified referrals per ambassador.
5. Responsible promotion
Ambassadors must represent the platform accurately, identify themselves honestly and share links only through lawful and consent-respecting methods. Unsolicited bulk messaging, purchased contact lists, impersonation, false income claims, guaranteed-publication claims and use of ResearchBridge Africa branding in a misleading manner are prohibited.
6. Invalid activity
Self-referrals, duplicate or fabricated accounts, automated registrations, coordinated account exchanges, incentives offered for inactive sign-ups, identity manipulation and attempts to bypass the pilot cap are invalid. ResearchBridge Africa may hold, reject or reverse referrals and rewards where activity is duplicated, suspicious, erroneous, unlawful or contrary to academic integrity.
7. Privacy
Ambassadors must not upload or disclose another person’s contact information without permission. Invited members decide whether to follow a link and create an account. Ambassador dashboards use limited referral information and do not reveal an invited member’s private research records, service requests, submissions or review activity.
8. Review, suspension and appeal
ResearchBridge Africa may temporarily restrict a link while reviewing suspected abuse or safeguarding concerns. A final adverse decision will ordinarily state the reason and allow the member to request review through the Help Center. Serious or repeated misconduct may result in reward revocation, programme removal or action under the General Membership Policy.
9. Changes and contact
The current online version governs new activity after its effective date. Material changes will be communicated through the platform where practicable. Questions, redemption requests and review requests should be submitted through the ResearchBridge Africa Help Center or Support Services.