Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR) Strengthens its Information Security with ISO/IEC 27001 Certification

The Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR) is a leading African organization dedicated to advancing health and development outcomes across the continent. Through its programs and partnerships, SCIDaR supports governments, development agencies, and local communities in addressing pressing public health challenges, while promoting sustainable systems that improve lives at scale. With an expanding footprint in Africa, the organization manages vast amounts of programmatic and health-related data that are vital to the success of its mission.

As SCIDaR’s operations continue to grow, so too does the responsibility to protect the sensitive information entrusted to it. Safeguarding this data is not merely a technical obligation, it is a moral commitment to stakeholders including communities, partners, and donors who rely on SCIDaR’s integrity and accountability.

Embedding Global Best Practices

To reinforce this responsibility, SCIDaR has achieved ISO/IEC 27001 certification, the globally recognized standard for information security management. This milestone reflects the organization’s deliberate strategy to embed international best practices into its systems and ensure that decisions about data are handled responsibly, transparently, and with the highest level of accountability.

The certification delivers clear benefits that directly advance SCIDaR’s mission:

  • Enhanced data protection. Robust systems and processes secure programmatic, health, and organizational data against breaches and misuse.
  • Strengthened trust. Certification demonstrates adherence to global standards, reinforcing credibility with donors, partners, and regulators.
  • Operational resilience. A structured framework for risk management improves efficiency, streamlines processes, and ensures continuity across projects.

A Trusted Partnership with DNV

SCIDaR partnered with DNV Business Assurance in Africa to carry out the ISO/IEC 27001 certification audit. The process validated SCIDaR’s strong practices while also providing actionable insights that will guide ongoing improvements.

“Our ISO 27001 audit with DNV was a highly professional and insightful process. The auditor demonstrated deep expertise, guiding us with practical recommendations that strengthened our systems. This collaboration reinforces SCIDaR’s commitment to global best practices in information security.”
— Babafemi Aina, Chief Operations Officer (COO), SCIDaR

Sharing his perspective as SCIDaR’s external consultant, Chiedozie Mbamalu of Astute Business Consult Ltd. Added:

“Implementing the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information Security Management System at SCIDaR was a highly collaborative and purpose-driven experience. We are proud to have supported such a forward-thinking organization in embedding robust information security practices that protect its critical assets and inspire trust across its partners and beneficiaries.”
— Chiedozie Mbamalu, Principal Consultant & Project Lead, Astute Business Consult Ltd.

 

Reinforcing Accountability Across Africa

Achieving ISO/IEC 27001 certification marks a major step in SCIDaR’s journey to strengthen resilience, safeguard sensitive data, and deepen stakeholder confidence. It represents not only compliance with a global benchmark but also a reaffirmation of SCIDaR’s commitment to excellence, transparency, and impact in advancing health and development across Africa.