Academy of Science of South Africa Institutional Review Synthesis Report 2016

There is broad acknowledgement of the excellent work done by ASSAf from inception to date and the Academy is encouraged to retain this standard as a minimum. In the past five years ASSAf has gone from strength to strength and solidified as a fiercely independent organisation. It is an entity of importance in the contemporary South African science and technology landscape. 
Feedback received during the interviews with stakeholders was overwhelmingly positive on leadership, programmes and outputs. The interviewees commended the Academy on its commitment to quality. The organisation was repeatedly recognised as credible nationally, regionally and globally. ASSAf is seen by many as a benchmark for African academies with good infrastructure and a competent secretariat working beyond its capacity. 
ASSAf has clearly defined for itself the boundaries of its role as a science advisor. The Academy is careful to provide advice on the science that should underlie policy choices by government. It is viewed as doing this well. ASSAf does not take on the government’s role of making actual policy decisions. This is important for ensuring the Academy remains valued by government.