Maureen P Mutasa
Workshop Facilitator

The African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) conducted two half days’ virtual training from 14–15 January 2025 on Decision Making Including the Role of Task Force Groups (TFGs). The training workshop was attended by a total of 30 participants from AFRAC and the Southern African Development Community Cooperation in Accreditation (SADCA) MRA Committee/Council, trainee and qualified peer evaluators and TFG members.

The AFRAC MRA Committee and Council membership has been changing over the years with new members being admitted. Peer evaluators are also continually being trained, qualified, upgraded and registered. AFRAC-related documents are also continuously being revised/developed. All those involved are required to be fully aware of the decision-making process and follow it consistently at all times. It is for this reason that AFRAC arranged this two half days training workshop on Decision Making Including the Role of TFGs.

The training workshop, which was facilitated by Mrs. Maureen P Mutasa, was opened by the AFRAC Secretariat, Ms. Fikile Skosana. The Facilitator welcomed participants, introduced herself and informed participants that the objective of the training was to impart knowledge on decision-making processes regarding evaluations of an AB, including the role of the TFG and to exchange experiences and knowledge in the decision-making process through group discussions so as to ensure consistent and harmonized decision making. In her opening remarks, the Facilitator thanked PTB Germany for sponsoring the training, the AFRAC Secretariat for her engagement, and for the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences, noting that she was the immediate past AFRAC MRA Council chair, MRA Committee member and also served on the IAF MLA Committee amongst many other positions in AFRAC, SADCA, IAF and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).

The Facilitator started the workshop by giving an overview of the AFRAC peer evaluation process. She highlighted the relevant evaluation documents, the purpose of evaluations, and the stages in the evaluation process up to submission of the final evaluation report to the MRA Committee, which then establishes a TFG to review the final evaluation, consideration of the final evaluation report and TFG summary review before submission to the MRA Council for decision making. The Facilitator then presented on the terms of reference of the MRA Council. She then outlined the decision-making process, highlighting the role of all the players. A good time was spent on the competences and role of the TFG. The Facilitator then walked participants through F017: TFG Evaluation Summary Report and Recommendations to the MRA Council and outlined all information to be completed under each section with examples.

On Day 2, the Facilitator explained classification and closing of findings from evaluations, which members should have a good understanding of as this is an aspect for consideration in reviewing the final evaluation report. She then outlined the decision-making process and how through the process as outlined in AFRAC M001, the MRA Council ensures fair, professional and impartial decisions. The documents for review by the MRA Council in the decision-making process were laid out and so were the stages leading to the decisions. The timelines for the processes were also highlighted so as to ensure timeous decisions. The Facilitator also covered the hierarchy of decisions on new applicant AB and MRA signatories, including reasons for and consequences of suspensions/withdrawal, and decisions on joint evaluations were also covered in detail. Throughout the workshop the participants asked many questions and made numerous comments and suggestions on areas of improvements.

Based on the feedback from the participants, the overall view was that the workshop was well planned, organized, presented and was very relevant.