Privacy Policy

The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information, whether you are a donor, researcher or peer reviewer.

This statement describes how the charity collects and uses personal information provided to us, whether online, via phone, email, in letters or in any other correspondence. The terms of this statement may change, so please check it from time to time.

How we collect information and what information we collect

We obtain personal information from you when you enquire about our activities, make a donation to us, ask a question, submit an application for research funding, agree to act as a peer reviewer or otherwise provide us with personal information. We may also receive information about you from third parties. This can include information such as your name, postal address, email address, phone number, credit/debit card details and whether you are a tax payer so that we can claim Gift Aid.

We also gather general information about the use of our website, such as which pages users visit most often and which pages are of most interest.

How the information is used

We will use your personal information:

• to provide you with the information you have requested
• to review applications for research funding
• for administration purposes
• for internal record keeping, including the management of any feedback or complaints
• to further our charitable aims, including for fundraising activities
• where it is required or authorised by law.

We may assess your personal information for the purposes of credit risk reduction or fraud prevention.

Your choice

You have a choice about whether you want to receive information about our progress and fundraising activities.

We will not use your personal information for marketing purposes if you have indicated that you do not wish to be contacted.

You can contact us directly at any time about this by emailing aref@aref-africa.org.uk

Keeping your records

We take appropriate measures to ensure that the personal information disclosed to us is kept secure, accurate and up-to-date and kept only for so long as is necessary for the purposes for which it is used, in accordance with legal requirements and tax and accounting rules. Where your information is no longer required, we will ensure it is disposed of in a secure manner.