In a significant move aimed at bolstering scholarly communication and knowledge dissemination across the African continent, EIFL, AJOL (African Journals Online), and WACREN (the West and Central African Research and Education Network) have jointly announced a call for proposals. The initiative, funded by Wellcome, seeks to enhance the quality and sustainability of Diamond open access (OA) publishing in Africa.
The call targets African organizations that own open-access journals—referred to as Diamond OA journals—that do not impose fees on authors or readers. Universities, research institutes, and academic societies are among those invited to submit proposals aimed at strengthening the infrastructure and operations of their OA journals.
Launched in November 2023, the three-year project reflects a concerted effort to diversify and enhance the scholarly publishing landscape in Africa. By offering financial support and technical assistance, the initiative aims to empower African organizations to elevate the quality and accessibility of their OA journals, amplifying the impact of African research on a global scale.
Organizations can apply for funding to support a single Diamond OA journal or multiple journals hosted on their platforms. The funding, capped at $20,000 for a single journal and $30,000 for multiple journals or hosting platforms, aims to facilitate various activities, including editorial management enhancements, peer review process improvements, research integrity initiatives, publication ethics reinforcement, and journal production infrastructure upgrades.
Furthermore, the project encourages strategic partnerships among journals, libraries, research institutions, and infrastructure providers to promote resource sharing and collaborative promotional activities. By leveraging partnerships and embracing open science practices such as transparent peer review and data availability statements, the initiative seeks to enhance the visibility, impact, and long-term sustainability of OA publishing in Africa.
The call for proposals underscores a commitment to democratizing access to knowledge and promoting inclusive, transparent, and sustainable scholarly communication. By empowering African organizations to strengthen their OA publishing efforts, the project aims to foster a vibrant ecosystem of scholarly communication that advances research and innovation across the continent and beyond.
With a deadline for applications set on June 17, 2024, African organizations are urged to seize this opportunity to contribute to the advancement of open-access publishing in Africa and the global academic community.
Article by RB Correspodent
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