Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using the African Genomic Archive for Response & Insight (AGARI) platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use the platform.

2. Description of Service

AGARI is a continental platform for archiving and sharing pathogen genomic information, enabling real-time surveillance to empower a swift response to disease threats across Africa. The platform provides tools for data upload, management, analysis, and collaboration among African institutions.

3. User Accounts and Responsibilities

4. Data Ownership and Governance

All data uploaded to AGARI remains the property of the originating institution or country. The platform operates under a multi-layered governance model where:

• Sub-national users can upload data for national review
• National authorities approve visibility and sharing rules
• Regional bodies coordinate alerts and standards

Each dataset remains governed by its originating country, ensuring data sovereignty and compliance with local policies.

5. Acceptable Use

Users agree not to:

• Upload false, misleading, or fraudulent data
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the platform or other users' data
• Use the platform for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Interfere with or disrupt the platform's operation or security
• Share account credentials with unauthorized parties

6. Intellectual Property

The AGARI platform, including its design, functionality, and underlying software, is the intellectual property of the platform operators. Users retain all rights to their uploaded data. By uploading data, users grant AGARI a non-exclusive license to store, process, and display the data according to the sharing policies set by the data owner.

7. Data Sharing and Access

Data sharing on AGARI is controlled through project-specific sharing policies (Private, Semi-private, or Public). Users must respect these policies and only access data they are authorized to view. Unauthorized access or sharing of data may result in immediate account termination and legal action.

8. Limitation of Liability

AGARI is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. The platform operators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from the use or inability to use the platform. Users are responsible for backing up their data and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations.

9. Termination

AGARI reserves the right to suspend or terminate user accounts that violate these Terms of Service or engage in activities that compromise the platform's security or integrity. Users may request account deletion, subject to data retention requirements under applicable laws.

10. Changes to Terms

AGARI reserves the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. Users will be notified of significant changes via email or platform notification. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified terms.

11. Governing Law

These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of South Africa, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. For users in other African countries, applicable local laws may also apply, particularly regarding data protection and privacy.

12. Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding these Terms of Service, please contact your national focal point or the AGARI platform administrators through your organization's designated channels.